Implementation of a Telemental Health Training Program Across a Mental Health Department
Abstract Background: Telemental Health (TMH) is an effective way to increase access to mental health services. For this reason, many health care systems strive to make TMH a part of routine mental health services. TMH use has increased substantially in recent years; however, health care systems have found it challenging to implement TMH ubiquitously. Minimal literature addresses system wide TMH implementation efforts. To broadly expand TMH throughout a VA medical center’s mental health service, a quality improvement project was conducted to develop and implement a comprehensive, novel TMH training program for staff. Methods: This quality improvement project was informed by implementation science methodologies. PARiHS criteria and Evidence-Based QI Implementation/Facilitation guided the development and implementation of this TMH training program, which included: (a) two online TMH courses, (b) a one-day didactic training including hands-on practice and skills evaluation, and (c) weekly calls where staff could receive TMH consultation. A total of 100 interdisciplinary mental health providers from outpatient mental health clinics participated in this training over the course of two years. RE-AIM criteria were used to evaluate the effectiveness of this training program. Results: Overall, providers reported satisfaction with this TMH training program, and found that it increased their TMH knowledge and competence. The number of providers using TMH and patients who received it nearly doubled in the two years after the launch of the TMH training compared to the two years preceding. Conclusions: This novel TMH training program was well-received by staff and increased the number of providers and patients using TMH. Since this project was completed, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased the demand for telehealth services. This training model offers specific strategies based upon implementation science that could be disseminated to and adopted by mental health programs looking to implement system wide TMH use.