Provider perspectives of telehealth use in Connecticut birth-to-three programs during COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Telehealth has been used previously in wellness, physical activity, and patient care in clinical populations. Renewed efforts by healthcare policy professionals promote telehealth to deliver services to patients during the covid-19 pandemic. Previous research has focused on the perceptions of medical providers, adult patients, and the parents and adult caregivers of children, with limited research on the use of telemedicine in young children in early intervention programs. This study aimed to collect and evaluate Connecticut Birth-to-Three providers' perceptions of using telehealth to deliver therapeutic services to children ages zero to three years. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional exploratory study utilizing an anonymous online survey. An email containing the survey link was sent to Connecticut Birth-to-Three program directors for distribution to social workers, occupational, physical, behavioral, developmental, and speech therapists employed by each agency. Results: All category service providers in this study indicated they would likely use telehealth to deliver therapeutic support services to patients. Providers with high IT familiarity levels were most likely to use telehealth. Providers with high levels of education were least likely to use telehealth. Discussion: Responses show telehealth is feasible for delivering therapeutic support services to young patients. Concerns that should be considered in future research include long-term telehealth usage, policy regulations, insurance coverage, and billing regulations. Conclusion: Telehealth is suitable for delivering therapeutic services to patients in the Connecticut Birth-to-Three program, increasing provider access to patients in covid-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)