Creating an emergency plan for telebehavioral health
Always make a plan in case of an emergency or patient crisis during a telebehavioral health visit.
On this page:
Considerations for an emergency plan
Before your first telebehavioral health visit with the patient, you should document the following information in a record that complies with federal privacy guidelines:
- The patient’s location. Confirm the address where the patient is located at the time of the visit.
- Emergency numbers for that location. In the medical record, document the phone numbers for local emergency services near the patient, including police, fire department, mobile crisis unit, and the nearest urgent care or emergency room. 911 only works if you are in the same location as the patient.
- A local emergency contact or support person. Ask the patient to provide the name and phone number for a family member, friend, or neighbor who is nearby and can offer help in the event of a crisis. Get the patient’s authorization to release information to their emergency contact, if needed.
- The contact information for other health care professional(s). Ask the patient to share contact information for their other provider(s) and confirm that you will only contact them with their permission or in an emergency.
- A plan for what to do if the telehealth visit is disconnected during an emergency. Discuss with the patient what to do if there is a problem with the audio or video connection. If you believe the patient is in crisis, you should notify an emergency contact.
Tip: Encourage the patient to write down any national or local crisis lines.
Patient resources:
What emergency hotlines are available? — Health Resources and Services Administration