Remote Services/Telepractice

The mission of Pacific Child and Family Associates is to provide high quality care in a standardized manner to all our families. To do so we address such potential obstacles including language, cultural, and geographical challenges. With respect to geography, the services we provide require highly trained and specialized professional staff. Unfortunately, qualified staff are simply not always available in a family’s geographical area. The problem is magnified when high intensity services, such as ABA services for autism and related conditions, are delivered in the home environment. For example, in the state of Wyoming (see the Behavior Analyst Certification registry) there are only four (4) Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA). Wyoming is the ninth largest state in the United States in total area, encompassing 97,818 square miles (253,350 km²) and is made up of 23 counties. The question is “How can you deliver state of the science treatment in a rural environment where providers do not exist?”

Like many challenges in recent years the solution (or at least part of the solution) may lie in technology. Advances in technology have tremendously expanded our capacity the deliver the same high quality services to children and families no matter where they live. Technology makes it possible to bring highly trained professionals to families without diminishing the level of care.

PCFA understands that the tremendous opportunity that telepractice represents for bringing high quality services and consultation to areas where appropriate providers do not exist. It can increase the clinical and cost effectiveness of treatment services. While this concept has great promise it is also essential that the tool be used appropriately to ensure the clinical appropriateness of its use as well as ensuring that it meets all necessary privacy standards. PCFA has chosen to model our telepractice technologies and processes on the medical field to ensure we meet the highest possible standards for safety and privacy.

Our approach merges high intensity home-based services with sophisticated video technology that allow us to provide education, consultation and supervision of the services being delivered in the home. In some cases, we will be installing appropriate equipment in the home (with your permission) that will allow us to remotely monitor and supervise the treatment being delivered in your home. In order to ensure the highest quality of services for your child, we require that a supervisor make in-person visits at regularly scheduled intervals. This model is not intended to eliminate face-to-face services, it is intended to allow for these services to be supervised and monitored just as we would with any case we are involved with. Using this model we currently serve families successfully across multiple time zones.

Like any aspect of treatment, remote services may not be appropriate for all situations. We will consider this tool and option during our initial and on-going assessment and the treatment plan will be developed accordingly. Please be advised that this service model is not covered by some health carriers but our intake and treatment team will be able to confirm the availability of this service option for your specific situation.

For more information regarding our remote services, please email us or call us toll free at (855) 295-3276. We are currently able to provide services in English, Spanish, French, German, Korean, Vietnamese and Armenian.