The Covid-19 pandemic throughout the world has caused a rise in mental health issues. People are fearful about losing their jobs and isolating from friends and family has caused many people to suffer from loneliness and depression. This sudden hike in mental health issues due to the pandemic bought telepsychiatry to the forefront to offer effective mental health care via videoconferencing.
Telepsychiatry is a powerful tool to link therapists and patients remotely to provide psychiatric evaluations and therapy sessions to patients suffering from anxiety, depression, substance abuse, mood disorders, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. Studies indicate that telepsychiatry is effective to treat depression in patients.
Telepsychiatry Success Rate
According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), telepsychiatry can result in improved patient outcome levels and satisfaction scores. This is because patients can easily get a prompt diagnosis for a treatment plan to be devised and implemented.
The telepsychiatry platform is as effective as in-person visits and offers a safe route to receive consultations during COVID-19. The accuracy of diagnosis and patient privacy is kept intact due to HIPAA compliance.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been treated in patients using telepsychiatry as per research. Patients like the convenience and see it as a suitable care platform as compared to traditional in-person sessions.
Most patients suffering from a mental disorder are not comfortable seeking help or counseling. Telepsychiatry has also helped to cut down the stigma of receiving mental help by making therapists easily accessible from the comfort of a patient’s home. This is an acceptable and feasible platform for patients to receive timely care.
Advantages of Telepsychiatry
- Improves access to mental healthcare providers.
- A convenient platform to receive care.
- Best for all age groups.
- Behavioral health care and primary care can be integrated easily which can lead to improved patient outcome levels.
- Delays in care can be reduced.
- Patient follow-ups can be easily set up to monitor the patients’ health.
- Some people are more comfortable speaking about sensitive issues from their homes.
- Telepsychiatry can be a cost-effective method to receive care according to a 2016 report, as both direct and indirect costs are reduced in contrast to traditional care.
Telepsychiatry services are available in mental health centers, outpatient clinics, schools, primary care centers, and nursing homes to facilitate the well-being and mental health of everyone.
Insurance Coverage for Telepsychiatry
Before scheduling a telepsychiatry session it is advised that people check with their insurance provider to get the exact details about insurance coverage. Since 2014, the Center for Medicare Services cover telepsychiatry and telemedicine services in several areas. The APA has recommended that Medicaid programs for telepsychiatry services reimburse in 48 states.
Moving Ahead
Improved care for mental health patients is the result of deploying telepsychiatry services. If you want to get detail into how a virtual care platform harnesses positive patient outcome levels then read our blog about Virtual Healthcare And Positive Patient Outcomes to bring a productive change in your workflows.
