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Telepsychiatry for Medication Management Providing safe management of inmate populations on psychiatric medication is challenging especially while prescribing from an approved formulary in order to contain costs. InSight’s corrections-oriented psychiatrists understand the nuances of a corrections formulary. They are knowledgeable in the wide variety of medications available and what designer medications can be substituted from an approved, cost-controlled formulary. Through real-time televideo interaction, InSight’s telepsychiatry service allows prisons and jails consistent access to psychiatric clinicians who can provide services within designated blocks of time for initial evaluations and medication management. Depending on the needs of the facility, InSight typically offers correctional telepsychiatry services in scheduled blocks of time on a regular basis from the same clinician. Under this model, the InSight telepsychiatrist becomes a regular and active member of the jail’s treatment team while maintaining a consistent case load of inmates. Where clinically appropriate and acceptable, InSight often provides psychiatric services through a prescribing psychiatric nurse practitioner working in collaboration and under the supervision of one of InSight’s psychiatrists. This nurse practitioner model has proven to represent significant cost-savings. Through InSight and regardless of geography or staffing concerns, correctional facilities now have access to the appropriate level of professional with the experience and credentials required to serve the unique needs of inmates. No longer having to struggle to recruit, retain, or reimburse the travel or relocation expenses of corrections psychiatrists, these programs can now access as much psychiatry as they need in a safe, controlled, and clinically validated system of care. Typical Equipment Setup: Many correctional facilities already contain appropriate televideo solutions for video court that can be adapted to use for telepsychiatry. Depending on the physical logistics of the facility and the ability for inmates to safely access the video court systems, InSight can provide a turnkey model of telepsychiatry through existing hardware. However, some correctional facilities would require the installation of a televideo unit in the medical or mental health clinic for safe and efficient use by inmates under custody. The type of televideo equipment can vary widely depending on the infrastructure and capabilities of the jail and its clinic. Some corrections facilities use heavy-duty fixed equipment that is safely mounted to the wall behind safety glass. Other facilities use more traditional desktop equipment that is hardwired within the clinic. Still other facilities utilize televideo equipment that is mounted on a mobile cart so that it can be wheeled around the clinic, to the isolation rooms, or onto the cell blocks. The appropriate televideo setup for corrections depends greatly on the facility and its needs. A staff member such as a mental health technician or nurse will be required to activate the equipment and facilitate an introduction between the inmate and the remote clinician. This facilitator typically remains within the room throughout the interview for safety purposes. |
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