As we self-isolate and engage in social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth will continue to become more and more important in our community. The goal of funding is to provide continuous, accessible and confidential patient care to COVID-19 patients and to patients with other conditions who risk contracting the coronavirus when visiting a healthcare provider, as well as to reduce the potential virus exposure to practitioners, clinicians and other essential health care staff. The proposed implementation of a comprehensive Telehealth Program will be a critical tool in addressing this national emergency.
Outcomes: The SNHS’s Behavioral Health Services will have the capacity to provide necessary telehealth services to patients with serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic and during possible future emergencies.
Objective 1: By June 30, 2020 the SNHS’s Information Technology (IT) Department will have conducted necessary procurement and purchasing processes to successfully purchase telecommunications, broadband connectivity and devices necessary for providing telehealth services.
Objective 2: By July 31, 2020 the Director of the Seneca Nation’s Behavioral Health Services, in partnership with the SNHS’s Informational Technology Department and Seneca Health leadership, will update, revise and develop any necessary policies and procedures to implement telehealth services.
Objective 3: By August 31, 2020 the Director of the Seneca Nation’s Behavioral Health Unit, in partnership with Seneca Health IT and contractual software provider, will have developed and implemented training for patients, practitioners, clinicians and other essential health care workers on how to use new telehealth devices and services.
Objective 4:By September 30, 2020 the Seneca Health System will be providing telehealth services to the target population.