At Hope Springs, we are providing all adult services via telehealth, including evaluations. Child neuropsychological evaluations are mostly in person. At times, with adult neuropsychological evaluations, office visits may be necessary.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth refers to providing healthcare services remotely using telecommunications technologies, such as video conferencing or telephone. At Hope Springs we use a HIPAA compliant version of Zoom.
Are there benefits to telehealth?
One of the benefits of telepsychology is that the client and clinician can engage in services without being in the same place. Telehealth can serve as another social connection. Being able to connect with your psychologist and receive care can be very helpful.
Are telehealth services covered by my insurance?
Each insurance has a different deadline for extending telehealth coverage. We encourage all clients to call and speak to their insurance administrator.
Is it weird to talk to someone this way?
It is a different way to connect with people. Many of us are not computer experts. However, the process is relatively simple, and we will help you get connected or troubleshoot difficulties before they arise. If you are new to telehealth, we will contact you prior to your appointment to answer any questions.
We can assure you that after using telehealth once or twice, many of our patients enjoy their experience and appreciate their care. We often hear that the telehealth experience was better than what was expected.
Are there risks with telehealth?
Because telepsychology sessions take place outside of the provider’s private office, there is potential for other people to overhear sessions if you are not in a private place during the session. We will always take steps to ensure your privacy on our end. It will be important for you to make sure you find a private place for your session where you will not be interrupted or where other people are not present and able to overhear the conversation. For some, this is a room in their home with a closed door. For others, it could be sitting in their car while it is parked.
There are many ways that technology issues might impact telepsychology. For example, technology may stop working during a session or stored data could be accessed by unauthorized people or companies. We have done our best to minimize these risks by choosing a high-quality provider who is HIPAA compliant.
If you are in crisis, we will need to take extra measures to keep you safe. Before engaging in telepsychology, we will develop an emergency response plan to address potential crisis situations that may arise during our telepsychology work.
How helpful is telehealth?
Most research shows that telepsychology is about as effective as in-person psychotherapy. However, some providers believe that something is lost by not being in the same room. For example, there is debate about a provider’s ability to fully understand non-verbal information when working remotely.
However, there are times and circumstances where telehealth may even be more helpful for you than in-person therapy. For example, if you have a long drive, limited availability, or just need a quick check-in, telehealth can be a wonderful service.
How do I schedule a telehealth appointment?
Our scheduling process is very similar to our original system. Please call our office at (319) 358-6520 or email us at contact@hopesprings.net. Clients may also schedule directly with their provider upon completion of their session.
Can I use a phone or tablet?
Yes. Zoom works well on phones, tablets, and computers. However, if you are doing testing remotely, you will need to use a computer. If you have questions at any time, please do not hesitate to contact us.