As the COVID-19 response is evolving, Options is working to keep those we serve and our staff members safe and healthy. Governor Brown ordered the cancellation of large gatherings and meetings in which people cannot stay at least six feet apart. She has asked organizations to limit in-person meetings and reduce travel, and the CDC recommends that people stay home as much as possible and avoid gatherings.
The risk: If the virus spreads to too many people too rapidly, the healthcare system will be overburdened, and critical resources and equipment will not available to everyone. While the risk of serious illness is low for many people, those who are vulnerable due to age (over 60) or underlying health conditions (respiratory illness, compromised immune system, diabetes, among others) are at greater risk.
Please contact us if you have an appointment with Options and have symptoms or are in a vulnerable population. We will do our best to provide support. We are beginning to offer services by video, when possible.
March 18, 2020
Public health experts around the world have asked individuals and organizations to take action to prevent and limit the transmission of COVID-19 in their communities. In response, Options is following recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by providing some services remotely in order to help slow the spread of this disease.
If you see a therapist or psychiatrist regularly for in-person visits, they may have already contacted you about the option of temporarily transitioning your therapy to remote sessions using a video teleconferencing service. Getting therapy this way is sometimes called “teletherapy,” and has been increasingly utilized over the past decade to deliver mental health care with strong results in both adults and children.
You can expect the same privacy and security in our telehealth sessions as in our face-to-face sessions. Our clinicians will be located either in a private office on Options’ property or at a secure and confidential off-site location. You are responsible for selecting a private location that includes or does not include others and to inform your clinician if others are present during the session. Please let your clinician know if privacy at your end is compromised so that the session can be discontinued and rescheduled. Video sessions will be conducted through a secure and HIPAA compliant platform.
To participate in telehealth sessions, you will need a personal email address, access to high-speed internet and a camera-enabled device (laptop, tablet, phone). Earbuds or headphones are strongly encouraged for privacy and enhanced audio quality. Please contact your Options location to schedule a telehealth session.
Options continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation. Reliable sources of information can be found through the links below:
