Telepsychiatry for children with developmental disabilities: applications for patient care and medical education

Telemedicine is able to provide specialized care to rural patients with limited access. The developmentally disabled population is highly suited to this modality and can be seen in general and specialized clinics. The collaborative care model, which is useful for this population, provides ongoing collaboration with both the local primary care provider and the local treatment team. Telepsychiatry can be used for education of trainees working together with an attending physician. These clinics can become exceptional opportunities to provide exposure to the specialty of child psychiatry for young doctors in training. As new programs develop, telepsychiatry for treatment and telepsychiatry for training should go hand in hand.