Abstract

Trauma-informed care (TIC) has emerged as a vital framework for addressing the complex needs of individuals who have experienced trauma, emphasizing safety, trust, empowerment, and resilience. Simultaneously, telehealth has transformed the healthcare landscape by enhancing accessibility, reducing barriers to care, and enabling continuity of services. This paper explores the convergence of TIC principles and telehealth, highlighting their synergistic potential in improving patient outcomes. Key considerations include adapting TIC practices to virtual environments, ensuring patient and provider safety, fostering trust through technology, and addressing the unique challenges of delivering trauma-sensitive care remotely. Case studies demonstrate how telehealth platforms can be designed to support TIC, such as providing secure communication channels, offering visual cues to enhance patient comfort, and incorporating flexibility to meet individual needs. The discussion extends to ethical considerations, including patient privacy, equity in access, and cultural sensitivity, which are critical to ensuring that telehealth services align with TIC values. Recommendations for best practices and future research directions focus on integrating technological innovations with evidence-based TIC strategies, ultimately aiming to bridge gaps in care and extend trauma-informed services to underserved populations. This intersection represents a promising frontier in healthcare, offering opportunities to create more inclusive, empathetic, and effective care systems for individuals affected by trauma.

Keywords: Trauma-informed care; Telehealth; Virtual healthcare; Patient-centered care; Psychological safety; Resilience-building; Trauma- sensitive practices