3 Reasons Schools Are Seeking Alternatives to Zebra Telehealth

Teletherapy is gaining traction in schools across the United States as mental health concerns rise.

According to the CDC, many US students battle with mental health issues, including depression and thoughts of suicide.

The majority, if not all, of the studies on how kids are coping intellectually and emotionally since the coronavirus epidemic began, has shown that they are not doing well.

Facts About Mental Disorders in U.S. Children

ADHD, anxiety, behavior problems, and depression are the most frequently diagnosed mental disorders among children. According to estimates from 2016-2019 for children aged 3-17 years:

ADHD: Diagnosed in approximately 9.8% of children, equating to about 6.0 million cases.

Anxiety: Diagnosed in approximately 9.4% of children, equating to about 5.8 million cases.

Behavior Problems: Diagnosed in approximately 8.9% of children, equating to about 5.5 million cases.

Depression: Diagnosed in approximately 4.4% of children, equating to about 2.7 million cases.

With increased concern about children's mental health, some states and school districts are turning to telehealth providers to guarantee that all students have access to the healthcare services they may require to prosper academically, psychologically, and socially.

How Zebra Telehealth is Reshaping Student Mental Health Care

Zebra Telehealth connects board-certified healthcare providers with students in schools. 

They developed a model for educational institutions that enabled them to deliver mental health services to a national US program.

Zebra Telehealth has been a pioneer in bringing telehealth technologies into schools. 

Their impact on how schools provide healthcare is evident.

Zebra's patient-centric care services, result-driven technology, and big data are helping to bridge the mental health gap between students and caregivers.

How Zebra Telehealth Works?

Zebra Telehealth operates using two main components:

1. Counselor Interface: This is a user-friendly system for counselors to manage appointments and ensure the security of patient information (PHI).

2. Integrated EHR for Psychotherapists: This component allows psychotherapists to access students' medical records, making psychological therapy sessions more efficient and streamlined.

What Features Zebra Telehealth Offers

For Schools

Setting Up: Schools likely establish an account with Zebra Telehealth and potentially configure features like appointment scheduling and access controls.

Student Information: Student information, with parental consent, is securely uploaded to the platform.

Communication Channels: The platform might offer various communication channels like secure video conferencing, text messaging, or a virtual waiting room for consultations.

Healthcare Providers: Schools might collaborate with a network of nurses, doctors, or mental health professionals through Zebra Telehealth.

Appointments and Consults: Students, parents, or school staff can schedule appointments with healthcare providers through the platform. Virtual consultations then take place within the secure Zebra Telehealth environment.

For Students and Parents

Access: Students and parents likely receive login credentials or instructions to access the Zebra Telehealth platform.

Scheduling and Communication: Through the platform, they can potentially schedule appointments, communicate with healthcare providers via text or video chat, and potentially access appointment history or health information.

Privacy and Security: Zebra Telehealth should prioritize data privacy and security. Look for features like HIPAA compliance and secure communication channels.

3 Reasons Schools Are Seeking Alternatives to Zebra Telehealth

Zebra Telehealth has become a familiar name in the world of school healthcare. But lately, there's been a buzz about schools exploring alternatives. 

Let's explore three reasons why schools might be looking for new solutions.

1. Limited Customization Options

Zebra Telehealth may not offer the level of customization that schools require. 

Schools have unique needs and workflows, and a one-size-fits-all approach can fall short. 

The ability to tailor the telehealth platform to match specific requirements, such as integrating with existing school systems or customizing the user interface, is crucial.

2. Data Privacy Concerns

Zebra Telehealth is a third-party application. 

It stores student information residing on its platform, potentially raising privacy concerns for some schools.

According to a 2023 survey by Educause, 78% of educational institutions worry about data security in third-party apps. 

A big worry for schools. 

3.  Limited Control Over Therapist Selection

While Zebra Telehealth connects students with a network of therapists, schools might have limited control over the selection process.

There is a need for providers which meet your school's specific requirements under your budget.

How A Custom Telehealth App Can Bridge This Gap

Whether you integrate Zebra Telehealth in your school or any third-party application the above problems will be there.

Not every app can understand your unique workflow and incorporate it into their system.

You should build a custom telehealth application which is tailored to your requirements and flexible to scale up.

Here we’re sharing the images of our custom telemedicine app that we made for our clients.

Benefits of A Custom Telehealth App

1. Tailored Resources

The app can incorporate school-specific resources, mental health support materials, and crisis contact information readily accessible to students.

2. Customized Security Protocols

The app can be built with specific security features aligned with your school's data security policies.

3. Cost-Effectiveness

Over time, the cost of a custom app can be more cost-effective compared to ongoing subscriptions for generic telehealth platforms, especially for larger schools.

4. Scalability and Future-Proofing

The app can be customized and scaled to accommodate your school's growing needs and integrate new features as telehealth services evolve.

5. Compliance & Reduced Risk 

By eliminating the need to rely on external platforms, you minimize potential data breaches or security vulnerabilities associated with third-party telehealth solutions.

A custom app is built with comprehensive security features and adheres to regulatory guidelines, including HIPAA and PHI compliance.

Time and Cost to Build A Custom Mental Health App for Your School

Schools frequently face cost-related problems while developing healthcare mobile apps. 

The cost of developing an app is determined by a variety of criteria, including the complexity of the features, technological innovation, UI/UX design, the location of the hired team, and so on. 

In general, a simple pregnant app with basic features and functionality may be created in a few months for a cost of $25,000 to $40,000.

If you want to get the accurate cost of your telehealth app, we can help you with our consultation. 

And don’t worry, we never charge for the knowledge.

If Cost Is a Barrier, Explore Alternative Option: White-label App Development

Like custom apps, white-label telemedicine solutions are also popular among healthcare start-ups. 

They're affordable and require minimal development time.

They can easily customize as per your requirements and don’t need much technical support.

They comply with the HIPAA, PHIPA, and PIPEDA regulations.

We have developed 90+ telehealth/telemedicine apps for our clients at SyS Creations.

Going Beyond the Tradition Technology & Integrating AI in Our New Projects

If you've reached this blog, you're likely considering developing a telehealth app for your school. 

However, we encourage you not to limit yourself to just software or a mobile app.

Consider trying an AI-driven healthcare telehealth app.

In the past two months, we at SyS Creations have successfully integrated over 5 AI-driven software solutions for our clients, with impressive results.

Beware:

When choosing an AI partner, It's essential to work with experienced professionals because healthcare is complex, and inexperience can lead to problems.

Choose someone who understands healthcare inside and out.

At SyS Creations, we have over 10 years of experience building exceptional teletherapy apps for our clients. We specialize exclusively in healthcare.

We're not just developers; we're a team of healthcare experts, providers, and AI researchers who believe new technology should empower students to achieve better health.

We understand that students' mental health is fragile and believe new technology should empower them while being handled with the utmost care and responsibility.

If you want a live demo of our telehealth solutions, contact us at hello@syscreations.ca  or call us at +1 905 635 7574.