The Coming of Age of Telecommunications in Psychological Research and Practice Leigh W. Jerome Patrick H. DeLeon Larry C. James, Raymond Folen, and Jay Earles Jeffrey J, Gedney Pacific e-Health Innovation Center and Tripler Army Medical Center American Psychological Association Tripler Army Medical Center American School of Professional Psychology--Hawaii Campus Rapid and far-reaching technological advances are revo- lutionizing the ways in which people relate, communicate, and live their daily lives. Technologies that were hardly used a few years ago, such as the Internet, e-mail, and video teleconferencing, are becoming familiar methods for modern communication. Telecommunications will continue to evolve quickly, spawning telehealth applications for research and the provision of clinical care in communities, university settings, clinics, and medical facilities. The im- pact on psychology will be significant. This article exam- ines the application of developing technologies as the)' relate to psychology and discusses implications for profes- sional research and practice. O ne can measure the significance of any societal progression in terms of the depth of its impact and the scope of its implications. When judged by these measures, the current technological revolution is as momentous as the industrial revolution of the past two centuries. The impacts of ongoing technological advance- ments range from individual lifestyle reformation to far- reaching implications of global connectivity and informa- tion availability. These changes are magnified by the rapid development of technology and the infrastructure evolving to support that technology. Increased access to information and individuals will fundamentally alter the way people see the world, establish communities, and work within these structures. New innovations in telehealth are reshaping psycho- logical care and research. The term telehealth is relatively new, but its definition, which refers to the widespread practice of providing health care services by utilizing tech- nology and telecommunications, is broad. Telehealth is the use of electronic and communications technology to ac- complish health care over distance. Telecommunications have supported health care for decades. Talking on the telephone and faxing information are common telehealth activities. Store-and-forward (e-mail) technologies and in- teractive video conferencing are finding a place in service delivery as well. As the availability of new technologies expands the ways in which communications can transpire and treatment can be provided, psychologists will incorpo- rate these innovations into their practice and research. The purpose of this article is to review the effects of techno- logical innovations on the field of psychology and to dis- cuss the implications of these changes for the profession. Telecommunications and Practice "I can't believe that," said Alice. "Ca'n't you'?" the Queen said in a pitying tone. "Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes." --Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass Telehealth and Clinical Practice Telehealth has, in some form, been used for more than thirty years. Recently, however, a number of factors have converged to facilitate the coming of age of telecommuni- cations in clinical practice (Nickelson, 1998). These factors include heightened consumer awareness, technology and infrastructure sophistication, state and federal policy changes, and increased marketplace demand (Bashur, 1997). Telecommunications options for health care have become more available, more diverse, more convenient, and less costly. Clinical services offered by psychologists include assessment, psychotherapy, psychoeducational in- terventions, crisis response, triage, treatment planning, case management, and medication support (DeLeon & Wiggins, 1996); as technology continues to evolve, more and more Editor's note. Melissa G. Warren served as action editor for this article. Author's note. Leigh W. Jerome, Pacific e-Health Innovation Center, Hawaii, and Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii; Patrick H. DeLeon, President, American Psychological Association, Washington, DC; Larry C. James, Raymond Folen, and Jay Earles, Psychology Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii; Jeffrey J. Gedney, American School of Professional Psychology--Hawaii Campus. Larry C. James is now at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Wash- ington, DC. The opinions expressed in this article reflect the views of the authors and not those of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Army. We thank Beth Hudnall Stamm for her helpful review of this article. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Leigh W. Jerome, Pacific e-Health Innovation Center, Triplet Army Medical Center, 1 Jarrett White Road, Tripler Army Medical Center, HI 96859- 5000. Electronic mail may be sent to jeromel002@hawaii.rr.com. April 2000 • American Psychologist Copyright 2000 by the American Psychological Association, Inc. 0003 066X/00/$5.00 Vol, 55, No. 4, 407-421 DOI: 10.1037//0003 066X.55,4.407 407