Private metropolitan telepsychiatry in Australia during Covid-19: current practice and future developments

Objective: This paper discusses issues arising from the rapid implementation of metropolitan telepsychiatry in private practice during the Covid-19 public health emergency. Conclusions: The relatively rapid uptake of private practice metropolitan telepsychiatry may further increase flexibility of the options for appointments through ongoing broad telepsychiatry access after the Covid-19 crisis. Telepsychiatry can be used to facilitate the temporary provision of psychiatric care, and has benefits and risks, but is not a longer-term replacement for the interpersonal richness of face-to-face consultations.

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Disparities in use of telehealth at the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency

Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare ◽

10.1177/1357633x20963893 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1357633X2096389

Author(s):

Robert P Pierce ◽

James J Stevermer

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Insurance Status ◽

Rural Residence ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Face To Face ◽

Time Period ◽

Audio Video ◽

Sectional Analysis

Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in an unprecedented expansion in telehealth, but little is known about differential use of telehealth according to demographics, rurality, or insurance status. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 7742 family medicine encounters at a single USA institution in the initial month of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). We compared the demographics of those using telehealth during the PHE to those with face-to-face visits during the same time period; we also compared the demographics of those using full audio-video to those using audio-only. Results The likelihood of any telehealth visit in the first 30 days of telehealth expansion was higher for women, those age 65 years and older, self-pay patients, and those with Medicaid and Medicare as primary payers. The likelihood of a telehealth visit was reduced for rural residence and Black or other races. Among all telehealth visits, the likelihood of a full audio-video telehealth visit was reduced for patients who were older, Black, from urban areas, or who were self-pay, Medicaid, or Medicare payer status. Discussion Significant disparities exist in telehealth use during the COVID-19 PHE by age, race, residence and payer.

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Capturing a Moment in Time: A Survey of School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists' Experiences in the Immediate Aftermath of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2020_persp-20-00182 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (6) ◽

pp. 1735-1749

Author(s):

Lesley Sylvan ◽

Erica Goldstein ◽

Megan Crandall

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

The United States ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Speech Language Pathologists ◽

Personal Lives ◽

Face To Face ◽

Self Confidence ◽

School Based ◽

Key Issues ◽

Personal Challenges

Purpose Data collected by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in the spring of 2020 showed that most speech-language pathologists (SLPs) experienced a moderate to major impact on their work practices as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. This study focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the experiences of school-based SLPs at this unique moment in time. Method This study involved a survey of 280 school-based SLPs working across the United States in May 2020. The results of the survey were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively to identify key themes and trends related to participants' confidence levels, workload changes, and personal challenges. Results Results indicated that SLPs faced variation in the guidance, communication, and resources they were provided by employers and variations regarding the timelines and expectations for the pivot from traditional face-to-face school services to remote services. Few SLPs had previous experience with teletherapy, and many reported low levels of self-confidence and large increases in their workload. Additionally, SLPs faced high levels of stress in their personal lives. Conclusions Despite the challenges faced, participants largely reported they were able to adapt with the support of the SLP community. Participants reported concerns regarding the relative success of their students under new service delivery models, especially for students from disadvantaged groups, and worries regarding future legal challenges. This study identifies key issues to consider with respect to speech-language services in schools as the COVID-19 public health emergency continues to unfold.

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Increased Australian outpatient private practice psychiatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic: usage of new MBS-telehealth item and face-to-face psychiatrist office-based services in Quarter 3, 2020

Australasian Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/1039856221992634 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 103985622199263

Author(s):

Jeffrey CL Looi ◽

Stephen Allison ◽

Tarun Bastiampillai ◽

William Pring ◽

Rebecca Reay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Patient Care ◽

Federal Government ◽

Private Practice ◽

Psychiatric Care ◽

Specialist Care ◽

Face To Face ◽

Patient Assessments ◽

Service Data ◽

Private Specialist

Objective: The Australian federal government introduced new COVID-19 psychiatrist Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) telehealth items to assist with providing private specialist care. We investigate private psychiatrists’ uptake of video and telephone telehealth, as well as total (telehealth and face-to-face) consultations for Quarter 3 (July–September), 2020. We compare these to the same quarter in 2019. Method: MBS-item service data were extracted for COVID-19-psychiatrist video and telephone telehealth item numbers and compared with Quarter 3 (July–September), 2019, of face-to-face consultations for the whole of Australia. Results: The number of psychiatry consultations (telehealth and face-to-face) rose during the first wave of the pandemic in Quarter 3, 2020, by 14% compared to Quarter 3, 2019, with telehealth 43% of this total. Face-to-face consultations in Quarter 3, 2020 were only 64% of the comparative number of Quarter 3, 2019 consultations. Most telehealth involved short telephone consultations of ⩽15–30 min. Video consultations comprised 42% of total telehealth provision: these were for new patient assessments and longer consultations. These figures represent increased face-to-face consultation compared to Quarter 2, 2020, with substantial maintenance of telehealth consultations. Conclusions: Private psychiatrists continued using the new COVID-19 MBS telehealth items for Quarter 3, 2020 to increase the number of patient care contacts in the context of decreased face-to-face consultations compared to 2019, but increased face-to-face consultations compared to Quarter 2, 2020.

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Approach to teaching and learning during COVID-19 global pandemic

Pharmacy Education ◽

10.46542/pe.2020.202.4142 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 41-42

Author(s):

J.A. Dujaili ◽

A.Q. Blebil ◽

A.H. Mohammed

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Fast Moving ◽

Teaching And Learning ◽

Movement Control ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Remedial Measures ◽

Face To Face ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

Approach To Teaching ◽

Control Order

Due to the threat of COVID-19, universities across Malaysia are facing decisions about how to continue teaching and learning whilst keeping their faculty, staff, and students safe from a public health emergency that is fast moving and not well understood. Monash University Malaysia is no exception and have opted to cancel all face-to-face classes, including laboratory and other learning experiences, and have mandated that faculty move their units online to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Approaches as well as the remedial measures undertaken by the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, with regards to teaching and learning (T&L) activities during and beyond the execution of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia are discussed below.

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Towards defining core principles of public health emergency preparedness: scoping review and Delphi consultation among European Union country experts

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-09307-y ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Evelien Belfroid ◽

Dorothee Roβkamp ◽

Graham Fraser ◽

Corien Swaan ◽

Aura Timen

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Emergency Preparedness ◽

National Level ◽

European Union Country ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Face To Face ◽

Preparedness Planning ◽

Consensus Procedure ◽

Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Abstract Background European Member States, the European Commission and its agencies work together to enhance preparedness and response for serious cross-border threats to health such as Ebola. Yet, common understanding of public health emergency preparedness across EU/EEA countries is challenging, because preparedness is a relatively new field of activity and is inherently fraught with uncertainty. A set of practical, widely accepted and easy to use recommendations for generic preparedness that bundles the activities described in separate guidance documents supports countries in preparing for any possible health threat. The aim of this consensus procedure was to identify and seek consensus from national-level preparedness experts from EU/EEA countries on key recommendations of public health emergency preparedness. Methods To identify key recommendations and to prioritize the recommendations we started with a literature consensus procedure, followed by a modified Delphi method for consultation of public health emergency preparedness leaders of EU/EEA countries. This consisted of six consecutive steps: a questionnaire to achieve consensus on a core set of recommendations, a face-to-face consultation, preselection of prioritized recommendations, a questionnaire to achieve consensus on the prioritized set and a face-to-face consensus meeting to further prioritize recommendations. Results As a result, EU/EEA experts selected 149 recommendations as core preparedness principles and prioritized 42. The recommendations were grouped in the seven domains: governance (57), capacity building and maintenance (11), surveillance (19), risk-assessment (16), risk- and crisis management (35), post-event evaluation (6) and implementation of lessons learned (5). Conclusions This prioritised set of consensus principles can provide a foundation for countries aiming to evaluate and improve their preparedness for public health emergencies. The recommendations are practical, support generic preparedness planning, and can be used by all countries irrespective of their current level of preparedness.

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