OhioGuidestone’s Therapeutic Phone Tool minimizes disruption to care and risk of community spread
BEREA, OH, March 25, 2020 – A Renewed Mind’s parent company, OhioGuidestone, today announced it is offering a newly developed tool, at no cost, to help all behavioral health providers care for their clients in response to the current coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, mitigating potential exposure to the disease without sacrificing critical access to care.
As one of the Buckeye state’s largest behavioral health providers, OhioGuidestone is committed to using its Therapeutic Phone Tool to serve the needs of those coping with mental health and substance use disorders, regardless of restrictions facing healthcare providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. With Ohio’s new emergency rule, expanding the types of behavioral health services allowed through telehealth, the agency has developed this resource to assist providers in adapting to the new conditions.
“Providers must be able to serve their clients in all circumstances, especially those most at risk of toxic stress, anxiety and depression – we have a duty to continue our work, no matter the barriers we face,” says Dr. Benjamin Kearney, OhioGuidestone Chief Clinical Officer. “We want to make sure providers all over the state have the best information in front of them when they switch over to treating their clients through telehealth.”
Developed by the Institute of Family & Community Impact, OhioGuidestone’s center of excellence for clinical research and quality performance, the Therapeutic Phone Tool offers a collection of behavioral health interventions recommended for use via telehealth practice. Providers can use this tool as a resource when treating clients through video conferencing or simply via telephone, allowing them to easily connect anytime and anywhere.
“It has always been a hallmark of OhioGuidestone to evolve to meet the changing needs of the individuals and communities we serve,” says Kearney. “It is why our doors are still open and our services remain available, despite the presence of COVID-19. Extending our capabilities to help other providers allows them to do the same.”
OhioGuidestone is proactively distributing the Therapeutic Phone Tool to all behavioral health providers throughout Ohio. Any provider interested in receiving a copy of the tool can do so by emailing the agency at ifci@OhioGuidestone.org.
A Renewed Mind operates offices in 7 counties of Northwest Ohio. A Renewed Mind provides excellent mental health, substance use disorder, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders treatment and counseling. A Renewed Mind is a subsidiary of Berea-based Ohio Guidestone. (See Ad)
