The application of telehealth and related technologies to deliver mental health services is well established; however, work continues to be required to demonstrate the effectiveness of these new approaches in service delivery. Research and evaluation have always been a key component in the development of the TMH service. Evaluation activities have developed around three parameters:
- Access to telemental health service
- Quality of the service
- Outcomes of service delivery
The main purpose of the research and evaluation activities is to develop and implement research and outcome measurement projects – within an applied research model – to support and guide TMH services within the AMHB.
Completed research and evaluation projects have included measuring client outcomes compared to usual face-to-face service delivery, completion of a survey by referring GPs regarding impact of TMH on the clinical service they provide, and clinical evaluation of outcomes surrounding child telepsychiatry. In addition, evaluation surveys have been completed by consulting telepsychiatrists. Partnerships include support of research and evaluation of new technologies used to treat mental health disorders (i.e. use of videophones for community follow up and discharge planning and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).
Research and evaluation initiatives are not restricted to clinical service delivery. Other activities include evaluation of learning sessions to measure outcomes on clinical practice of participants, and ongoing collection of routine data and analysis of clinical projects.
Research & Evaluation Reports/Publications:
Telemental Health Service Publications
Telemental Health Service Research and Evaluation Initiative Summary