All you need to know about telepsychiatry services in mental health
The process of telepsychiatry uses telecommunications devices to provide psychiatric services to individuals who are at a distance from psychiatric and feel comfortable at home.
Telemedicine uses technology, mostly videoconferencing, to provide medical care from a distance.
In this article we have discussed services, companies, salary of telepsychiatry and all the information regarding telepsychiatry.
What is telepsychiatry?
Telepsychiatry is one of the branches of telemedicine.
Telemedicine usually provides medical care services to patients by using technology which is typically video-based.
In telepsychiatry, doctors can engage directly with patients using video call and telephone facilities. Some psychiatrists like to provide their medical information in the form of recordings.
Telepsychiatry provides following services according to American Psychiatric Association (APA):
● psychiatric diagnoses and evaluations
● family therapy
● group therapy
● individual therapy
● client education
● management of medicines
Telepsychiatry companies
Following are 10 telepsychiatry companies for mental health:
● Telespace
● Able to
● Ieso Digital Health
● Regroup Therapy
● WeCounsel Solutions
● Workit Health
● Encounter Telehealth
● BlueCall
● Competencer
● Selfapy
Telepsychiatry companies mentioned above provide mental health services through video or voice calls.
Telepsychiatry salary
Usually, child, pediatric, geriatric, and psychiatrists earn the most money. Child psychiatrists usually start at approximately $144,000 and reach to $277,000, and geriatric psychiatrists usually begin at $196,000 and then make $252,000. This is the approximate telepsychiatry salary.
Benefits of telepsychiatry
It is easy and simple. For example if a patient has a tablet, computer or even mobile then he can schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist. No excuses, no traffic and no logistic issues.
Telepsychiatry provides a number of advantages to both patient and psychiatrist, which includes increased accessibility to comfort and services.
It is suitable for all age groups, including adolescents, children and adults. Telepsychiatry is preferable to face-to-face treatment, for someone who has severe anxiety disorders.
Other benefits of telepsychiatry may include:
Accessibility and convenience
Some psychiatrists need to provide treatment to people who live in rural areas where there is less number of medical facilities, telepsychiatry is the best option for them.
Patients who are unable to travel can easily access psychiatric services by this.
It allows the patient to save time by eliminating the need to travel.
Quality of care
According to a review in 2016, both patient and psychiatrist show high satisfaction levels with this technology. This review also shows that parents looking for mental healthcare for their child are also satisfied.
This report also shows that this technology is more efficient than usual face-to-face treatment.
Some people are more comfortable in their home than in a clinic so they are more willing to open up from the comfortable environment of their home.
Cost
The biggest advantage of this technology is that it reduces travel cost.
Telemedicine eliminates the need for both client and psychiatric to visit hospitals or clinics thus bringing down travel cost.
Disadvantages of telepsychiatry
The most common disadvantages of telepsychiatry are following:
Personal Touch
Telepsychiatry decreases face-to-face interactions between the psychiatrist and the.
Technical issues
In telepsychiatry, there are risks of hardware flaws, connection disruption. Technological training and electronic devices are needed in this form of appointment.
Prescribing restrictions
Federal laws inhibit the prescription of many medicines or controlled substances.
Licensing restrictions
In telepsychiatry, physicians should be licensed at time of service in a patient state.
Uncomfortable and awkwardness
For many patients, telepsychiatry services are most convenient and comfortable. While, for some people it is uncomfortable and awkward to check online. Some people find it easier to sit for a long time for a physical appointment.
How does telepsychiatry work?
It works in the same way as traditional face-to-face appointments.
A patient will need to contact a health care centre or doctor. Then the health care centre refers them to a psychiatrist according to their mental health issue.
The client, clinic or doctor may contact to psychiatric who provide that service to book an telepsychiatric checkup with patient.
Once the doctor gives appointment time, then the patient can simply login to the relevant video call platform and wait for the therapist to come online. On the other hand, clients may wait for a telephonic call.
Patients should have all the relative information and records of their mental health issues, including all the details of medicines. Patients should make a list of questions that they want to ask from a psychiatrist.
Both face to face and video conference appointments have the same guidelines and usually follow the same layout.
The doctor and patient usually talk over relative problems and goals.
Psychiatrist can:
● create and execute treatment plans
● prescribe medicines according to illness
● schedule next appointments
● refer the patient to alternate services
Where can a person use it?
These services are usually available in many:
● centers
● prisons
● schools
● nursing homes
● primary healthcare centers
● residential treatment facilities
How to choose a provider?
Patients should choose the psychiatrist carefully. Some people also like to discuss this with their primary care physicians.
Factors which should keep in mind while searching for a psychiatrist include:
● licensure or credentialing
● qualification and training in the field
● supervision
People should try to collect information regarding the cost involved in this process and whether or not telepsychiatry is included in their insurance.
Effectiveness
There is scientific evidence that proves that telepsychiatry is effective in the treatment of mental health issues.
A hypothesis states that treatments which are based on online therapy and face-to-face appointments have the same results. So telepsychiatry is an effective alternative when in person treatment is not possible.
The first research to find out the attitude of patients towards telepsychiatry was conducted in 2020 which shows highly desirable results.
The study shows that some people feel more comfortable at home, can save time and money on transport, are able to talk with psychologists more confidently, hence these people are more likely to use telepsychiatry in upcoming days.
This study shows that people prefer video conferences over typical voice calls because advanced technology allows encrypted private communications.
Patients with cognitive or limitations, including hearing or visual difficulty, mutism, cognitive impairment, may specifically need the utilization of telepsychiatry.
In a different study this technology was given to people with anxiety, substance abuse, depressive disorders, PTSD, eating disorders, schizophrenia, as well as for prevention of suicide, telepsychiatry was very appreciated.
Summary
This technology is a form of telemedicine that uses video conferencing or telephone tools to provide mental health services.
As face-to-face psychiatric treatment, telepsychiatry doctors can diagnose a mental health illness, prescribe medication and provide therapy.
Research shows that telepsychiatry is as efficient as in-person treatment, and some people prefer telepsychiatry over typical face-to-face treatment.
If anyone wants to know more about telepsychiatry then he can talk to their doctor or psychologist.