Explanation

Telehealth crisis management requires pre-established emergency protocols that differ from in-person practice. Before initiating telehealth services, the PMHNP should verify and document the patient's physical address, identify the local emergency services for the patient's location, establish a backup communication plan, and have an emergency contact on file. During an active crisis, the priority is maintaining engagement with the patient while simultaneously activating emergency services. The session should not be terminated until emergency responders arrive on scene. This scenario underscores the importance of verifying the patient's location at each telehealth session, as patients may not always be at the same address.

Key Takeaway

Telehealth requires pre-established emergency protocols including patient location verification.