The use 0f two-way TV in bringing mental health services to the inner city

Abstract

The authors describe a cable TV link between a medical school and a child health station in East Harlem. Nurse associates and community health workers trained through television conferences with a child psychiatrist have the primary responsibility for patient care at the clinic. Patients and their mothers are evaluated by the child psychiatrist in TV consultations at which nurse associates, health workers, medical students, and child psychiatric fellows are present. Patients and mothers respond positively to the system, and a high percentage of the psychiatrist's treatment recommendations are accepted. The authors suggest that such TV links can increase mental health services to underserved inner-city children.