The accidental telepsychologist: Creating opportunities in a burgeoning field

Abstract

This chapter outlines Dr. Sara Smucker Barnwell’s experiences in the field of telehealth. The chapter opens with a typical vignette related to her current work providing training and consultation to healthcare practitioners interested in remote care. Dr. Smucker Barnwell discusses her educational background, including the impact of early research on technology and health. Delving into the intersection of technology and psychology leads her to explore the field of telehealth in a diversity of capacities: providing clinical services over a distance, researching empirical outcomes for telehealth interventions, overseeing a hospital-based telehealth program, and creating training opportunities for others interested in ethical telehealth. Dr. Smucker Barnwell’s training background included experiences in traditional academic settings, in medical settings, and in private industry. Dr. Smucker Barnwell strongly encourages anyone with an interest in telehealth to pursue a diversity of experiences in the field to promote competencies that span the gaps between disciplines and the creation of telehealth systems that work. She also advocates for the creation and dissemination of accessible, evidence-based training opportunities in telehealth. Dr. Smucker Barnwell offers examples of some of the pros (e.g., flexibility, opportunities to make an impact) and cons (e.g., managing deep skepticism about technology in healthcare) related to her experiences in telehealth. The chapter concludes with a brief review of aspects of the empirical literature.