Telepsychiatry: Advancing the Future with Education

The United States' healthcare system is rapidly transforming. The rising complexity and cost of healthcare necessitates new and innovative ways to deliver low cost, quality healthcare. Telepsychiatry (video conferencing between patients and psychiatric providers) utilizes state-of- the-art technology to provide psychiatric prescribers the ability to interact with patients and deliver quality care regardless of geographic bounds. Improved Internet speeds and high- definition monitors have improved the quality of these patient/provider interactions. Psychiatric providers can utilize this technology to safely assess, treat, and prescribe to patients. When properly utilized, telepsychiatry offers a seamless interchange of communication that allows psychiatric prescribers and patients to work together to achieve their healthcare objectives. Numerous studies in the peer-reviewed literature have documented the effectiveness of telepsychiatry. Patients generally report positive experiences after using telepsychiatry. U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to expanding telehealth services as a means of offering high-quality healthcare to veterans across the nation. The implementation and utilization of these services presents a massive undertaking. Telehealth services are not just a change in clinical practice, but also a new way of understanding, delivering, and receiving healthcare. Numerous researchers have examined the efficacy of telepsychiatry, but few have investigated effective methods to expand and implement this new technology. This project focused on creating and evaluating the effectiveness of an intervention designed to increase the utilization of telehealth within the VA's healthcare network. Theories demonstrated to be effective at increasing the utilization of technology in other work environments guided the intervention. The intervention was an oral presentation supported by audio and video demonstrations and given directly to prescribers at the VA. This intervention focused on influencing prescriber's intent to use telehealth technology. Intent to use a specific type of technology is a primary predictor of the eventual use of that technology. The intervention was specific and measurable and supported the mission to expand telehealth services at the VA. The target populations for the intervention included the Advance Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and APRN students at the VA. Pre- and post-tests administered before and after the intervention measured the effectiveness of the presentation. The questionnaires aimed to capture attitudes, understanding, and intent to use telehealth in the future. Analysis of the results relied on the statistical method of chi-squared distribution. The test intervention provides a model of effective ways to increase APRNs' intent to use telepsychiatry and ultimately increase actual system use.