“How to” operate a pediatric neuropsychology practice during the COVID-19 pandemic: Real tips from one practice’s experience

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to provide pediatric neuropsychologists with suggested processes and procedures to continue to provide neuropsychology services during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Our practice is located within an academic medical center/children’s hospital, and setting-specific recommendations may not extend to all practices, though our hope is that others find guidance from our approach to providing pediatric neuropsychology evaluations when physical distancing is required. With consideration of ethics, equity, and assessment validity, we provide suggestions for a) modifying practices around seeing patients during COVID-19, b) tele-health for the pediatric neuropsychologist, c) safety standards and requirements, and d) working with special populations (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorder, bilingual populations, immunocompromised patients, and acute inpatient assessment).

KEYWORDS:

• Practice guidelines
• pediatric neuropsychology
• COVID-19
• pandemic
• telehealth
• teleneuropsychology
• ethics

Acknowledgments

It is important to acknowledge that as pediatric neuropsychologists we have the benefit of practicing within a small guild of professionals who generally and genuinely value collaboration. As the stay-at-home orders and clinic closures were being initiated, we reached out to colleagues across the country to solicit advice, knowledge, and guidance from their own experiences. Collaborators included Jennifer Cass, PhD, ABPP-CN at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus, OH); Marsha Gragert, PhD, ABPP-CN at Texas Children’s Hospital (Houston, TX); Lauren Haisley, PhD at Children’s Hospital Colorado (Aurora, CO); Lana Harder, PhD ABPP-CN at Children’s Medical Center Dallas (Dallas, TX); Lisa Jacobson, PhD ABPP-CN at Kennedy Krieger Institute (Baltimore, MD); and Laura Kenealy, PhD ABPP-CN at Children’s National (Washington, DC). This group participated in frequent email consultation addressing a variety of clinical issues, as the pandemic situation was rapidly evolving, many of which are outlined and discussed throughout this manuscript. Each provided invaluable insight and practice suggestions as we all transitioned and re-imagined provision of pediatric neuropsychological care. During uncertain times, these consultations were also helpful in feeling more confident that although each practice may be in different places, we were on the right track. We acknowledge their contributions and thank them for their openness to collaboration.

In addition, the authors are grateful for the ongoing contributions of our other practice partners, Dr. Joseph Amaral, Jessica Luepke, Kayla Noll, Debbi Hoff, our MCW administrative team, and our graduate-level practicum students. We also appreciate the ongoing collaboration from our Neuropsychology Division partners in the adult practice and the greater Neurology department.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.