Providing care via telehealth does not change the clinical framework for assessment, decision-making, or risk management. However, it can affect how risk presents, how it is assessed, and how safety concerns are addressed.
Providers should consider how the virtual care environment may affect assessment, communication, and the interventions available when safety concerns arise.
Key Considerations
Accurate client location information is essential for coordinating emergency or crisis responses. Confirm and document the client’s location at intake, at the start of each session, and whenever clinically indicated.
Provide care in accordance with applicable licensure requirements, scope of practice standards, and state and jurisdictional laws and regulations.
Ensure clients understand how to access emergency and crisis support when needed. Be familiar with the emergency services, crisis resources, and escalation procedures available in the client’s location.
Identify relevant local referral options, including higher levels of care, community-based services, crisis programs, and other supports that may be needed during treatment.
Establish a plan for unexpected disconnections, communication delays, or platform failures. Consider how these disruptions could affect continuity of care, particularly when clinical or safety concerns are present.
Assess whether the client has adequate privacy and whether environmental factors could affect their safety, willingness to disclose information, or participation in treatment.
Reminder: Review the benefits, risks, and limitations of telehealth as part of the informed consent process.
Set clear expectations for response times, appropriate use, and the limitations of asynchronous communication. Ensure clients understand when they should seek immediate assistance rather than wait for a provider response.
Telehealth may limit a provider’s ability to observe certain nonverbal, behavioral, or environmental cues. Connectivity issues, poor audio or video quality, and privacy limitations may further affect the information available during an assessment.
When clinically relevant information is unclear or incomplete, ask direct follow-up questions and use other appropriate sources of information to support clinical decision-making.
| Reminder: Telehealth may change how risk is assessed and managed, but it does not change a provider’s responsibility to respond to safety concerns in a timely and clinically appropriate manner. |