Kindred Psychology COVID-19 Crisis Response
Telehealth Policy Update (Current 9/1/20)
During the COVID-19 crisis, Kindred Psychology remains fully operational using our HIPAA-compliant Telehealth video portal. We support telecommuting options for employees who choose to work remotely from their private home offices.
Kindred Psychology is a progressive psychology practice where we strive to advance social change and prioritize the greater good. We are committed to doing our part to protect public health and curb the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), while keeping our staff healthy and continuing to provide high quality mental health care services for our clients. From the beginning of the pandemic, we have been in close communication with insurance carriers, public health leaders, physicians, and fellow mental health professionals about being optimally responsive to mental health needs as well as public health concerns.
The following temporary protective measures have been in effect at Kindred Psychology since March 12. We will continue these modifications until public health officials advise that resuming close in-person contact is safe once again. Until our city’s risk dial is in the yellow section trending toward the green for four weeks in a row, sessions will remain through Telehealth.
- All Individual Psychotherapy sessions will be held via our HIPAA-compliant, secure Telehealth portal.
- Couple and Relationship Therapy sessions can be conducted in several ways using Telehealth. Clinicians determine the optimal arrangement for each specific situation.
- Launch of the Group Therapy series was postponed and will resume on 10/1/2020 using a virtual platform.
- Psychological Evaluations have been postponed until in-person contact resumes. Many of the tests used in standardized assessment protocols require face-to-face contact in order for the evaluations to produce valid results..
What is Telehealth?
For those who are unfamiliar with Telehealth, let us explain. Our electronic health record system has a feature that allows us to conduct sessions through a secure video connection on our electronic devices. The system will work with smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop devices. Telehealth is essentially like Skype, FaceTime, or Zoom, but clients can be assured the connection is private and confidential. Most people find that after a brief period of adjustment, they’re able to resume the work they were doing in person. As an emergency response benefit due to the CARES Act, most health insurance companies are covering Telehealth sessions in the same manner as in-person sessions. Clients should check with their specific insurance carrier to ensure coverage. Cash-paying arrangements are now managed electronically.
We recognize Telehealth may pose challenges for some people and we did not make this decision lightly. We are mindful that not everyone has access to a safe, private, clean space to conduct their sessions via our online platform. We are also aware that access to the necessary technology may be a potential barrier for some. To address these accessibility concerns, we developed a collaborative program with Mental Health Association of Nebraska.
COVERED Telehealth Accessibility Program
As is so often the case when our community identifies a need, our colleagues at Mental Health Association of Nebraska and Keya House generously responded.
We worked together to locate a clean and private space with ample confidentiality.
We worked together to cover the protection and supplies for Keya House staff to safely ensure the room is cleaned between users.
We worked together to cover the electronics necessary for Telehealth to be set up in the private room.
And thanks to some crafty volunteer elves, we’re even covering masks for those who may not have them to take home after their sessions.
In as many ways as possible, our COVERED Accessibility Program has made continued mental health services a reality for everyone in our community. We know clients have carefully selected Kindred Psychology as a partner in mental healthcare, and we hold that privilege with immense respect. We will continue to be in contact as we grow in our understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and the needs of our community.