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TELEMEDICINE AND TELE-MENTAL HEALTH IN WYOMING

Rex E. Gantenbein, PhD

Center for Rural Health Research and Education

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What is telemedicine? “[T]he use of medical information

exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status” (American Telemedicine Assn.) Telemedicine generally refers to clinical

applications Telehealth is a broader term that also

includes distance education and administrative applications

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Applications of telemedicine Telemedicine is especially

useful in delivering specialty care to rural or underserved areas Not a separate medical

specialty Telemedicine technologies

Interactive videoconferencing “Store and forward”

transmission of images or data

Remote monitoringWY Psychological Association 10-09

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Applications of telemedicine Remote patient consultations Specialist referral services Remote patient monitoring Home health care

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Telemedicine and mental health

Mental health services are hard to access in Wyoming

Telemedicine/telehealth can: Provide live remote access to

specialists Support collaboration with primary

care providers in local communities Deliver education to local providers

on mental health diagnosis and therapy 5

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Telemedicine and mental health

Resources needed for tele-mental health practice Videoconferencing equipment Bandwidth Security and privacy protections Local coordinators Practice and emergency protocols

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Tele-mental health projects in Wyoming

Wyoming Telehealth Trauma Treatment Clinic (WTTTC)

Wyoming Network for Telehealth (WyNETTE)

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WTTTC Specialty clinic providing free

therapy to rural victims of sexual or physical assault, crime, or domestic violence Housed in UW Psychology Clinic Services provided by video to crisis

centers in Cheyenne, Rawlins, and Gillette

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WyNETTE Vision: a statewide telehealth

network with particular emphasis on mental health applications Upgrade telecommunications

infrastructure Implement educational, clinical, and

administrative applications Improve the knowledge and capabilities

of the state’s health care workforce about telehealth

Develop strategies for sustainability

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WyNETTE Steps toward this vision

Funding from FCC Rural Health Care Pilot Program

Install dedicated high-speed connectivity for 39 sites, including small hospitals, community mental health clinics, and substance abuse centers

Funding from HRSA Offices of Rural Health Policy and Health Information Technology

Develop operational and management structure

Create business plan and service modelsWY Psychological Association 10-09

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WyNETTE Issues to be addressed

Equipment and communications costs

Technical training and support Quality of distance services Licensing and credentialing Reimbursement Liability Concerns over security and privacyWY Psychological Association

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Questions/comments?WTTTC: Dr. Matt Gray

307.766.2927gray@uwyo.edu

WyNETTE: Dr. Rex Gantenbein307.766.6544rex@uwyo.eduhttp://www.uwyo.edu/health

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Sources for more information

American Telemedicine Association http://www.americantelemed.org

Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (Spokane WA) http://www.nrtrc.org

HRSA Health IT adoption toolbox http://healthit.ahrq.gov WY Psychological Association

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