Ethical, Legal, and Clinical Aspects of Selecting Technology

Description

Every technology decision you make in clinical practice has ethical, legal, and clinical consequences — for your clients, your license, and your peace of mind. This course equips behavioral health professionals with essential guidance to confidently select and implement the right tools.

In today’s digital world, clinicians are expected to make high-stakes technology decisions without formal training — decisions that impact confidentiality, service delivery, and compliance. This practical course offers a clear, step-by-step path to ensure the technology you choose meets clinical needs, protects client privacy, and helps your practice thrive.

Raymond Barrett, LMHC, is a nationally recognized expert on telehealth and the founder of the Telehealth Certification Institute (TCI). His deep understanding of technology and behavioral health — shaped by nearly a decade of developing telehealth education and contributing to national best practice standards — makes him uniquely qualified to guide clinicians through this vital topic.

Ray’s approach is grounded in real-world scenarios and practical applications. He focuses on empowering clinicians with the knowledge to critically assess technology vendors, reduce risk, and align decisions with ethical standards and clinical workflows.

This course covers a broad range of critical decisions clinicians face when selecting technology. Topics include how to conduct a needs analysis, how to evaluate EHRs, EMRs, practice management systems, video conferencing platforms, email systems, cloud storage, and phone/fax solutions. It also addresses HIPAA terms, data security, backup planning, budgeting, assessing interoperability, working with vendors, evaluating service agreements, and much more.

Key Takeaways:

• A decision-making framework: Understand the complete process for ethically and legally selecting technologies that meet your clinical needs.

• Risk and compliance strategies: Learn how to ensure HIPAA compliance, prevent tech issues, and respond effectively when issues arise.

• Tools for confident selection: Gain the confidence to ask the right questions, assess vendor claims, and select technology that works seamlessly for both clients and staff.

Why this course?

• Clinically grounded, tech-smart: Developed by a licensed clinician who has helped write national standards, this course speaks your language and understands your responsibilities.

• Actionable guidance: Unlike other courses that speak in generalities, this one walks you through exact steps, pitfalls to avoid, and what to look for in contracts and vendors.

• Backed by a mission-driven institute: Telehealth Certification Institute is a leader in equipping healthcare professionals with CE that reflects real-world needs and delivers exceptional value.

Learning Objectives:

• List the types of technology used in clinical practice.

• Identify and explain the ethical, legal, and clinical considerations in choosing technology

• Explain the steps for choosing technology for clinical services, clinical records, communication, payment, and data storage.

Whether you’re launching a telehealth program or re-evaluating your existing systems, this course gives you the clarity and tools you need to make decisions you won’t regret. We invite you to take this next step toward ethical, effective, and confident clinical practice.

Add this course to your cart to begin learning instantly.

Format and Access

This course is Module 4 of the THTC Program and is a non-interactive self-study course. Instruction consists of 1.5 hours of video instruction and a post-test.

Course Details

Availability: 

From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.

Who Should Attend: 

This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.

Teaching Methods: 

This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.

How to Attend: 

Course access and completion instructions.

Instructor and Disclosures

Instructor

About Raymond Barrett, LMHC

Raymond Barrett is the founder and CEO of the Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC (TCI). A licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), Ray is an innovator and leader in the field of telemental health. He’s an expert telehealth trainer, a respected speaker, and a trusted consultant.

Ray’s inspiration for TCI came from his clients that started asking him to conduct their therapy sessions over the phone. Ray had discovered a knowledge gap in mental health training. He wanted to fill that void with comprehensive and practical training in telemental health - so Ray created that training for himself and fellow clinicians. 

Since 2014, TCI has delivered comprehensive telehealth training and consultation to a global network of more than 40,000 healthcare organizations and professionals. TCI now offers over 180 specialized courses, a vast array of telehealth resources, and ongoing free continuing education opportunities for telehealth providers. Among the most sought-after courses offered by TCI is the Telemental Health Training Certificate (THTC Certificate) program. 

Ray played a significant role in developing the initial curriculum for the Board Certified Telemental Health credential (BC-TMH) for the Center for Credentialing and Education (CCE). He reviewed every training module. He helped draft content, including questions for exams. He even wrote and developed the initial draft of one of the training modules: Telemental Health Settings and Coordination of Care.

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) - the most respected organization for telehealth - recently overhauled its guidelines. Ray was on the writing committee that developed Best Practices in Synchronous Videoconferencing-Based Telemental Health in March 2022.

In 2019, Ray participated in a task force for developing a clinical rating process for mobile apps designed to help treat depression.  The recommendations were presented to ATA.

The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides accreditation services worldwide at the request of health and human service providers. As part of the International Standards Advisory Committee (ISAC), Ray helped establish CARF’s standards for virtual services.

Ray also is a frequent speaker and consultant for professional organizations. He has presented for over 20 organizations since 2015.

Disclosure Statement: 

The instructor(s) for this course receive compensation for their services. There are no reported conflicts of interest to disclose.

CE Hours

Credit Hours:

This course consists of 1.5 ethics continuing education hours of credit.

Counselors:

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No, 6693.  Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified.  Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Mental Health Counselors. #MHC-0048.

Marriage and Family Therapists: 

Many MFT licensing boards accept our courses or one of the approvals which we have from professional associations.  You can check with your board to determine if your licensing board would accept this course.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0135, effective May 8, 2025.

Social Workers:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, #1609, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 05/02/2024 – 05/02/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.5 ethics continuing education credits.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Social Workers #SW-0435.

Addiction Professionals:

This course has been approved by Telehealth Certification Institute LLC, as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #193104, Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

Psychologists:

Telehealth Certification Institute LLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Telehealth Certification Institute LLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists #PSY-0128.

Art Therapists: 

Telehealth Certification Institute, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Creative Arts Therapists #CAT-0093.

Other Professionals:

This course qualifies for 90 minutes of instructional content as required by many national, state and local licensing boards and professional organizations.  Retain your certificate of completion and contact your board or organization for specific filing requirements.

This is a non-interactive, self-study course.

Accommodations and Policies

Close Captioning is available for live webinars and recorded video presentations.

You can click on the following links to view our policies:

• Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities.
• Cancellation Policy
• Grievance Policy
• Support Options
• Disclosure Statement