TelePsychiatry

Telepsychiatry is the process of providing care from a distance through audio visual conferencing. This can include psychiatric evaluations, therapy (individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy), patient education and medication management.

Telepsychiatry involves direct interaction between a psychiatrist and the patient. It can also encompass psychiatrists supporting primary care providers with mental health care consultation and expertise. Mental health care can be delivered in a live, interactive session. It can also involve recording medical information (images, videos, etc.) and sending it to Psychiatric-Care.com for later review.

Benefits

Telepsychiatry is all about your convenience, affordability and effective access to mental health services. It can benefit patients in a number of ways, including:

• Improve access to mental health specialty care
• Bring care to the patient’s location
• Help integrate behavioral health care and primary care, leading to better outcomes
• Reduce the need for trips to the emergency room
• Reduce delays in care
• Improve continuity of care and follow-up
• Reduce the need for time off work, childcare services, etc.
• Reduce potential transportation barriers
• Reduce the barrier of stigma

While some people may be reluctant or feel awkward talking to person in a screen, experience shows most people are comfortable with it. Some people may be more relaxed and willing to open up from the comfort of their home or a convenient local facility. Also, this will likely be less of a problem as people become more familiar and comfortable with video communication in everyday life.