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Using Mobile Mental Health Applications (Apps) with Active Duty and Veterans as Adjunct Therapy Tools

By Karen Wall posted 02-07-2015 02:33 PM

  
Hello, community! I see there has not been any activity here for a while, so I would like to start a new conversation. I'm retired from the Army Nurse Corps since 2005, and now work with the VA as a psychiatric nurse. I have always had a great interest in the use of mobile health apps that can be downloaded onto the various devices people have nowadays. The portability of these devices now allows troops to take their "help" with them, and veterans to stay in touch with their treatment team. I have helped many of my past Veteran patients find suitable apps for their needs and learn how to use them at home or in the field. Technology in healthcare is the wave of the future, and it is important to continue the conversation and exploration of integrating this technology into our practice. I hope to have some of you join in to talk about this cool stuff!
Aloha,
Karen Wall EdDc, RN-BC, BSN, MFT-I
MAJ, Army Nurse Corps, Retired
Dementia Care Coordinator
VA Palo Alto Health Care System


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Karen Wall
02-07-2015 09:08 PM

Hi, John! Thanks for the reference to your article. I will definitely read it. For a while, I was writing a review blog for a website. Right now I am involved with the VA's Mobile App group and getting ready to put in some recommendations for apps to include in the VA's approved list. If you have any you have reviewed and found effective, let me know and I can see about getting them looked at as well.
ALoha,
Karen

R. John Repique
02-07-2015 08:53 PM

Karen,
In the JAPNA Informatics Column (Sept/Oct 2014 issue), I co-wrote a brief article with a colleague on the use of mobile health (mHealth) technology in psych-mental health care. Check the article references (we included the DOD website, visit http://t2health.dcoe.mil/ )
Garcia, E.J., & Repique, RJR. (2014). Harnessing mobile health technology to digitally engage mental health consumers in recovery. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 20(5), 345-346. doi: 10.1177/1078390314550788.
John