Teleneuropsychological [Telepsychological] Assessment
This Informed Consent for Teleneuropsychological [Telepsychological] Assessment has important information in it. It focuses on completing your evaluation online or over the phone. Please read it carefully and initial every pay. Let us know if you have any questions.
What is Teleneuropsychological [Telepsychological] Assessment?
It means using videoconferencing, telephone or similar online methods to do an assessment. The assessment process can include interviews, review of records, and, at times, testing. It is also called remote testing or assessment.
Risks of Online Assessment
Unlike in-person testing, remote assessments let us complete an assessment when we are not in the same place together. Although this is not always a limitation, and there are many benefits for some in deciding to get a remote assessment. It is important before ANY evaluation for you to consider the risks. For example:
- Confidentiality Concerns
- Conducting assessments outside of a private office environment may present risks to confidentiality. It's crucial to find a private, quiet space free from interruptions and distractions.
- On my end, I will take reasonable steps to ensure your privacy, but it's also important for you to protect the privacy of our session on your device.
- We may agree in advance to have another person present during testing, but otherwise, ensure no one else is in the room or can overhear us.
- Use a secure, password-protected Internet connection to enhance privacy.
- Technology Issues
- Reliable internet connections and compatible devices are necessary for successful assessments. Disruptions such as dropped calls or video issues can occur.
- If technical difficulties arise, we may need to reschedule or use a backup plan. Disruptions during testing might invalidate results, meaning that we may have to redo some of the testing.
- Although we use a privacy-protected videoconferencing system, no system is perfect. There is a slight possibility of unauthorized access to our conversations or stored data.
- Crisis Situations
- Remote assessments are typically not conducted with patients in crisis. Before starting, we will develop a response plan in case a crisis occurs during the assessment.
Appropriateness of Telehealth for Evaluation: Your provider will assess whether telehealth remains the most suitable method for your evaluation. If they determine that telehealth is no longer the best option, they will inform you and discuss alternatives. Similarly, if you feel that telehealth is not meeting your needs, it is crucial to communicate this with your provider. In either situation, your provider will explore options for transitioning to in-person sessions or provide referrals to professionals in your area who can offer the necessary services.
Are Remote Assessments Accurate?
We are committed to maintaining high standards in remote assessments by adhering to guidelines and recommendations from authoritative bodies such as the American Psychological Association, the Inter Organizational Practice Committee, and test publishers. Here's what you need to know about the accuracy of remote assessments:
Validation and Research
- Many performance-based assessments are initially validated for in-person use. We select assessments supported by current research indicating minimal differences in remote versus in-person administration.
- These assessments have been validated across multiple samples for remote telepractice and digital formal administration.
Limitations and Adjustments
- There may be instances where we must use assessments that lack comprehensive validation for remote use.
- The online format may require adjustments in the administration process from the original standardized procedures, potentially affecting results in ways not yet fully understood.
Acceptance of Results
- Despite the use of remote technology for years, teleneuropsychological assessments remain a relatively new concept. Consequently, some organizations, such as schools, companies, or organizations, might not accept remote assessment results.
Efforts to Ensure Accuracy
- We make every effort to report and consider limiting factors in the interpretation of results.
- We minimize risks by closely following standardized practices and accounting for variables such as your comfort, testing fatigue, audio/video connectivity, noise, distractions, and privacy, all of which could impact responses and observations.
Other factors can also affect the accuracy of remote tests, including:
- If you have little or no experience with using technology;
- If there is another person in the room, like a parent, or a caregiver;
- Language barriers, such as English not being your first language, or we need an interpreter;
- Personal or cultural reasons that make interacting with technology interfere with your ability to respond as you would in-person.
- Risk of misunderstanding one another when communication lacks visual or auditory cues. For example,we may not see your foot tapping, or if video quality is lacking for some reason, we might not see a tear in your eye. Or, if audio quality is lacking, we might not hear the crack in your voice that we could easily pick up if you were in an office.
Safety Considerations
Telehealth can present unique challenges in ensuring your safety. To be prepared for any emergencies that may arise during your session—such as a medical crisis, accident, domestic violence, fire, or other critical incidents—it is essential that your provider knows your current physical location. Here are some key points regarding safety when using telehealth services:
- Location Information: You must share your current address with your provider. This information is requested at your first session and again if you appear to be in a different location during any subsequent session. This allows your provider to direct the proper authorities in case of an emergency.
- Assessment of Your Environment: Your provider will evaluate your physical surroundings during the session to ensure your safety. If they determine that you are at risk of domestic violence, abuse, or harming yourself or others, they are obligated to notify the appropriate authorities to help protect you.
- Emergency Planning: Because assessing and managing emergencies can be more challenging in a telehealth setting compared to in-person treatment, you and your provider will develop an emergency plan before beginning telehealth services. This plan will include: Identifying an emergency contact close to your location who can be reached if you are in crisis. Signing a separate authorization form that allows your provider to contact this emergency individual if necessary.
- In Case of Disruption During an Emergency: If your telehealth session is interrupted—for example, due to a technological failure—and you are experiencing an emergency, do not try to reconnect with your provider immediately. Instead: Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room right away. Once you have secured help, contact your provider to inform them of the situation.
NOTE: If you notice any technology issues (audio/video) or if you become tired or become uncomfortable in any way during the evaluation, please tell us so that you can be given an opportunity to correct any issues and/or allow you to take a break. There are measures built into the tests that assess the validity of the responses and level of cooperation. These various validity measures may identify uncooperative, inconsistent, or purposely distorted responses and could be sensitive to your comfort level.
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