Health Information Technology and Telepsychology

Health Information Technology (HIT) implementation is intended to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of health care delivery by providing tools such as electronic health records (EHRs), clinical decision support systems, e-prescribing within interoperable systems, and telehealth applications. Current efforts involve moving the mainly paper-based health records system to an electronic health records system. EHRs are intended to allow for comprehensive management of health information and its secure exchange between patients, health professionals and other entities that use health records through one nationwide interoperable system.

Telepsychology is the provision of psychological services using telecommunication technologies. Depending on how the term is used, telepsychology or telehealth may be narrowly or widely defined to include a variety of telecommunication technologies such as telephone, mobile devices, interactive videoconferencing, email, chat, text and Internet (e.g., self-help websites, blogs and social media). In addition, it might be applicable only to the delivery of clinical services or it might also include continuing professional education, patient education, public health and health administration.

APA Services is advocating for strong privacy and security protections as HIT is implemented and more psychologists seek to incorporate technology in their practices, while also developing guidance for members on HIT issues and telehealth practices.

More information can be found in these articles on using technology in your practice.

• Tips for doing effective phone therapy
• Psychologists embrace telehealth to prevent the spread of COVID-19
• CMS recognizes PSYPACT licensure requirements for interstate practice
• Serious mental illness and COVID-19: How to help your patients right now
• Telehealth testing with children: Important factors to consider
• How to provide telehealth in nursing homes
• Telehealth guidance by state during COVID-19
• How to do group therapy using telehealth
• Telephone psychotherapy: Ensuring patients have access to effective care
• What the COVID-19 telehealth waiver means for psychology practitioners
• Webinar: Telepsychology and the Psychology lnterjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT) – May 24, 2018
• Addressing the need for behavioral health among Medicare beneficiaries
• APA joins AMA telehealth policy group
• New Behavioral Health Information Technology bill introduced in Senate
• Behavioral Health Information Technology bill introduced in US Senate
• Take action: Help us make psychology eligible for incentive payments
• Reimbursement for Telehealth Services (PDF, 792KB)
• Maryland becomes 13th state to mandate telehealth services coverage
• Leading Psychology into the Telehealth World (PDF, 189KB)
• New Senate legislation would include psychology in HITECH incentive payments
• Reimbursement for telehealth services
• APAPO builds on work to protect psychological testing data
• Telehealth: Legal Basics for Psychologists (PDF, 1.9MB)
• Telehealth 50-State Review (PDF, 446KB)
• Telehealth Resources for Psychologists
• The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (PDF, 58KB)
• APA Practice Comments on Proposed Health Information Technology Rule
• Psychology gains strong protections in Health Information Technology Act
• The Drive Toward Health Information Technology: Where Are we Heading?

• Legal Corner: Sending and receiving patient information
• Electronic health records: Psychology seeks profession's inclusion as meaningful users
• How much do you know about electronic health records?
• APA participates in hearing on EHR certification program
• Is cloud computing right for your practice?
• 10 Tips for Selecting an Electronic Health Record System (PDF, 255KB)
• Keeping Electronic Health Records Private and Secure (PDF, 276KB)
• Video: Electronic Health Records
• Putting Electronic Health Records into Practice (PDF, 153KB)
• Charting the Course of Electronic Health Records (PDF, 197KB)