In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for psychiatric services surged as uncertainty and mental health challenges became increasingly prevalent. However, the restrictions placed on social distancing prompted mental health service providers to seek alternative methods of offering treatment, which led to the rise of popularity in telehealth-based psychiatry.
What is Telepsychiatry?
The American Psychiatric Association defines telepsychiatry as the process of “providing health care from a distance through technology, often using videoconferencing” by providing a range of services including psychiatric evaluations, therapy, patient education and medication management. This medium gives providers the ability to bring the psychiatrist directly to the patient for direct, live care regardless of where the patient might reside.
What Are the Benefits of Telepsychiatry?
Unlike meeting in person, telepsychiatry increases the accessibility to mental health services and the convenience to help meet the patient’s needs. Telepsychiatry is also found to benefit patients by:
-
Providing direct care to the patient’s location
-
Improving access to mental health care in all areas, including rural areas
-
Increasing patient participation rates by allowing patients to have preferred locations to meet
-
Increasing the feasibility of patients receiving care during the week
-
Optimizing both patients’ and providers’ time
-
Reducing delays in immediate care
-
Ultimately, reducing the stigmatization of seeking mental health services
What Are the Trends in Telepsychiatry?
In an interview by Healthcare IT News, a mental health technology expert states that telehealth-based services are here to stay, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In the midst of the pandemic in 2020, telehealth-based services composed a third of behavioral healthcare visits. However, numbers will constantly increase as the interest in seeking behavioral healthcare is prominently through telehealth-based telepsychiatry. Ultimately, as telehealth-based services continue to become the main treatment approach, the quality of care and accessibility of providers will be highly focused to lead the industry in the right direction.
Are You a Provider Seeking to Expand Your Services Through Telepsychiatry?
Here at MVP Consulting Group, we are committed to staffing highly qualified personnel in mental health facilities and substance use treatment centers throughout the United States. Ultimately, we provide your organization with the most valuable performers. Through our vast network of behavioral health practitioners, we provide staffing services for difficult-to-till and specialty positions for your organization ensuring that each new hire is the perfect fit. Click here to learn more about our Healthcare Staffing services or call our office at (562) 400-7714.
