New Beginnings

Telepsychiatry can be used for:

  • On-site/Off-site Psychiatric Evaluation
  • On-site/Off-site Medication Check-up / Follow-up
  • On-site/Off-site Behavioral Consultation
  • On-site/Off-site Urgent Care via Telepsychiatry
  • Telepsychiatric Care Available for Facilities and Organizations

What is Telepsychiatry?

Telepsychiatry is a pioneering practice in healthcare that applies telemedicine to the field of psychiatry. It refers to the delivery of psychiatric mental health services and cares through telecommunications technology, most commonly through videoconferencing.

One main issue within the American public health system is the lack of access to proper psychiatric mental health services and care. Telepsychiatry services have helped bridge the accessibility of Psychiatric services to patients around the country. This method integrates effective interventions that are patient-centered and affordable.

What is Telepsychiatry?

Telepsychiatry is a pioneering practice in healthcare that applies telemedicine to the field of psychiatry. It refers to the delivery of psychiatric mental health services and cares through telecommunications technology, most commonly through videoconferencing.

One main issue within the American public health system is the lack of access to proper psychiatric mental health services and care. Telepsychiatry services have helped bridge the accessibility of Psychiatric services to patients around the country. This method integrates effective interventions that are patient-centered and affordable.

What Is Telepsychiatry’s Role in Improving Access?

Economics

Telemedicine can decrease the cost of mental health care by providing an affordable framework for delivering service. Patients don’t have to worry about transportation, childcare, lost work hours, or other ancillary expenses involved in visiting a remote specialist’s office. In most states where telemedicine is covered by insurance, coverage is generally equal to that of a conventional doctor’s visit.

Geography

Telepsychiatry makes quality mental health care available in any clinic with an internet connection. Rural areas are typically the most underserved for all areas of health care, and psychiatry is no exception. By eliminating the additional time and expense associated with travel, telepsychiatry makes it easier to intervene faster in crisis situations and to streamline intake into inpatient facilities.

Stigma

The stigma around mental health care often discourages individuals from seeking help, but telemedicine can make care accessible to individuals who may not feel comfortable visiting a psychiatrist’s office. Certain groups of patients may also be more inclined to open up while they’re communicating electronically rather than face-to-face. As healthcare practitioners continue to look for ways to improve service delivery, and mental health care becomes an increasingly large economic burden on public health systems, the future of telemedicine looks promising.

What does telepsychiatry look
like for a typical patient?

This service has a different experience than a traditional service offered in-person by a Psychiatrist. The patient will have the opportunity to speak with a Psychiatrist over video conferencing, similarly to an in-person visit. The patient will still come to the designated Mental Health facility location and meet with their Psychiatrist in a private room for a one-on-once videoconferencing session.

The content of the appointment will be exactly the same as if it were taking place in person. Our doctors can discuss the issue in detail, make a treatment plan and even prescribe medicine through telepsychiatry. Any follow-up appointments or further referrals can be conducted much in the same way, saving the patient considerable travel time and related expenses.