Transcript The TelAbility Project Using Telecommunications to Improve

Building a
Community of Caring
The WATCH Project
Using Technology to Promote Communication and
Collaboration within the Early Intervention System
Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed, Joshua J. Alexander, MD
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
School of Medicine
TelAbility
(http://www.telability.org)
An Internet-Based
Telehealth Program For
Young Children with Disabilities
WATCH
Wake Area
Telehealth Collaborative
Helping Children
with special needs
Building a Community of Practice
“A group of people who share a concern, set of
problems, or passion about a topic and who deepen
their knowledge and expertise in this area by
interaction on an ongoing basis.”
Inclusive Child
Care Centers





Learning Together
Lucy Daniels Center
Project
Enlightenment
Tammy Lynn Center
White Plains
Children’s Center
Residential Care

Hilltop Home

Tammy Lynn Center
Service
Programs







Community Partnerships for Children
Learning Together
Pediatric Therapy Associates
Easter Seals UCP- Children’s Therapy
Services
Project Enlightenment
Lucy Daniels Center
Developmental Therapy Associates
State Agencies

The Raleigh Children’s
Developmental
Services Agency (ages
birth-3)

Wake County Preschool
Services (ages 3-5)
Expanding WATCH
Carolina Pediatric Dysphagia
 Governor Morehead Preschool

Current
Programming
Website Content /Expertise Directory
List serv
Newsletters
Videoconferencing
Wake County Services and
Resources for Children 0-5
webpage
What will the
webpage do?
The webpage will act as a searchable
database where anyone can select
specific fields to find the services they
need.
 Agencies that match their needs will be
sorted and listed.
 When you click the link for the agency
all the agency data will be provided.

Other Website Features








Expertise Directory
Handouts
Links
Calendar
Books
Articles
Videos
More!
Expertise
Directory

2005 = 60

2007 = 280+
[email protected]

2005= 29

2007= 230+
Electronic
Newsletter
Subscribers= 375+






Website Updates
Event Listings
Center Descriptions
Article Reviews
Tips and Topics
Project Updates
Videoconferencing
Videoconference
Usage Statistics
12/05-08/07
16
CG
14
12
E S UC
P
C DS A
10
C C DC
CPI
8
HT
6
JC
4
LT
2
TL C
0
THC
12/05-06/06
07/06-06/07
07/07-08/07
WP
LD
PE
P TA
Videoconferences
By Type
14
12
c linic s
10
8
c ons ults
6
training
4
networking
2
admins
0
12/05-06/06
07/06-06/07
07/07-08/07
Past Professional
Development Sessions











Sensory Processing Disorder
Feeding Strategies
Taming Temper Tantrums
Adapting Toys for Children with Special Needs
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Understanding ADHD
Constraint Induced Therapy
Over Active Children
Electrical Stimulation and Brachial Plexus Therapy
The Uses of Standardized Testing in EI
Supporting the Spirited Child and Their Families
The WATCH Fall
Professional Development
Series








Gross Motor Development Trends for Children with
Visual Impairments
Approaches to Autism/Intervention Strategies
Ethical Dilemmas in Early Intervention
The Pros and Cons to Theratogs (Discussion)
First Flex Representative
The Uses and Benefits of Music Therapy for Children
with Special Needs
Using Chiropractic Services for Children with Special
Needs
Red Flags for Speech and Language
Disorders/Gesture Development
In total, over the past 34 months
of the WATCH Project:



Over 1200 people have participated in
videoconference sessions
The average satisfaction rating for video
conference sessions is 4.3 (out of 5)
The average comfort level for video conference
sessions is 4.6 (out of 5)
WATCH Benefits
for Providers







Responsive to their needs and interests
Provides increased professional development and
education opportunities
Offers opportunities for increased collaboration with
other locations and professionals
Allows sites to establish mentoring relationships with
other therapists or teachers
WATCH sites can schedule clinic or consultation time
via the video conference unit
Evaluations/assessments/meetings can be held
between parents, therapists, CDSA staff
Reduces travel time and costs
Quote from WATCH
Service Agency
Director:

“Juliellen, Some days things can be very difficult with the day to
day demands of patient care and administration of a practice but
your educational options on the Telability Website along with
your organization skills and your communication skills are a very
positive exciting thing for a provider. It is so much easier to
participate in these sessions because:
1.They are on practical topics of interest
2.They are on a Friday, not in the middle of a patient care day.
3.They are well organized and the handouts are sent by you
ahead of the presentations
4. You take care of the registration and curriculum outlines and
the speaker organization
5. The scope of the presentations are well organized for the time
segments allowed
6. They are free, and obviously very appreciated. “
WATCH Benefits
for Parents

The ability to schedule video clinic or consultation time with a
MD, therapist, or specialist who has access to a video
conference unit.

The opportunity to schedule meetings, evaluations, or
assessments with teachers, therapists, CDSA Child Service
Coordinators, or other administrators or specialists who have
access to a video conference unit. (ex. IFSP update meetings,
questions, etc)

Reduces travel time and costs. Eliminates the need to find
parking, wait in waiting rooms, and navigate hospitals or service
agencies.

Increased collaboration and communication with everyone
involved in the child’s care.

Increased learning opportunities for parents and teachers.
Challenges





Lack of technical knowledge and support at sites
Sustainable funds to cover the costs of high speed
internet connection to operate units at each site
Hosting large multipoint video conference sessions
Buy in/consistent participation from all sites
Establishing a public network/technical support
issues
Lessons Learned








Need for consistent, knowledgable, easily accessible IT support person
Public network system has been unreliable.
A border controller may help reduce the current unpredictability of our
exisiting system.
Specified project director position is necessary to coordinate
communication and activities within the project and be point person for
IT problems
Needs assessments of each site and frequent communication with
WATCH Members has allowed our project to take an organic and
responsive approach
The WATCH network is made up of sites with specific expertise to help
meet the collective needs of the members
Professional development and small group case study discussions
have been of great interest, have proven very successful and have
been well attended
Despite the convenience, it’s still hard to convince therapist to conduct
consults and clinics via videoconference even when providing monetary
reimbursement
What are people saying
about WATCH?

“The best thing about WATCH is knowing that
there are people who can provide an answer
for a family if you don’t have one. It’s
wonderful having one place you can got to
ask questions, find experts, and find out what
is going on in the local community for the
special needs population. It provides a bit of
“one stop shopping” that makes my job easier
and things less stressful for the families I
serve.”

“Instead of all competing or working as
separate entities, WATCH allows for us
all to come together for the greater good
of the child and family.”
Other End-user
Locations
Future Goals
Questions?
Juliellen Simpson-Vos, M.Ed
[email protected]
Joshua J. Alexander, MD
joshua_alexander @med.unc.edu
TelAbility/WATCH
1101 Weaver Dairy Road
Suite 202
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
http://www.telability.org