Q1: What are some of the Benefits and Challenges of Tele-Intervention?

<Pam Dawson>
  
Tele-Intervention, which is sometimes called a virtual home visit, can be a viable service delivery model in the field of Early Intervention, and can have measureable benefits. Tele-Intervention can increase the use of family centered practices. As early interventionists, we strengthen a families’ capacity to support their child’s development by increasing parent knowledge and improving parent-child interactions. Families can best learn new skills when we provide opportunities to practice them through a coaching model. When an EI provider is not physically in the home, the coaching model becomes essential and a parent becomes the primary facilitator of the child’s activities. The provider, at the distant site, can offer guidance, modeling, and feedback to the parent. TI also offers the opportunity for all family members to benefit from the early intervention because sessions can be recorded and viewed at a more convenient time outside of the work day. Tele-Intervention increases access to qualified providers and reduces travel constraints. In many states, families often live in remote, rural areas that challenge our ability to provide cost effective access to qualified providers in the child’s natural environment. Implementation of TI often reduces mileage travel expenses and travel time between appointments can significantly be reduced, offering the potential for early interventionists to provide services to more children in the same amount of time. Cancellations due to weather or a child’s mild illness can also be reduced. Tele-Intervention increases teaming opportunities, too. It can be difficult to schedule meetings when several professionals, often from more than one agency, are involved. Joint visits are ideal but may be limited due to distance or scheduling. Professionals working with a child can join home visits via TI when scheduling is prohibitive. There are challenges associated with Tele-Intervention or virtual home visits, and we must recognize that it isn’t appropriate for every family or every provider. Some families may simply desire the support that only the physical presence of a provider can give. TI sessions can be combined with traditional home visits to meet the needs of individual children and their families. It must be kept in mind that TI is one delivery platform for providing quality, family-centered services. Both the family and the provider must feel confident with technology and have a quiet place to access high quality internet connection. Providers must have the parent coaching skills necessary to deliver intervention remotely. Obtaining reimbursement for tele-intervention services remains a challenge in some areas, however this is changing rapidly. Just as it is true in a session within the home, when you use Tele-Intervention, you need to ensure that your actions are compliant with HIPAA, FERPA, and Part C requirements.