1. An observational study of the impact of COVID-19 and the rapid implementation of telehealth on community mental health center providers
- Author
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Sklar, Marisa, Reeder, Kendal, Carandang, Kristine, Ehrhart, Mark G, and Aarons, Gregory A
- Subjects
Health Services and Systems ,Health Sciences ,Health Services ,Behavioral and Social Science ,Clinical Research ,7.1 Individual care needs ,Management of diseases and conditions ,8.1 Organisation and delivery of services ,Health and social care services research ,Generic health relevance ,Good Health and Well Being ,COVID-19 ,Community mental health ,Evidence-based practice ,Provider perspectives ,Telehealth ,Health services and systems ,Public health - Abstract
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has remarkably altered community mental health service delivery through the rapid implementation of telehealth. This study reports provider perspectives on the impact that COVID-19 and the transition to telehealth had on their work and their ability to deliver evidence-based practices (EBPs).MethodsProviders (n = 93) completed online surveys with quantitative measures and open-ended items exploring their reactions to COVID-19 and to the transition to providing services via telehealth.ResultsPerceptions of personal risk and rumination around COVID-19 were low, while telehealth was viewed positively by providers. Three major themes emerged regarding the major impacts of COVID-19 on work: (1) the altered nature of interactions between patient/client and provider due to telehealth implementation, (2) changes in provider expectations regarding productivity, and (3) challenges maintaining work-life balance. In regard to the major impacts of COVID-19 on EBP delivery, three themes emerged: (1) increased difficulty delivering certain therapies via telehealth, (2) potential limitations to session confidentiality, and (3) challenge of engaging children in telehealth.ConclusionsIn the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, community mental health providers continued to engage with clients and deliver EBPs while navigating a number of changes related to the rapid transition to and implementation of telehealth. This study highlights the need for further work on what supports providers need to effectively engage with clients and deliver EBPs via telehealth, and has implications for how telehealth is sustained or de-implemented post-COVID-19.
- Published
- 2021