The Basics of Telepsychiatry
With a quarter of U.S. adults reportedly diagnose-able for one or more disorders in one year, including depression, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, and eating disorders, it’s clear that there is a pressing need for comprehensive mental health care in America. But for individuals suffering with mental disorders, seeking treatment can be difficult when their condition is debilitating.
Luckily, recent advances in telemedicine software have made telepsychiatry possible. Telemedicine is the process of administering care to a patient using video conference software. Aside from telepsychiatry, there are many other types of telemedicine. These technological strides have made it possible for mental health patients to receive the proper care they need, under all circumstances. Here are the basics of telepsychiatry:
What is telepsychiatry?
Telepsychiatry is the utilization of telemedicine software via the field of psychiatry. The telemedicine platforms provides a means for patients to receive assessment and care from their doctors from remote locations. For some forms of telepsychiatry, all a patient needs is an internet connection and a webcam. However, in order to honor HIPAA codes, many telepsychiatry doctors and patients require HIPAA compliant video conferencing software. HIPAA compliant software ensures patient-doctor confidentiality.
What are the benefits of telepsychiatry?
Telepsychiatry has proved to be largely beneficial for mental health patients. Firstly, telepsychiatry software is incredibly accessible and enables patients to get the help they need, regardless of location. Engaging in telepsychiatric treatment also proves to be less daunting for those with debilitating mental disorders, as these individuals never have to leave the comforts of their home to receive assessment and treatment. 73% of patients who participated in an online therapy trial of six average sessions re-booked with the same doctor.
The future of telepsychiatry looks bright. Within the next four years, the telemedicine market is projected to see a $1.9 billion increase. Numbers like that mean that psychiatric care may be more accessible to the ones that need it most.