b'WILLIAM JAMES COLLEGE 17How Effectivethe added immersion to be essential in her own courses,is Telehealth?which heavily rely on group discussion.I like that [the Owl] shows peoples faces as When stay-home orders began, they speak. It feels like youre in the room when telehealthwhich refers to counseling or youre watching it. You really feel engaged by that,client services provided over the phone Fishman said.or Internetquickly became the only As the Fall semester got underway, with the newoption for many Americans in need of technology in place, Osher, Fishman, and team, hadmental health care. But is it effective?to ensure every member of the faculty was prepared to use the equipment. Assistant Director of EducationalStudies conducted prior to the pandemic, Technology Kattarina Biss was instrumental in helpingand even more conducted since, have faculty prepare for the changes.shown the practice not only to be effective Student engagement, making that sustainable, for many patients, but also as a way to and holding students attention, was really important increase and improve access to services. in the big picture [so was] making sure the conversationTelehealth users surveyed note benefits was between everyone and felt natural, Biss explained.including reduced driving time, more She added that the Colleges Information Technologyflexible appointment times, and increased department was an important partner in the access to a broader range of providers. effort. They ordered all the tech, set it up, helped everyone learn to use itwe couldnt have done A 2020 Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation this without them.report stated that telehealth care has As needs evolve, the College remains committedthe unique ability to improve access to to bringing new educational technology into thebehavioral health services by increasing classroom experiencein addition to aidingconnectivity between patients and academics, this also helps ensure students leaveproviders, decreasing wait times, and prepared to meet clients out in a world that is, ineliminating logistical barrier. turn, constantly being reshaped by new technology.This is especially true, the BCBS Additional updates are already in progress around thereport continued, for populations with building, including some to address training needsparticularly challenging access barriers, related to conducting teletherapy.such as individuals who are low income The College was recently awarded a Health Resourcesor [who] live in rural areas, children, the and Services Administration (HRSA) grant from theelderly, and individuals with substance federal government to be used to purchase computeruse disorders.devices, software, and other distance learning equipment to support the expansion of the CollegesMore information for providers Behavioral Health Service Corps (BHSC). One of thelooking to learn more about upgrades the grant will support is the installation oftelehealth (sometimes also booths to support telehealth, an already important toolcalled telemental health, teletherapy, or practitioners use to connect with clients that has onlytelebehavioral health) is available via the grown in importance during the pandemic.蜜桃tv Resource Hub at The spaces, which are similar to phonebooths, offer williamjames.edu/telementalhealtha private space to conduct telehealth services, and, Osher said, when were training, theres a place right on campus to practice.'