Fort\u00a0Hays State University\u00a0has transformed the lives of countless individuals and uplifted the rural communities in Western Kansas by focusing on our strengths of affordability, accessibility, and adaptability.\u00a0One remarkable\u00a0example of\u00a0the university\u2019s\u00a0adaptability is the\u00a0development of a\u00a0new\u00a0Telehealth\u00a0certification\u00a0program\u00a0for Mental Health Providers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Telehealth allows for the delivery of health-related services and information via electronic and telecommunication technologies. This approach enables healthcare providers to deliver services regardless of the distance between patient and clinician. According to Jessica Albin, FHSU\u2019s interim director of counseling services, utilizing telehealth platforms to facilitate personal counseling services has contributed significantly to the work of Health and Wellness Services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTelehealth counseling allows us to support students in various locations across Kansas in ways that would be impossible otherwise,\u201d Albin said.\u00a0\u201cWhether it\u2019s\u00a0an\u00a0FHSU Online student, a student fulfilling their student teaching responsibilities or participating in an internship, or an on-campus student who is unwell and unable to come into the office for their appointment,\u00a0telehealth allows them to access therapeutic support when and where they need it.\u00a0Research\u00a0consistently shows\u00a0that\u00a0this approach\u00a0is as effective as in-person counseling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The introduction of telehealth counseling has revolutionized mental health support by reaching individuals in remote areas, particularly in rural communities. This plays a crucial role in addressing healthcare challenges that providers and patients face in these areas, creating a more equitable healthcare system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By remotely monitoring patients and conducting virtual consultations, providers can optimize their resources and reduce the need for frequent in-person visits, which is particularly beneficial in areas with scarce healthcare infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This shift to telehealth also generates cost savings for healthcare providers by minimizing physical infrastructure and transportation expenses – the streamlined allocation of resources benefits providers and patients. Additionally, remote consultations and monitoring enable healthcare professionals to manage more patients efficiently, leading to increased productivity and better utilization of healthcare staff, ultimately enhancing the quality and accessibility of mental health services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patients also experience numerous advantages through telehealth, including improved access to healthcare, time and cost savings, timely intervention, and enhanced continuity of care. Additionally, remote monitoring and telehealth consultations enable timely intervention and management of chronic conditions, even when immediate access to healthcare facilities is limited. The coordination among healthcare providers ensures seamless communication and continuity of care, essential for patients with complex medical conditions who require ongoing treatment. Telehealth also empowers patients by providing them with tools and information for self-management, increasing their engagement in mental wellness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr.\u00a0Sarah Lancaster, assistant\u00a0professor\u00a0and program coordinator of\u00a0school counseling, emphasizes the importance of access to care.\u00a0Even in the community of\u00a0Salina, Kansas, transportation challenges often hindered people from seeking the mental health care they needed.\u00a0Sarah\u00a0recalls a family\u00a0that\u00a0had to spend four hours on buses to attend an hour-long mental health appointment. Telehealth eliminates these barriers, allowing individuals to receive services in the comfort of their own homes or even from school if technology is an issue. It is a game-changer for rural areas where mental health services may be scarce or nonexistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth, and the good news is that health insurers are expected to continue covering telehealth visits. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Department of Health and Human Services have extended various Telehealth flexibilities, allowing patients to access telehealth services in any geographic area. In addition, many commercial health plans and Medicaid programs have expanded coverage for telehealth services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As\u00a0telehealth\u00a0practice\u00a0for mental health evolves, so does the need for enhanced understanding and\u00a0new skills.\u00a0The\u00a0Fort Hays\u00a0State University\u00a0Telehealth\u00a0certification will\u00a0enhance\u00a0practitioners\u2019 technical\u00a0knowledge,\u00a0privacy, and ethical\u00a0codes and protocols. Practitioners\u00a0must understand limitations, biases, errors, and operational issues to\u00a0avoid misuse.\u00a0Training\u00a0will\u00a0cover informed consent, securely handling data\u00a0and confidentiality. Practitioners need to be\u00a0well-versed\u00a0in\u00a0the ethical codes of\u00a0their professional\u00a0organizations\u00a0as they relate to telehealth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As telehealth continues to evolve and become a permanent part of mental health counseling services, it promises to bridge the gaps in healthcare access, enhance provider efficiency, and improve patients’ overall health outcomes and experiences. By embracing the potential of telehealth, mental health counselors can truly transform the way mental health care is delivered, ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of their location or circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our faculty’s commitment to developing a new telehealth certification for mental health counselors showcases their forward-thinking approach. It emphasizes the importance of their work in the ever-evolving mental health field. Their dedication to innovation positions them as true pioneers in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u200bTisa Mason is president of Fort Hays State University.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fort\u00a0Hays State University\u00a0has transformed the lives of countless individuals and uplifted the rural communities in Western Kansas by focusing on our strengths of affordability, accessibility,… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[12323,55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-77561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-life","category-opinion"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tigermedianet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Mason-Tisa-040A6662.jpg?fit=750%2C1050&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=77561"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77561\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":77562,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/77561\/revisions\/77562"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37698"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=77561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=77561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=77561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}