The CeTeC-U (Centro de Telemedicina COVID - Universitario), were implemented by the Ministry of Health of the Province of Buenos Aires in April 2020, to provide medical counseling to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
The CeTeCs, were enabled in universities throughout the province of Buenos Aires, in cities such as Avellaneda, Almirante Brown, or Mar del Plata. Specifically, it is in the latter, at the National University of Mar del Plata (UNMDP), where the CeTeC-U has specially implemented an area specializing in telepsychology, to provide counseling to confirmed cases of COVID-19 who are in home isolation.
The faculties of Psychology, Health Sciences and the School of Medicine have more than 160 volunteers in total, who provide remote consulting on their specialty related to COVID-19.
In August 2020, the Faculty of Psychology implemented the Telemedicine Care Center for Mental Health, thanks to which they have been able to provide psychological support to people who are infected with COVID-19 and are in Preventive and Mandatory Social Isolation (ASPO).
With a team of volunteers, graduates or current students of the faculty, the CeTeC-U, of the UNMDP, carry out evaluations of the level of complexity to decide the process of care, whether it is social development, psychological therapy sessions or psychiatry. Through this free service, volunteers provide support and listening to people during their isolation.
The volunteers have explained their experiences with this type of remote care: "Often, in these first telephone contacts, the people on the other end of the phone reveal aspects of a state of emotional and mental complexity that cross the frontier of medical science and, upon detecting this, they offer Professional Psychology Accompaniment".
Hey also explain that the internal learning process among the team of volunteers that they carry out on a weekly basis is important. "This space is considered as the main support to carry out the device, generate debates and self-care tools", they explain.
Regarding the problems that have been detected during the support sessions, the Telemedicine Care Center for Mental Health has maintained contact with local authorities to follow up on the cases: "During the calls we have come across different social problems, such as gender violence and child abuse, for example. Faced with these situations, we have contacted different devices and municipal institutions to refer them, such as the Directorate of Gender Policies and the Local Service for the Protection of Children's Rights".
