Program Evaluation / Quality Assurance
"The need for quality assurance applies to telemental health, just as it does for mental health and health services more generally. The principles of quality assurance for mental health services are fully applicable to telemental health. Quality assurance activities should take into account some of the unique aspects of telemental health, in particular:
- The reliance on videoconference equipment for service delivery
- Improved access to specialty mental health services
- Decreased costs relative to face-to-face services
The bottom line is that we need to have a quality assurance program for our telemental health programs and those quality assurance activities need to match the design of the program and its desired outcomes."
