Overview of the pediatric psychiatry collaborative telehealth network
Why does the telehealth network exist?
In 2018 New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) was awarded a 5-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) known as the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program (PMHCAP).
Purpose of the Grant: to promote behavioral health integration in pediatric primary care by supporting the development of new - or the improvement of - existing statewide or regional pediatric mental health care telehealth access programs.
For purposes of this funding opportunity, telehealth is defined as the use of electronic information and telecommunication technologies to support and promote long-distance clinical health care, clinical consultation, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration.
the services around teleahealth our Teams provide
Tele-Consultation
Training
Technical Assistance
Care Coordination
Eligible Participants (ACTIVE Member of the NJPPC)
Pediatricians, pediatric sub-specialists, and family physicians
Pediatric practice team members who conduct well-child visits (i.e., PNP, APRN, APN)
To refer a patient, the provider must be registered with the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative
Program Telehealth Goals
Increase availability/access to Hub Network via telehealth.
Provide training and TA to pediatric primary care providers on the use of evidence-based, culturally-appropriate telehealth protocols.
Provide web-based education and training sessions to pediatric providers to support early detection, assessment, treatment, and referral for mental/behavioral health concerns.
Improve access to treatment and referral services for children and adolescents via telehealth.
5-Year HRSA grant awarded to NJ Department of Health (DOH) to enhance and supplement the Network Hub capacity to include telehealth and telepsychiatry.
Purpose of the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative (NJPPC)
To address the shortage of child & adolescent psychiatrists, in 2014, the NJ Department of Children & Families provided funding for a pilot to improve the comfort & competence of pediatricians to screen/identify children with mental/behavioral health concerns & refer them for psych consults.
By 2017, statewide expansion with 9 Network Hubs.
Eight regional Hubs facilitated by Hackensack Meridian Health.
One regional Hub facilitated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health.
Access to child psychiatry has been a significant problem nationwide for years, as documented in the Surgeon General's report of 2000.
Children's primary care providers end up meeting this need even though they are not trained to do so.
Licensed Social Workers And Licensed Counselors Are Available to facilitate referrals to appropriate services In the community
Child psychiatrists are available to pediatric providers for diagnostic clarification, medication consultation, and a face-to-face evaluation with a patient if needed.
Less than 13% of evaluations led to medication being prescribed.