Telepsychiatry in Chennai, India: the SCARF experience.
India, with its huge population and limited mental health resources, must find alternative ways of delivering its mental healthcare services. Telepsychiatry seems to be a promising option even with no regulatory authority in place or specific laws in India that deal with telemedicine practice, there has been a mushrooming of telemedicine services in India. Healthy cooperation between government organizations such as the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and institutions in the non-government and private sectors is another key feature in India. The experience of the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), at Chennai, in South India, in running and establishing a telepsychiatry network is presented in this article. We identified the following tasks as essential to ensure an efficient intervention using telemedicine: identifying a suitable technology, a suitable location, and a local collaborator; providing training and creating awareness; establishing peripheral telepsychiatry centers and ensuring case documentation; and accountability.
Thara
Rangaswamy
R
Schizophrenia Research Foundation, R/7A, North Main Road, West Anna Nagar Extension, Chennai 600 101, India. scarf@vsnl.com
John
Sujit
S
Rao
Kotteswara
K
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D003906:Developing Countries; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents