Before COVID-19, most patients and healthcare professionals conducted almost all of their appointments in-person. Now, practitioners of all disciplines have grown accustomed to a variety of telemedicine modalities, enabling millions of people to engage in psychiatry and other appointments without leaving their homes. This shift towards telemedicine has produced an explosion of articles describing the advantages of telepsychiatry.
Defining Telepsychiatry
Telepsychiatry is a branch of telemedicine which uses technology, often video-based, to provide a range of psychiatry services to patients. Using telepsychiatry, psychiatrists interact directly with patients via the telephone or video conferencing platforms.
Telepsychiatry helps meet patients’ needs for convenient, affordable and readily-accessible mental health services. With a robust evidence base that shows telepsychiatry leading to improved outcomes and higher patient satisfaction ratings, policy makers, payers and providers are increasingly considering ways to implement and use telepsychiatry.
Telepsychiatry increases access to high-quality mental health services for many patients, particularly those in rural or isolated geographical areas. This increased flexibility means many patients can still access psychiatric services if they are unable to travel or unable to take time off of work or school.
Therapy Via Telehealth Appointments
Telehealth is an umbrella term that describes healthcare appointments conducted from a distance via phone or HIPAA compliant video conferencing platforms.
With therapy, consistency is key. Especially last year, regular life obstacles like lack of childcare, social distancing guidelines, or illness could lead to a missed appointment. Telehealth prevents many of these factors from impacting your session.
Telehealth allowed already-established clients to continue their therapy sessions, as well as provided new patients with the chance to begin therapy even during a pandemic lockdown.
Telepsychiatry Effectiveness and Its Benefits
There is a growing body of evidence that shows that telepsychiatry improves outcomes and creates greater patent satisfaction. Some of the advantages include:
- Saves time by eliminating the need to commute to and from appointments
- Increases access to a variety of therapists and specialists, which can be especially important in rural communities with fewer options
- Reduces unnecessary trips to the emergency room
- Maintains social distancing for those who are still vulnerable to the coronavirus or have close contact with people who are at risk
- Enables consistency by reducing the likelihood of having to cancel or reschedule appointments due to work, school, transportation or childcare
What Conditions Can Telepsychiatry Address?
Telepsychiatry effectiveness is demonstrated in the treatment of many different mental health conditions. These include:
- Generalized anxiety disorders
- Panic disorders
- Depression
- Eating Disorders
- Bipolar Disorder
- Obsessive-compulsive Disorder
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Post-partum Depression
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Telepsychiatry also proves useful in helping people who struggle with substance use disorders, which is an addiction to drugs or alcohol. It can also help people manage physical conditions, such as chronic pain, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia.
Telepsychiatry Treatment in Southern California
Neuro Wellness Spa offers psychiatric care at all of our Southern California locations for our clients. We offer comprehensive, integrative, state-of-the-art treatment through telepsychiatry. We also offer a range of in-person treatment options, like transcranial magnetic stimulation and IV ketamine, that can help address a person’s physical and emotional wellbeing. If you would like to discuss our confidential psychiatric treatment options, contact Neuro Wellness Spa today.
