Telepsychiatry: Addressing mental health needs in Georgia
- Rhonda G. Vought(corresponding author),
- R. Kevin Grigsby,
- Laura N. Adams,
- Stewart A. Shevitz
- Medical College of Georgia,
Scholary Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
Peer-review
Open access
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 Good Health and Well
Abstract
Creation of a comprehensive mental health telecommunications system to serve isolated persons in Georgia, resulting in a more equitable distribution of mental health resources, is the goal of the telepsychiatry program at the Medical College of Georgia. Although telepsychiatric consultation is not a new idea, the 'distribution' of telepsychiatry through additional integrated telecommunications channels such as the World Wide Web is a distinctive approach. This report describes the history of the development of the MCG Telepsychiatry Program. Through the use of a multichanneled telecommunications system, a more equitable distribution of mental health resources is underway in Georgia.
Publication Information
Output type
Scholary Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
Peer-reviewOriginal language
English (US)Pages from-to (Number of pages)
Pages 525-536 (12 pages)Journal (Volume, Issue Number)
Community Mental Health Journal (Volume 36, Issue 5)Publication milestones
- Published - 2000
Publication status
Published - 2000
ISSN
0010-3853Publication IDs
- Scopus: 0033816892
- PubMed: 10994685
Publication metrics
Metrics
SciVal
FWCI
0.47
SciVal
Author count
4
SciVal
citations
9
SciVal
Paper percentile
54
Fractional count
1
Fractional count
0.25
Fractional count
3
Fractional count
0.75
Fractional count
1
Fractional count
1
PlumX, opens in new tab
Captures
35
Citation count
9
Funding Details
The Georgia Statewide Telemedicine Program (GSTP) is a comprehensive network of healthcare facilities and prisons connected through a T1 (1.544Mbps) network. The network, part of the Georgia Statewide Academic and Medical System (GSAMS), allows real time audiovisual transmission between sites, and was jointly developed by the state government, the Medical College of Georgia, and private industry. Funding for the GSTP was provided by a state Economic Development Fund which was established from public utility overearnings, the Medical College of Georgia, and each participating site. The GSTP began in late 1994 and built upon the existing MCG 7–site network, which originated in 1991 (Adams & Grigsby, 1995). Since then the program has expanded to 30 sites throughout the state including hospitals, teaching universities, correctional facilities, community health centers, health departments, a neonatal intensive care unit, and mental health facilities. Although delivery of mental health care services using the GSTP was initially sporadic and lacked focus, the GSTP provided an excellent infrastructure from which to build a comprehensive telemental health care delivery service.