Evolving standards of care in the age of cybertechnology

Behavioral health professionals are making increased use of cybertechnology to deliver services to patients, communicate with patients, gather information about patients, and communicate with colleagues. The advent of cybertechnology - included the Internet, text (SMS), email, video, cloud storage of electronic records, and other forms of electronic communication and documentation - has introduced novel and unprecedented ethical and risk-management challenges. This article provides an overview of emerging issues related to informed consent; delivery of services; privacy, confidentiality, and privileged communication; boundary issues and dual relationships; documentation; and practitioners' relationships with colleagues. The author highlights new standards of care that are being incorporated into licensing statutes and regulations; professional codes of ethics; and practice guidelines adopted by the professions of psychiatry, psychology, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, and clinical social work.