Telepsychiatry offered by advanced practice nurses is another option to consider when discussing pediatric behavioral health screening and care (AJN Reports, July). The American Psychiatric Association defines telepsychiatry as "the use of electronic communication and information technologies to provide or support clinical psychiatric care at a distance."1

Having worked in a large metropolitan mental health facility for the past decade, I have seen countless patients drive more than 50 miles for monthly appointments. If pediatricians were able to screen children and make referrals using nursing teams and telepsychiatric services, the need for this increased hardship on families would be drastically reduced.

Andrew Denny, BSN, RN

Dallas

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