The Wyoming Telehealth Network newsletter is your source for information, resources and best practices in telehealth. We support healthcare entities, providers, and specialists through professional development, collaboration, and leveraging of telecommunications technology.
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Wyoming Telehealth Network Webinar |
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Join us for our next Webinar:
Part One of a Three-Part Series on Telehealth Billing:
The Logistics and Best Practices for Billing and Coding for Telehealth
Facilitator:
Deb Anderson, Mountain Pacific Quality Health
Presenters:
Amy Hayes, The Office Assistant, LLC
Dustin Brown, Ingrained Integrity
Sara Rogers, Wyoming Department of Health
Brenda Stout, Wyoming Department of Health
Lindsay Conyers, Wyoming Department of Health
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00pm (MST)
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Janette Mydland, LPC, runs the Intensive Outpatient Treatment Program at the Sheridan office at Northern Wyoming Mental Health Center. At the beginning of the pandemic, telehealth seemed like a daunting task, but fast forward to the present, and Janette is the Wyoming Telehealth Network’s number one Zoom user this month with 25,500 minutes of meetings and counting!
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What is your proudest accomplishment with telehealth?
Janette Mydland: My proudest accomplishment is getting better at offering Intensive Outpatient Treatment group virtually through Zoom. That is a challenge all in and of itself. The first time around, I really felt like a duck on ice. I had no idea what I was doing. Some of the Medicaid rules don’t help – for example, you have to limit your group to 10 people if there’s any one client in there that has Medicaid. Typically my groups run from 10-23 people, so that was challenging. The second time around, it was really amazing because my group came back in and I dropped being nervous and apologizing for the awkwardness. I told myself stop being nervous, stop apologizing for this, and run it like you do any other group. I had to make it a little more entertaining because you’re on Zoom and not in person, so you have to be able to hold people’s attention. Getting good at that is probably my best accomplishment for telehealth. Learning how to keep people engaged and make them feel like they can buy into it and trust the process, even over the internet, that’s been pretty awesome to experience.
What advice would you give providers wanting to start offering telehealth?
Janette: Have somebody as amazing as Joel Wilson, who is our IT person. He is a life-saver because he has made sure we are HIPAA-compliant. That can be scary because there are a lot of rules that go along with telehealth that don’t normally apply to in person services. So make sure you’re in compliance, but then the next thing is practice. Practice sharing documents, practice sharing your screen, practice not hanging up on your client when you meant to push the other button. Give yourself a little bit of a chance to get comfortable with it, because if you aren’t comfortable with it, your clients won’t be either. If you don’t have an IT person, consult with somebody who can make sure you’re covering all the bases.
Is there anything you learned the hard way in telehealth implementation?
Janette: One of the things I had to learn was to stop making it awkward by feeling awkward. I know when it very first started, I kept saying things like “I know this isn’t what it feels like in person” or “I know this isn’t how the Intensive Outpatient Program usually runs”. The second time around, I shut my mouth and stopped saying things like that because clients will pick up your energy and that’s how they are going to start to feel. Keep it interesting. It almost has to be entertaining because staying locked on your computer screen is exhausting. I do it sometimes 7-10 hours a day, so you have to make it worth keeping attention focused on that screen. There are going to be times when you feel more like an entertainer than a therapist, but that’s what it’s going to take.
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In the most recent issue of the UWYO Magazine for Alumni and Friends of the University of Wyoming, WyTN's own Canyon Hardesty is featured in an article dedicated to our work in telehealth. Link to the whole story to learn more about the incredible impact WyTN is having on increasing capacity of statewide providers and systems to implement telehealth as an evidence-based practice to increase access to high-quality and specialty care around the state. |
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Spring 2021 Training: Solution-Focused Therapy |
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UW ECHO in Integrative Care, in collaboration with the Institute for Solution-Focused Therapy, is offering free training in Solution-Focused Therapy for Wyoming healthcare providers.
This is a 12-hour online, synchronous lecture and practice-based course. It includes 8 live interactive teaching, personal and professional training practice exercises, case presentations, role-plays, and an optional final presentation from participants demonstrating how they have applied solution-focused skills in their unique area of practice. Prior to the first on-line session, participants will have access to a 3-hour asynchronous on-line training in the introduction to Solution-Focused Therapy.
Solution-Focused Therapy is a short-term goal-focused evidence-based therapeutic approach which helps clients change by constructing solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Healthcare practitioners can use this modality to empower clients to own their abilities in solving life's problems. Solution-Focused Therapy has exceptional value when used in the integrative care setting involving both primary and mental health care by offering brief solution-based techniques and a future-oriented vehicle for formulating, motivating, achieving, and sustaining desired behavioral change.
Wednesdays from 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm MT:
February 3 & 10
March 3, 17, & 31
April 7
May 5 & 19
This course provides 15 CE credits. Attendance to all sessions is required, and the course is limited to 25 participants.
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Equality State Research Network Pilot Awards |
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The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities is pleased to announce the Equality State Research Network Partnership Development Awards and Pilot Awards for Community-Based Research.
We expect to award $60,000 to be distributed among 4 to 6 awardees to support Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to improve the health of Wyoming residents. Faculty members and community organizations are encouraged to apply.
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Administration for Community Living Input Needed |
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FCC Seeks Input on Providing Broadband Service and Devices to Low-Income Households by February 16
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking to provide broadband service and devices to low-income households. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 directed the FCC to create the program, which would reimburse participating companies for providing discounted broadband service and connected devices to eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program will pay up to $50 for a broadband connection per qualifying household. On Tribal lands, that monthly discount may be up to $75 per month. The program will also purchase a device (such as a phone, laptop, or tablet) to connect to the Internet up to $100 of the cost of the device so long as the household contributes no less than $10 and no more than $50 for the device. Participating providers will receive reimbursement from the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program for the discounts provided.
Comments are due by February 16, 2021.
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Wyoming Telehealth Network Survey |
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During the 2020 pandemic, the Wyoming Telehealth Network grew from approximately 220 HIPAA-secure Zoom license users to nearly 2,400 users. This exponential growth has served to slingshot telehealth implementation across Wyoming.
As we continue to forge a path forward and capitalize upon our experiences of 2020, we ask for your help. You can assist us as we continue to support your efforts by letting the Wyoming Telehealth Network know what you need most out of our services and programming.
Please take a few minutes to give your ideas by completing this survey.
It’s fast, it’s meaningful, and we will be so grateful that you did.
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Wyoming Telehealth Consortium |
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The Wyoming Telehealth Consortium is the central meeting space to discuss the programs, success/challenges, and discuss ideas on improving the use of telehealth in the state. The Consortium meets on the last Tuesday of every month, from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Anyone interested in building telehealth is encouraged to attend.
January 26, 2021
3:00pm - 5:00pm
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Allied Health SIG
First Thursday of the month
February 4, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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Telemental Health SIG
Second Wednesday of the month
February 10, 2021
10:00am - 11:00am
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Wyoming Hospitals SIG
Third Friday of the month
February 19, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00pm
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Public Health Nursing SIG
First Thursday of the month
February 4, 2021
10:00am - 11:00am
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Early Childhood SIG
Second Wednesday of the month
February 10, 2021
4:00pm - 5:00pm
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If you would like to contribute information to the newsletter, get involved with any special interest groups, or have your practice highlighted,
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Contact Information
Wyoming Telehealth Network
Wyoming Institute for Disabilities
1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 4298
Laramie, WY 82071
307-766-6407
wyomingtelehealth.org
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