The Benefits Of Telemedicine And Telepsychiatry Services

By William Schmidt


When it comes to going to any type of medical appointment, doing so can often be difficult. While this is the case, there are now Telepsychiatry services which can bring medical professionals into the home. Unlike house calls in the past, the new practice involves direct contact between mental health care providers and clients in two different locations. Whereas, there are also other health care providers which are using telecommunications and telemedicine in different ways.

Telemedicine uses a number of different formats including teleconferencing over land lines, smart phones, Skype and other videoconferencing platforms. When it comes to telepsychiatry, it is considered a subset of telemedicine. In this case, the practice involves psychiatrists and other mental health care workers whom provide evaluations, individual, group or family therapy, education and medication management from a distance.

In addition to direct medical provider to client services, telemedicine also allows primary and mental health care providers the ability to counsel with one another about the best treatment for clients. For example, a primary care provider may believe an individual needs to be seen by a specialist but is not quite sure. When this is the case, the primary care provider can now videoconference with the specialist to discover whether the condition is appropriate for a referral.

The practice has already helped individuals in a number of ways. For, telemedicine has proved to be affordable and readily available for most individuals. Benefits of telemedicine include reducing barriers related to judgment and stigma, eliminating transportation issues, flexible scheduling based on when clients are available, reducing the number of canceled or delayed appointments, reducing the need for emergency room visits, integrating different types of health care and providing access to individuals living in rural areas.

While some people may not be comfortable talking to a person on a computer screen, experience and research studies have shown that the majority feel okay in doing so. In fact, studies also showed that some individuals may be more willing to open up about difficult issues from the comfort of home versus a clinical setting. When it comes to individuals whom are uncomfortable in the beginning, most become more comfortable once familiar with the process.

Both primary and mental health care providers must hold a valid license to practice medicine in the state where treatment is taking place. Since state licensing and legislature generally view that to be the place in which clients are located, providers and clients alike need to be cautious when communicating either on the phone or through videoconferencing from outside the state of residence.

Telemedicine, while a new practice has already discovered that satisfaction is prevalent among clients, mental health providers, primary health care providers and others. For, while sessions may take place over the internet, the practice is basically the same as in an in-office environment when it comes to quality of care, treatment, diagnosis and examinations. Whereas, overall confidentiality and privacy are also of utmost importance, including traditional doctor client privilege.

Ultimately, the practice can be a valuable experience for all age groups. For, research and evidence has found that assessment and treatment can be provided much more quickly online than when having to wait weeks or months for an in-office appointment. Whereas, there are a number of people whom now prefer telemedicine, telepsychiatry and videoconferencing, especially those living with ADHD, anxiety disorders, autism and physical limitations.




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