Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Education and Telehealth Services Advisory March 30, 2020 | Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
During this COVID pandemic times, we are primarily providing virtual treatment sessions.
We provide virtual and phone sessions to clients who cannot meet us in the office. These sessions are charged at the same rate as in-person sessions. Virtual sessions may be reimbursable for out-of-network, but phone sessions are typically not. If you cannot make it to your session because of unforeseeable circumstances with less than 48 hours’ notice, your therapist will charge you for your scheduled session – but should you want, we are always willing to facilitate sessions over the phone instead.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease spread through droplets from the nose or mouth and is caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. People infected by the COVID-19 may experience mild to moderate respiratory symptoms that can be treated without special supervision and specific treatment but older people and the vulnerable population may find the disease become more serious because of the presence of their underlying diseases. Let’s stay informed on what needs to be done to help reduce its transmission.
Education: One of the best ways to protect ourselves and others is to wash our hands frequently with warm and soapy water under the following conditions:
- Before preparing and eating food and after
- After changing a child’s diapers or helping them clean after bathroom use
- After touching garbage
- Before and after caring for a sick person
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
(If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer as an alternative).
Further safety precautions include staying home when sick, avoiding touching the face, and coughing/sneezing into a flexed elbow.
Social Distancing Policies: For those living in Indiana, the Governor has put social distancing policies in place to reduce the spread of the virus. For further information about these policies, go to the Indiana Department of Health and Human Services’ web page at https://www.in.gov.
Outpatient Clinical Assessment and Counseling Services: We continue to offer telehealth care for new and current clients. This technological medical support allows effective communication between clients and therapists, whether for clinical assessments, treatment and safety planning, counseling services, and care continuity and coordination with other healthcare professionals. Telehealth offers the following benefits:
- Reduced exposure to illness and health risks
- Less commuting time and fewer travel costs
- Continuity of work or school. Appointments can be done during lunch breaks
- Guaranteed child care coordination
- Better wellness outcomes because of personalized care
For Further Information About the Coronavirus Disease:
- World Health Organizationwww.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
- Center for Disease Control and Preventionwww.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates