The use of telecommunications to provide mental health services to patients at a distance-telepsychiatry-has grown rapidly in the past ten years. Telepsychiatry is especially valuable as a method of reaching patients and populations that traditionally have been underserved, such as nursing home residents and residents of rural communities. Research at Wake Forest University on telepsychiatry assessments of geriatric patients has shown good reliability compared to face-to-face assessments as well as acceptance by patients of the videoconferencing interview. Low bandwidth transmissions (128Kbps) do appear to result in less accurate ratings of movement disorders and behaviors. This presentation will discuss research documenting the accuracy of telemedicine assessments of geriatric patients with mental health disorders. The current evidence supporting telepsychiatry with geriatric patients and the increased availability of reimbursement are likely to expand the use of telecommunications to provide mental health services.
Back to S003 Using Telecommunications to Improve Geriatric Mental Health Care
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