Telemedicine Commons^™

Post-Pandemic Telebehavioral Health: Sustaining And Regulating Remote Mental Health Care As A Core Modality, Weiqiao Dong

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

The United States continues to face a persistent mental health crisis after the COVID-19 pandemic, raising a policy question about the long-term role and regulation of telebehavioral health as a core modality of care. This thesis examines that question through a case study of New York State, an early center of the pandemic and a leader in telehealth policy reform.

Guided by the Health Policy Triangle framework, this thesis integrates longitudinal data from all 62 New York counties for 2010-2025 with a 2025 cross-sectional dataset covering 61 counties. Seventeen standardized indicators are organized into four dimensions: geographic, economic, demographic, and …

Abortions In The Mountain West, 2022-2025, Olivia K. Cheche, Caitlin J. Saladino, William E. Brown Jr.

Health

This fact sheet presents data on the number of abortions provided annually in the Mountain West states of Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah between July 2022 and June 2025. The data are retrieved from the Society of Family Planning’s #WeCount report,  which includes data on abortion volume across all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. This fact sheet focuses on the administration of both in-person and telehealth abortions in the Mountain West.

Anesthesia And Pain Management In Conflict-Affected Regions: Addressing Global Health Barriers To Access And Quality Of Care​, Naeel Uddin, Sierra Brown, Maria Easler, Ayanda Mkhize, Marwa Hamdam, Chandu Goli, Lauren Draper

Annual Research Symposium

This poster examines how to deliver safe, effective anesthesia and pain control in areas with limited resources and ongoing security threats. Focusing on portable technology, ketamine-based protocols, and telemedicine, we highlight ethical considerations, training needs, and global collaborations. Our findings outline a pathway to reduce suffering and improve surgical outcomes in vulnerable populations by addressing challenges unique to conflict settings.

A Qualitative Analysis Of College Students' Interest In Mhealth Solutions, Leslie Hoglund, Craig M. Becker, Cara Tonn

Health Behavior, Policy & Management Faculty Publications

This study explores college students' perceptions of an AI-driven mHealth application designed to promote well-being. With rising mental health challenges in academic settings, students increasingly seek digital tools that provide holistic support for physical, mental, and financial health. Through focus groups, this qualitative study examines students' preferences for personalized health tracking, educational content, and flexible reminders within a private, supportive community. Key findings emphasize students' desire for a balanced, all-in-one app that integrates health and wellness tools without overwhelming them with notifications. Students also highlighted the importance of social media integration for outreach, though concerns were raised about potential stress …

Exploring Cultural, Health, And Technology Intersections: A Focus On Migrant Experiences, Merna Mina, Sahij Gill

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

Despite the plethora of theories and frameworks addressing culture, health, and technology adoption, there remains a notable absence of a unifying theory that comprehensively encompasses all three aspects, particularly concerning newcomers. The Health Belief Model, for example, underscores individual perceptions and attitudes toward health yet fails to consider the intricate interplay between cultural factors and technology adoption among immigrant populations. The Healthy Immigrant Effect, which posits that immigrants often exhibit better health outcomes than native-born individuals, does not mention the role of technology on health outcomes. Acculturation theories, while shedding light on the adaptation process, often fall short of explaining …

Evolution Of Telehealth-Its Impact On Palliative Care And Medication Management, Syed N Imam, Ursula K Braun, Mary A Garcia, Leanne K Jackson

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Palliative care plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals facing serious illnesses, aiming to alleviate suffering and provide holistic support. With the advent of telehealth, there is a growing interest in leveraging technology to extend the reach and effectiveness of palliative care services. This article provides a comprehensive review of the evolution of telehealth, the current state of telemedicine in palliative care, and the role of telepharmacy and medication management. Herein we highlight the potential benefits, challenges, and future directions of palliative telemedicine. As the field continues to advance, the article proposes key considerations for …

Addressing Untimely Healthcare Access Of Veterans Receiving Care Through The Veteran Healthcare Administration (Vha), Frank Lunetta, Jamie Stern, Lila Mcnamee

School of Professional Studies

The Veteran Healthcare Administration (VHA) serves over nine million veterans (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). They are responsible for the health and well-being of veterans with service-connected disabilities (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). A major focus for the organization is to keep improving access for veterans, as the population continues to grow (Department of Veterans Affairs, 2023). In 2018, congress passed the MISSION Act in hopes of increasing access for veterans. The MISSION Act would expand private healthcare access for veterans through the Veteran Community Care Program (VCCP) (MISSION ACT, 2018). Despite the initial benefits of the program, the MISSION …

Advocacy Spotlight: 2024 Regulatory Reminders, Neema Katibai Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The Advocacy Spotlight column delves into critical regulatory reminders for dentists in 2024, emphasizing compliance challenges and potential disruptions to practice. Key areas covered include licensing, amalgam separator renewal, electronic prescribing, and Beneficial Ownership Information reporting. The article stresses the importance of staying informed about evolving regulations to ensure seamless practice operations.

Political Prioritization For Digital Health And Health Equity Through Global Health Diplomacy, Vijay Kumar Chattu, Sujatha Alla, Bawa Singh

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

[Introduction] We have found the article "Digital health and health equity: How digital health can address healthcare disparities and improve access to quality care in Africa" published in the recent issue to be very relevant and interesting.¹ Qoseem et al have highlighted that there is a great need for continuous advocacy for strengthening the health systems through telehealth promotion and increasing access to healthcare services to achieve health equity.

Advocacy Spotlight: Telehealth Regulations For Dentistry Established, Neema Katibai Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The article discusses the rise of telehealth in the last three years and its implications for dentistry, focusing on recent rulemaking by the Michigan Board of Dentistry. The regulations address key aspects such as definitions, informed consent, scope of practice, and prescribing medications. Dentists must comply with HIPAA and state/federal privacy regulations when using telehealth. Notably, the rules restrict teledentistry delegation to allied personnel after an in-person visit within 24 months. The article emphasizes the importance of understanding and following these regulations for legal telehealth use, reimbursement, and malpractice coverage. The Michigan Dental Association advocates for sensible teledentistry laws to …

J Mich Dent Assoc January 2024

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Every month, The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association brings news, information, and features about Michigan dentistry to our state's oral health community and the MDA's 6,200+ members. No publication reaches more Michigan dentists!

The January issue sets the foundation for Children’s Dental Health Month in February, the reader will find the following original content:

• A cover commentary on Pediatric Dentistry
• A feature article on “Silver Diamine Fluoride as a Caries Management Option for the Young Child”.
• A feature on “Considerations Concerning Obesity-Related Education for Parents of Young Children”.
• Professional advice commentary on “Staying Focused on a Moving Target: Coping …

Mda Advocacy Report: 2023 To Date, And What’S Next, Jason Mashni Dds

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

This article is a recap of MDA legislative advocacy accomplishments and what is on the horizon for the remainder of 2023, written by the chair of the MDA Committee on Governmental and Insurance Affairs.

Disparities In Mental Health Technology Among African Americans: Breaking Cultural Inclusion Barriers, Nyoki Cosey-Brown

DSW Capstone Projects

Mental health technology is a healthcare delivery model of the future. The engagement in virtual healthcare was intensified when traditional healthcare methods were inaccessible during the federal restrictions implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing digital apparatuses for healthcare improved the convenience, efficiency, and accessibility of various mental health services that were inoperable in past healthcare models. However, the historical constructs of stigma, discrimination, inequity, exclusion, and structural racism in mental healthcare were prevalent problems that remained present in virtual mental health platforms concerning the experiences of African-American patients and professionals who utilized the spaces.

This research explored mental health …

Advocacy Spotlight: Ada Lobbyist Conference Highlights Critical Advocacy Issues, Neema Katibai Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

The ADA Lobbyist Conference highlighted crucial issues in dentistry, including Medicare reform, teledentistry, workforce concerns, and insurance challenges. State dental associations collaborated on building advocacy partnerships and shared successful grassroots engagement strategies. Medicare reform discussions focused on the ADA's opposition to Plan B inclusion and the impact of constituent outreach. State associations addressed Medicaid reform, emphasizing personal stories to convey the need for change. Teledentistry legislation and insurance company relationships were also key topics. The insights gained will shape the MDA's advocacy strategy for 2022.

Improving Egypt’S Access To Vaccines And Medicines: Communication During Covid-19 / تحسين إتاحة الوصول إلى اللقاحات والأدوية في مصر: سياسة توعية الجمهور خلال أزمة فيروس كورونا, Alaa Abdel-Rahman, Sarah Attef, Helen Gabrah, Reem El-Sayed, Sarah El-Lithy

Papers, Posters, and Presentations

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Egyptian government has been following protocol as best as possible when it comes to responding to the needs of the health and economic sectors amid difficult times. From lockdown measures to the WHO’s recommended practices in terms of isolation of cases and treatments, Egypt has been lauded as one of the fastest and most effective countries in terms of COVID-19 emergency response. Authorities have implemented several awareness campaigns directed at citizens to inform them about the pandemic, how to prevent infection, what to do if infected and how to act accordingly. Authorities …

Fast Cbt For Pediatric Ocd: A Multiple-Baseline Controlled Pilot Trial Of Parent Training In Exposure And Response Prevention Delivered, Lara J Farrell, Natalja A Nabinger De Diaz, Sharna Mathieu, Matthew L Mckenzie, Taka Miyamoto, Caroline L Donovan, Allison M Waters, Sonja March, Nicole Bothma, Rianca Kroon, Gabrielle Simcock, Robert S Ware, Robert R Selles, Eric A Storch, Thomas Ollendick

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Objective: The current study utilized a single case series, non-concurrent multiple baseline design to examine the efficacy of training parents via telehealth videoconferencing in exposure and response prevention (ERP) for home delivery of the treatment for their children and adolescents with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

Method: There were nine participants aged 8 to 14 years who had received a primary diagnosis of OCD. The design involved a series of AB replications, whereby following pre-treatment assessments participants were randomly assigned to either a 2-week (n = 4) or 3-week (n = 5) baseline condition with weekly monitoring of their …

The Opioid Crisis Meets Covid-19 Pandemic, Hannah M. Westerman

English Department: Research for Change - Wicked Problems in Our World

Abstract: How have the COVID-19 pandemic and the Opioid Crisis have collided to create a negative effect on those who abuse drugs and other substances? These two wicked problems are now collectively making it more difficult for those to recover and overcome substance and drug abuse worsening the Opioid Epidemic. With no clear answer in sight can vaccines and more accessible rehab help to progress these wicked problems?

Changing Needs Of Individuals With Disabilities In The Time Of Covid-19 As Observed By A Family Navigation Program In Miami, Fl, Gabriella Llano, Allison Kumnick, Jean-Paul Bryant Ms, Nancy Torres Ms, Jeffrey Brosco Md, Phd, Maite Schenker Phd

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Family Navigator Program (FNP) is designed to help families navigate the complex system of services available to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), chronic health conditions, mental health issues, and other special health care needs. Based at the Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami, the FNP is free and available to all families in South Florida. Most families enrolled in the FNP are receiving medical services from a university clinic; however, the program also accepts referrals from outside agencies and self-referrals. The aim of this study was to investigate the needs of families enrolled …

Workshop #5: Workforce: Evacuations, Shelter Staffing, Workforce Structure, Capacity, Ppe, And Telemedicine: After-Action Report (Aar), Converge Nsf Working Group, Joshua G. Behr, Wie Yusuf, Jennifer Marshall, Elizabeth Dunn

Presentations, Lectures, Posters, Reports

Participants in the breakout sessions for the CONVERGE COVID-19 Working Group’s Workshop 5 (Workforce) identified several issues, including unique staffing challenges for this compound event, needed training revisions to address shelter protocols specific to COVID-19, additional staffing needs based on the unusual use of congregate and non-congregate shelters to address COVID-19 risks, and the increased need for ancillary services for staff and volunteers during and after an event.

Ensuring shelter operations are maintained despite COVID-19 will require adequate staffing. Layoffs, furloughs and hiring freezes have affected base employee numbers, where many jurisdictions rely on county and city employees, along with …

A Multi-Level Assessment Of Healthcare Facilities Readiness, Willingness, And Ability To Adopt And Sustain Telehealth Services, Jamie Larson

Theses & Dissertations

Telehealth technologies are becoming more pervasive throughout the healthcare system as a way to provide services to patients that would otherwise have difficulty with access. Currently, little is known about the current state of telehealth use within clinics and hospital in the US. Most studies evaluating telehealth programs are feasibility or small patient outcome studies from one location. Utilizing a hybrid framework combining the levels of complex socio-technical systems with the theory of ready, willing and able. The theory of ready, willing, and able is founded on the basis that these three preconditions need to be met for a change …

The Role Of Ehealth In Disasters: A Strategy For Education, Training And Integration In Disaster Medicine, Anthony C. Norris, Jose J. Gonzalez, David T. Parry, Richard E. Scott, Julie Dugdale, Deepak Khazanchi

Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis Faculty Publications

This paper describes the origins and progress of an international project to advance disaster eHealth (DEH) – the application of eHealth technologies to enhance the delivery of healthcare in disasters. The study to date has focused on two major themes; the role of DEH in facilitating inter-agency communication in disaster situations, and the fundamental need to promote awareness of DEH in the education of disaster managers and health professionals. The paper deals mainly with on-going research on the second of these themes, surveying the current provision of disaster medicine education, the design considerations for a DEH programme for health professionals, …

Use Of Telehealth In Nhsc Grantee Sites, Patricia Pittman, Clese Erikson, Xiaoli Wu, Emily Bass

Health Workforce Research Center Publications

Telehealth has long been viewed as an important pathway for increasing access to care for underserved populations, while providing high quality care at low cost. The spread of telehealth in the United States, however, has been hampered by a range of reimbursement, equipment costs, and licensure barriers. In this study we examined the extent to which telehealth is being used in settings that are among the locations most in need: the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) approved grantee sites. Key Questions

1. To what extent and how are NHSC using telehealth and telemedicine services?
2. What are the barriers to adoption and …

Can Electronic Health Records Systems Support New Payment Methods For Health Centers?, Peter Shin, Feygele Jacobs, Jeffrey Barnes, James B. Welsh, Lisa Perry, Scott D. Morgan

Geiger Gibson/RCHN Community Health Foundation Research Collaborative

This study assessed the feasibility and usefulness of combining electronic health record (EHR) data with federal cost report data for the purposes of: 1) quantifying the provision of enabling services; and 2) for use as the basis of community health center payment rate-setting. The study used EHR data derived from the Center for Primary Care Informatics to isolate enabling services and perform the end-to-end analysis that might be required to develop or evaluate reimbursement rates. The study revealed that data extracted from federal cost reports combined with data from the EHR fall short of providing the information required to reasonably …

Research Brief: "The Potential For Health-Related Uses Of Mobile Phones And Internet With Homeless Veterans: Results From A Multisite Survey", Institute For Veterans And Military Families At Syracuse University

Institute for Veterans and Military Families

This brief is about the use of mobile phones among homeless veterans for medical appointment reminders, and other health services provided by healthcare practitioners. In policy and practice, social workers and counselors should determine whether mobile communication would benefit homeless veterans with whom they work and should identify certain barriers to mobile communication that could exist; the VA should expand its mobile notification efforts and look for programs that reduce barriers to regular access to mobile communication. Suggestions for future research include expanding the sample of homeless veterans to include those who are living on the streets or in a …

Provision Of Telemedicine Services By Community Health Centers, Peter Shin, Jessica Sharac, Feygele Jacobs

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

The objective of this study was to assess the use of telemedicine services at community health centers. A national survey was distributed to all federally qualified health centers to gather data on their use of health information technology, including telemedicine services. Over a third of responding health centers (37%) provided some type of telemedicine service while 63% provided no telemedicine services. A further analysis that employed ANOVA and chi-square tests to assess differences by the provision of telemedicine services (provided no telemedicine services, provided one telemedicine service, and provided two or more telemedicine services) found that the groups differed by …

Data Segmentation In Electronic Health Information Exchange: Policy Considerations And Analysis, Melissa M. Goldstein, Alison L. Rein, Melissa M. Heesters, Penelope P. Hughes, Benjamin Williams, Scott A. Weinstein

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

The issue of whether and, if so, to what extent patients should have control over the sharing or withholding of their health information represents one of the foremost policy challenges related to electronic health information exchange. It is widely acknowledged that patients' health information should flow where and when it is needed to support the provision of appropriate and high-quality care. Equally significant, however, is the notion that patients want their needs and preferences to be considered in the determination of what information is shared with other parties, for what purposes, and under what conditions. Some patients may prefer to …

Consumer Consent Options For Electronic Health Information Exchange: Policy Considerations And Analysis, Melissa M. Goldstein, Alison L. Rein

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

The issue of whether, to what extent, and how individuals should have the ability to exercise control over their health information represents one of the foremost policy challenges related to the electronic exchange of health information. The current landscape of possible consent models is varied, and the factors involved in choosing among them are complex. States and other entities engaged in facilitating the exchange of electronic health information are struggling with a host of challenges, chief among them the establishment of policies and procedures for patient participation in their exchange efforts. While some have adopted policies enabling patients to exercise …

Role Of Information And Communication Technologies (Icts) In Behavior Change Communication In Northern India, Population Council

Reproductive Health

This research brief examines the growth of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) and its uses in the health sector, as well as existing and emerging ICT applications that have the potential to rapidly accelerate the adoption of family health practices. It also looks at its use in behavior change communication strategies to deliver services for improving family health outcomes. The findings indicate that ICTs, particularly mobile phones are likely to have a wider reach among rural populations. It also recommends scaling up multiple interaction systems using ICTs.

Health Information Technology In The United States: The Information Base For Progress, David Blumenthal, Catherine M. Desroches, Karen Donelan, Sara J. Rosenbaum, Timothy Ferris

Health Policy and Management Faculty Publications

Health information technology (HIT) has the potential to advance health care quality by helping patients with acute and chronic conditions receive recommended care, diminishing disparities in treatment and reducing medical errors. Nevertheless, HIT dissemination has not occurred rapidly, due in part to the high costs of electronic health record (EHR) systems for providers of care—including the upfront capital investment, ongoing maintenance and short-term productivity loss. Also, many observers are concerned that, if HIT follows patterns observed with other new medical technologies, HIT and EHRs may diffuse in ways that systematically disadvantage vulnerable patient populations, thus increasing or maintaining existing disparities …