ATA issues new practice guidelines for online mental health services
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has published new practice guidelines that outline best practices for delivery of online mental health services. “Practice Guidelines For Video-Based Online Mental Health Services” is designed to help practitioners provide safe, effective care when treating patients through personal computer webcams and mobile devices with interactive camera functionality.
The guidelines are based on the latest clinical and empirical research and experience in the field and were developed by a multidisciplinary team that included members from the American Psychiatric Association, American Counseling Association, National Association for Social Workers, active mental health providers and administrators of online mental health services, technical engineers, payers, academia, government and industry. The best practices document is a companion to the broader “Practice Guidelines for Videoconferencing-based Telemental Health,” developed and adopted by ATA in 2009.