The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
McCall Center to get telehealth grant
TORRINGTON — The McCall Center for Behavioral Health will receive $45,843 as part of the Federal Communications Commission’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, money that will be used to bolster remote health care for patients.
Announced in April as part of the CARES Act, the program funds the acquisition of telecommunication services and connected devices to aid in the provision of remote health care for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a statement.
The money will be used to purchase telehealth software, a platform to support clients between appointments, and low-cost smartphones to enable care for individuals lacking Internet access or suitable devices.
Maria Coutant Skinner, McCall’s executive director, said recently that the award would benefit hundreds of individuals and families in Torrington and northwest Connecticut.
“Now more than ever, we’re determined to be there for the people that we serve. This will enable us to do that by continuing to offer all our services to all of our clients,” she said.
Skinner thanked Connecticut’s congressional delegation and U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, for their work in supporting health care providers during the pandemic.
According to McCall, telehealth therapy has become a crucial intervention in the treatment of substance use and mental health disorders. Without risking exposure to themselves or others, individuals seeking care continue to receive the support on which they rely, including individual and group counseling, psychiatric
care, medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse, and other services such as recovery coaching and case management.
“Keeping a sense of connection to others while socially distancing has proven a universal challenge, but telehealth can help to bridge that gap, particularly for those who have pre-existing conditions or are at highest risk for complications should they contract COVID,” according to McCall officials. “While traditional, in-person therapy can seem hazardous in current context, telehealth has filled the void by offering a safe and convenient alternative to those suffering from the stresses of the pandemic.”
Virtual therapy brings
“While traditional, in-person therapy can seem hazardous in current context, telehealth has filled the void by offering a safe and convenient alternative to those suffering from the stresses of the pandemic.”
The McCall Center for Behavioral Health
care providers into the home, requiring little more than a computer, tablet, or phone to permit remote engagement between client and counselor. The pandemic has accelerated the rise of remote treatment, particularly in the field of mental health. Expanded access to mental health care from home is one of the few positive developments of the pandemic, according to McCall.
“Coming at a time when isolation and boredom are compounding anxieties about health, employment and housing to produce a sharp rise in psychological distress, telehealth expansion is key to addressing the hidden consequences of the pandemic,” officials said in a statement. “The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program is providing organizations such as McCall with a total of $200 million in funding to do just that.”
For more information, call 860-496-2100 or visit www.mccallcenterct.org.