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The Evolution of a Community-Based Telepsychiatry Program in Rural Alabama: Lessons Learned—A Brief Report

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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the partnership between a community-based rural mental health clinic and an academic health center to provide telepsychiatry services in rural Alabama. The partnership was developed to meet the needs of a clinic that serves an underserved rural population with limited psychiatric services. This paper offers valuable lessons learned for mental health practitioners who may be considering the benefits and challenges of forming community-based partnerships in use of telepsychiatry to build capacity to deliver clinical mental health services to rural mental health shortage areas.

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References

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded in part by a grant made possible by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. The authors would also like to thank Leslie Zganjar, MPA, for her careful edit of this manuscript and Amelia E. de los Reyes, RN, MSN for her efforts in preparation of the manuscript. None of the authors of this paper were compensated or have any financial interests with the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation or their subsidiaries.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, The University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa Campus, Box 870326, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0326, USA

    Thaddeus Ulzen

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, The University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa Campus, Box 870326, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0326, USA

    Lloyda Williamson

  3. Institute for Rural Health Research, The University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa Campus, Box 870326, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0326, USA

    Pamela Payne Foster

  4. Department of Community and Rural Medicine, The University of Alabama School of Medicine, Tuscaloosa Campus, Box 870326, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487-0326, USA

    Pamela Payne Foster

  5. The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect, 100 North Union Street, St 350, Montgomery, AL, USA

    Kelley Parris-Barnes

Authors
  1. Thaddeus Ulzen
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  2. Lloyda Williamson
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  3. Pamela Payne Foster
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  4. Kelley Parris-Barnes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pamela Payne Foster.

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Ulzen, T., Williamson, L., Foster, P.P. et al. The Evolution of a Community-Based Telepsychiatry Program in Rural Alabama: Lessons Learned—A Brief Report. Community Ment Health J 49, 101–105 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9493-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-012-9493-2

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