Considerations for Providing SOS via Telehealth

We know that everything going on right now around the coronavirus is creating significant changes in the ways in which you work and how you live your family life at this time.  We are also aware that many of the children we treat and their families are especially stressed by school closures and families needing to stay at home for long periods of time.

Because we recognize that our clinical population is very vulnerable, we at SOS want to reach out to you with the following suggestions for offering Telehealth services:

• If you are moving into telehealth with your clients, please consider really focusing on helping your families to create happy and productive Family Meals.  The General Treatment Strategies in SOS are especially suitable for teaching and coaching families through implementing via telehealth. You can request the recording of the SOS & Telehealth Forum to be sent to you via e-mail. You can also review the suggestions we have outlined on the new handout, Considerations for SOS Feeding Therapy Via Telehealth.

• Help your clients and their families by directly creating menus of meals and snacks with them for the next 1-2 weeks.  Here is a Sample Menu that meets all of the SOS treatment requirements for Family Meals, as well as a Menu Planning Form you can use with your families. Make sure you help your families plan meals which include all of the nutrition groups. You will also need to make a clinical decision about what textures should be included in their Family Meals to continue your client’s therapy progress. Please make sure that you are considering the stress level of each family you are working with as you give them recommendations. It may be helpful to first have the family complete an updated Food Range Diary if you haven’t done one recently.

• We have written a blog for families titled Managing Stressful Times with a Picky Eater or Problem Feeder, and we would like to ask that you consider sending it to your families.  It is so important for our families with children with feeding challenges to get practical and easy to implement ideas for how to get through the next few weeks in ways that will make their family stronger. You can download a PDF version here: Stressful Times & Picky Eaters + Problem Feeders

• We have also created a post on our Facebook page where you can share how you are positively adapting your clinical work during this stressful time, and read what your colleagues are doing around the world.

• If you will be starting with a new client via telehealth, make sure you help both the child and family know what to expect. Here is an example script Dr. Toomey created for the family of a 6-11 year old.

If you have come up with other ideas that have been successful that you wish to share, please contact us and let us know what has been working for you! You can e-mail suggestions to Lindsay at [email protected].

We hope you continue to stay happy and healthy, safe, and sane during these challenging times!