Psychiatrists are able to treat patients remotely through secure communication platforms and teleconferencing. During these sessions, psychiatrists can assess and diagnose mental health issues.
These sessions can also help patients manage their medication and therapy sessions. The benefits of telepsychiatry include: accessibility, convenience, privacy, and flexibility. The ability to have sessions from home can be helpful for those with mobility issues or who fear the stigma of going to a psychiatric office.
Accessibility
Telepsychiatry is a convenient and effective method for patients to receive their mental health care. It allows individuals to get the treatment they need without having to travel long distances or schedule time off of work. In addition, telehealth can help patients with limited mobility or chronic illness feel more comfortable and connected to their therapists.
Many hospitals and other healthcare facilities struggle to provide psychiatric services for their patients due to the shortage of psychiatrists in Illinois. e-Psychiatry helps to bridge this gap by connecting patients with qualified psychiatrists that are licensed in their state. This service can also be used by private practices, psychiatric group practices, and other healthcare facilities that are struggling to find psychiatrists for their patients.
Psychiatric services are often viewed as a luxury, but in reality, they can improve the quality of a patient’s life by increasing access to care and helping patients to cope with difficult symptoms. In a study, patients who received their psychiatric care via videoconferencing experienced fewer hospital admissions and less days spent in the hospital than those who did not. Moreover, patients were also more satisfied with their psychiatric care when it was delivered over the Internet.
In a similar study, patients who had psychiatric consultations online were found to have lower rates of PTSD and anxiety than those who did not. In addition, the deaf and hard of hearing can benefit from telepsychiatry because it allows them to connect with providers who can communicate with them through sign language. In fact, the Integrated Telehealth Partners division of Psychiatric Medical Care has earned full accreditation from The Joint Commission and provides a range of behavioral health services for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients through videoconferencing.
In addition to reducing the risk of disease transmission, telepsychiatry can be useful during a pandemic because it allows doctors to treat patients remotely even when they cannot get to the office. However, a number of obstacles have kept telehealth from becoming a regular part of medical practice, including the cost of equipment and licensing requirements. A new bill that was proposed in Congress late last year addresses these issues by allowing Medicare to reimburse doctors for treating telehealth patients. The telehealth industry is growing rapidly, and with its continued growth, it’s likely that more people will have the opportunity to receive the treatment they need at home.
Convenience
Telepsychiatry is a convenient option that allows patients to meet with their psychiatrists from the comfort of their own homes. While it can be a bit nerve-wracking at first, most people feel comfortable with it and report positive experiences with their appointments. For some, a home-based psychiatry session can be more therapeutic because it removes the stigma and pressure of visiting a mental health facility. Additionally, telepsychiatry allows people to meet with their psychiatrists on their own schedule and avoid the long wait times that can occur in traditional office-based clinics.
In addition to convenience, telepsychiatry has also been shown to improve patient outcomes. For example, one study found that telemedicine reduces hospital admissions and days of stay for psychiatric patients. It also decreases the amount of time spent traveling to a psychiatric clinic and the costs associated with those trips. In addition, it increases access to care for children and adolescents, as well as those who have difficulty travelling.
Another benefit of telepsychiatry is that it provides a level of privacy and comfort not available in many other settings. For instance, many psychiatric patients experience anxiety or stress when they are required to travel to a treatment center. For these patients, telepsychiatry can provide a more comfortable environment and may help them to open up during their appointments. Additionally, telepsychiatry can be used for follow-up appointments and medication management, eliminating the need for a visit to a psychiatric clinic.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect patient access to care, the use of telemedicine is growing rapidly. While some patients will still prefer in-person care, telepsychiatry is becoming increasingly common and offers several benefits to both patients and providers.
During the COVID-19 crisis, Illinois Masonic Medical Center’s behavioral health services department offered telepsychiatry through its school-based clinics. Carroll Cradock, a psychologist and telemedicine consultant who was involved with the initial implementation of the program, said that most students and parents overwhelmingly loved telepsychiatry because it saved them money on transportation and allowed them to attend their appointment while watching their kids. However, she noted that some clinicians were reluctant to use telehealth because they found it hard to build trust with their patients over the phone or video and that the lack of visual cues made it difficult for them to read body language.
Privacy
In order to use telepsychiatry, patients must have reliable access to a computer, smartphone and the internet. They also need to have a quiet place in their home or office without distractions. In addition, patients must be able to maintain focus and stay on point throughout the appointment. If they are distracted, their symptoms will likely worsen.
Psychiatry providers have worked to develop ways to build rapport with patients and provide a quality clinical experience via telehealth. Clinics have used technology to blend telehealth with in-person visits, referred to as hybrid physician-patient relationships.
While telepsychiatry is becoming more popular as COVID-19 ends, there are still some challenges associated with it. Most of the challenges revolve around the patient-physician relationship and the need for technological literacy. Other issues include the need for training in telemedicine, as well as the need to evaluate current telehealth competency standards.
One study found that a number of patients reported concerns about privacy in telemedicine. They feared that their physicians would be less capable of accurately assessing their condition or making sound treatment decisions based solely on videoconferencing interviews. Other patients were worried that their telehealth providers would not be able to read their body language and other non-verbal cues.
The researchers recommend that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) create voluntary codes of conduct for telehealth, as well as establish and enforce consumer protection laws for telehealth. They believe that giving the FTC this two-part authority is the best way to ensure that consumers can trust telehealth services and that innovation can thrive.
Despite the challenges, telepsychiatry can be beneficial for many patients. It offers a convenient, affordable and private way to receive mental health care. For patients who live in rural areas, or who have other barriers to visiting an in-person psychiatrist, telepsychiatry is a great option.
Modern Mental Health has been offering telepsychiatry appointments since before the COVID-19 pandemic began and is comfortable using this technology to meet with our patients. If you are interested in receiving telepsychiatry, contact our downtown Chicago office to schedule an appointment with one of our providers.
Flexibility
The ability to communicate with your therapist via video call can be very convenient and flexible. You can be in the comfort of your home or other location that provides privacy and a quiet space. This is ideal for individuals with busy schedules who may be unable to travel long distances to in-person sessions. With this option, it’s easy to maintain your psychiatric care and avoid any gaps in treatment.
As a result, many mental health providers offer telepsychiatry appointments to their clients as an alternative option when face-to-face services aren’t feasible. Clarity Clinic NWI is committed to providing this service when possible and we work hard to ensure you’re able to access it for your convenience.
The flexibility of telepsychiatry can also help those who live in remote areas of Illinois. For example, a patient who lives in rural Galena can still receive psychiatric care from a Chicago psychiatrist because of telepsychiatry. In fact, a recent study showed that telepsychiatry can provide better accessibility than in-person visits.
Another benefit of telepsychiatry is that it can reduce the stress and discomfort associated with visiting a psychiatric facility. This is especially beneficial for those with anxiety, who feel uncomfortable in the clinical environment, or who have trouble getting to and from a psychiatric office. In addition, telepsychiatry sessions can be conducted in the comfort of your own home or at any other location where you have a decent internet connection.
With telepsychiatry chicago, it’s easier to get the care you need even during an emergency. In fact, some telepsychiatry providers have been contracted to assist hospital emergency departments in remote cities. These telepsychiatry professionals can evaluate patients and determine if they require immediate in-person treatment.
Another advantage of telepsychiatry is that many insurance companies recognize it as a viable option for coverage. For instance, telepsychiatry is a part of the coverage provided by the Chicago Department of Public Health at its community mental health centers.