Emergency management guidelines for telepsychiatry.
OBJECTIVE
Telepsychiatry, in the form of live interactive videoconferencing, is an emerging application for emergency psychiatric assessment and treatment and can improve the quality and quantity of mental health services, particularly for rural, remote and isolated populations. Despite the potential of emergency telepsychiatry, the literature has been fairly limited in this area.


METHODS
Drawing on the combined clinical and administrative experiences of its authors, this article reviews the common administrative, legal/ethical and clinical issues that arise in emergency telepsychiatry.


RESULTS
An initial set of guidelines for emergency telepsychiatry is presented to generate further discussion to assist those who are considering establishing general telepsychiatry and/or emergency telepsychiatry services.


CONCLUSIONS
The practices and techniques of emergency telepsychiatry are relatively new and require further examination, modification and refinement so that they may be fully utilized within comprehensive mental health service systems.
Shore
Jay H
JH
American Indian and Alaska Native Programs, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Nighthorse Campbell Native Health Building, Aurora, CO 80045-0508, USA. jay.shore@uchsc.edu
Hilty
Donald M
DM
Yellowlees
Peter
P
D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D016730:Program Development; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D049269:Videoconferencing