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PC-Based TeleHealth Video Conferencing: High Quality at one-third the cost of traditional video conferencing.
Arlington, Va - October 15 - Secure TeleHealth today introduced at the Openminds Institute for Behavioral Health Informatics, their encrypted, PC-based video conferencing service for behavioral health providers. Quality: Full-screen 640X480 image at 30 frames per second. Cost: one-third the cost of traditional video conferencing methods (details below).
Secure Telehealth President Jim Mountain (standing) presents to his audience at the Openminds 2009 Institute of Behavioral Health Informatics in Arlington, Virginia. Read the full presentation here... |
How it works 
We use the public Internet to conduct confidential video conference sessions between clients and their behavioral health clinicians. The secret? The video conferences are protected by state-of-the-art encryption, embedded right into the software, which keeps the sessions private.
Web cams are installed on computers at the client's residence and at multiple provider locations.
Once the client joins the meeting (two clicks) he or she interacts with the physician or clinician on the screen just as if they were sitting across the table.
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Quality
Consistent, sharp, in-focus, full-screen images (such as the unretouched photo from a live Secure Telehealth video conference pictured above) and perfect audio are achieved when Secure Telehealth hardware guidelines and Internet connection guidelines are followed. The most important contributor to quality is the number of users sharing your Internet bandwidth. Often, a dedicated Internet connection costing $60 per month is required to the video conferencing PC to achieve consistant high-quality results.
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Cost - and Reimbursement
Cost: Secure TeleHealth charges a flat fee to the provider ($300 per month for two licenses). This fee allows the provider to install the software on any number of PC's. Additional licenses are required when multiple concurrent calls are needed.
Reimbursement: Medicaid reimbursement for telehealth varies from state to state. Typically, the provider bills the Managed Care Organization (MCO) for each telehealth session (the same amount as face-to-face) and, in many states, a separate Telehealth facility fee (CPT code Q3014 - typically $17-$24 per session).
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Expected Outcomes
1. Providers will Increase the number and frequency of contacts and rapport between behavioral healh professionals and consumers.
2. Providers will extend their reach further into rural areas.
3. Providers will provide treatment to individuals who have had difficulty accessing mental health services due to physical limitations or perceived stigma.
Consumer feedback indicates satisfaction with the service. One remote participant in a group told us: "I felt that I was part of the class and I am a good person. I know that now, and that I am not alone and my self-esteem will get better!" |
