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Telehealth

Telehealth is a broad term that refers to mental health services and information provided electronically or with the use of technology. Telehealth services may include mental health education, problem-solving, skill training, help with decision-making, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and /or referrals to resources. Telehealth services with CPS will occur primarily through a predetermined video conferencing platform and exchanges through the student health portal.

  • The use of telehealth services is subject to the discretion of a CPS provider and based upon the assessment of a student’s clinical need(s).
  • Students must be physically located in a state where the provider is licensed and practicing.
  • There are risks and consequences from telehealth services, including, but not limited to the possibility, despite reasonable efforts on the part of CPS, that the transmission of personal information could be: disrupted or distorted by technical failures; interrupted by unauthorized persons; and/or accessed by unauthorized persons in an electronic storage system
  • The physical environment in which the student participates impacts confidentiality. Students are encouraged to ensure that no one else is in the room, not to participate in conversations while on speakerphone, or to participate in telehealth services in a public setting
  • Telehealth services may not be as complete as in-person services

Before Your First Telehealth Appointment

  • If this is your first appointment with CPS this academic year, please log on to your Student Health Portal before your appointment to complete some required paperwork, which typically takes about 10-15 minutes. Please complete this paperwork at least 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time.
  • A link to the appointment will be sent to you by CPS before your scheduled appointment time.
  • About 5 minutes before your appointment, ensure your device is accessible and working.
  • Upon the start of the appointment, your mental health provider will verify your identity, physical location, emergency contact, nearest emergency services, and agreement to engage in the service.

Tips for Successful Telehealth Appointments

  • Choose a private and confidential location without anyone else present. Do not have a counseling session in a public area.
  • If using video conferencing, choose an environment with good lighting.
  • To the best of your abilities, avoid or limit environmental distractions (pets, television, phone calls, text, etc.)
  • Identify a backup method for your appointment in the event of technical difficulties and communicate such information with your mental health provider.

Information about Telehealth Services

CPS offers this alternative form of support by telephone and face-to-face video conferencing to currently enrolled university students who meet the eligibility criteria for telehealth services. For telehealth services through video conferencing, CPS uses the encrypted version of Zoom. If you do not already have a personal account that you do not share with someone else, please sign up for one. Sign in to your account at least 5 minutes before the start time of your appointment. You are responsible for initiating the connection with the CPS staff member at your session time using the link sent to you through your University email.

Please remember that telehealth and remote consultation services may not be as complete as face-to-face services. This form of counseling may change the dynamics of what might have been established in face-to-face counseling. Also, it is important to note that video conferencing might have temporary voice distortions or disruptions in video quality.

Please note that receiving telehealth services may be contraindicated for students with:

  • Recent suicide attempt(s), current active suicidal or homicidal ideation or intent, psychiatric hospitalization, or psychotic symptoms.
  • A clinical presentation with severe physical symptoms (e.g., severe eating disorder, severe self-injury, severe depression) that requires medical attention.
  • Moderate to severe substance abuse or dependence symptoms.
  • Repeated “acute” crises (e.g., occurring once a month or more frequently).
  • Lack of access to, or difficulty with, communication technology.

For students who have not been seen in the current academic year at CPS, an initial screening with a CPS mental health provider will occur. This screening will also explore the appropriateness of telehealth services.

Please remember that telephone and video communication may lack some visual or audio cues that might result in a misinterpretation or misunderstanding. If this were to happen, please assume that your mental health provider most likely has positive regard for you. Please identify this potential misunderstanding to your mental health provider to explore ways to reduce any unnecessary feelings of discomfort.

Your mental health provider needs to know the physical location/address from which you are calling/video conferencing, which enables them to identify local emergency service supports and any potential practice issues.

In the event of technology failure, the most reliable backup is a phone or alternate phone number. Therefore, it is recommended that you always have a phone available and that you provide your mental health provider with your phone number(s). If you get disconnected from a video conferencing session, restart the session. If you cannot restart the session and do not receive a phone call from your mental health provider on the established backup number(s), email your mental health provider.

Telehealth services are offered for all eligible students regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran status. If it is determined by the clinical staff that an individual’s needs exceed the scope of service or expertise within CPS or that the needs cannot be adequately met by participating in telehealth services, your CPS provider will assist you in identifying an appropriate referral to meet your needs. Please note that CPS does not pay the costs of therapy or community resources/treatment services to which you may be referred.

Privacy Measure Tips

Please note that the following set of tips to increase the privacy of your telehealth appointment is not intended to be all-inclusive and is only a suggestion. Please use your discretion to assess how your specific environment/technology might affect the level of security, privacy, and confidentiality of your information.

  • Plan to conduct your session in a private location where others cannot hear or see you.
  • Use encrypted video conferencing technology. Monmouth CPS uses an encrypted application of Zoom.
  • Password protect your computer, tablet, phone, and any other device with unique passwords (do not use the same password for every device or platform).
  • Do not have websites or software store your password.
  • Avoid sharing a computer while logged into any messaging system linked to a counseling platform.
  • Clear your phone/browser’s browsing history, cache, and cookies to limit others from discovering your use of services.
  • Keep your computer, software, firewall, and antivirus programs updated and active.
  • Use a secure network for internet access using a WAP2 security key.
  • Notify your mental health provider if you suspect any breach in your security.

Use of Email

Email should NOT be used to convey urgent, time-sensitive information as an immediate receipt/response is not guaranteed. Email is not a confidential method of communication. Do not include private information if you choose to contact your mental health provider by email. You should expect a response within one business day when the University is open. Email communications may be viewed by other staff at CPS and may be stored electronically as a part of a student’s treatment records.