The Top 10 Benefits of Online Psychiatry (Telepsychiatry)

​Telemedicine is the process of providing healthcare through technology with video and audio input.  Telepsychiatry is the subset of telemedicine used in the treatment of mental health with a licensed psychiatrist.  Many of us are already familiar with video conferencing  applications like Facetime, Skype, Zoom, Doxy, and others.  Some of the leading benefits of telepsychiatry and online psychiatry are:

1.  Easier Access to Care 

The most widely held reason to utilize telepsychiatry is convenience.  You can perform your sessions in the comfort of your own home.  Traffic, waiting rooms, commutes, etc. become a thing of the past.  Some patients elect to have every session via telepsychiatry.  Depending on your psychiatrist, rare visits may be required to be in-person due to federal regulations.  Those get more complicated so ask your psychiatrist if you can continue telepsychiatry at the next appointment.
 
2.  No Commute

Finding a good psychiatrist that you trust isn’t easy.  Sometimes the ideal psychiatrist for you involves in a bit of a drive.  Patients that experience high anxiety in traffic may forego treatment rather than seek out a psychiatrist that involves a long commute. 

3.  Avoid Waiting Rooms

My least favorite part about medical appointments is the waiting room.  Most waiting rooms feel relatively claustrophobic.  There are many people there that you don’t know, and there is little to do.  Telepsychiatry solves those issues as you can be in your own bedroom or with local family.  Best of all, you can be completing other tasks while you wait. I'd rather be completing my laundry than sitting aimlessly in a waiting room.

4.  More cost effective

While the price per session with your psychiatrist is likely to be the same, you will save transportation costs and minimize time away from work.  Many employed patients see their psychiatrist over their lunch break.  No time off work required.  Vacation days stay vacation days.

5.  Reduce delays in care 

Once your primary care doctor, counselor, or other specialist refers you to a psychiatrist, you still need to perform a search to find psychiatrists in your area with availability in the coming days or weeks.  I can’t tell you how often patients cancel in the last 24 hours or even with 1 hour notice.  Say you could come off the waitlist? This may not be enough time for you to shower and commute to a new office.  Some psychiatrists are even willing to stay later to see some patients via telepsychiatry.  Like any professional business open after typical business hours, there is some concern of safety when you are the last one at the office.  Telepsychiatry  is an option that maintains everyone’s safety at later hours.
 
6.  No stigma

I believe that the stigma surrounding mental health is gradually disappearing.  The general population is becoming more accepting and understanding that mental health is vitally important.  Treatment is more accepted and better studied than ever before. Still, it can feel awkward waiting in a public space to see a psychiatrist.

7.  Continuity of Care

Life is not stagnant.  People move for work, college, proximity to family, and many other reasons.  While the purpose of the move may be mostly positive, it is troublesome to find all new doctors, counselors, financial advisors, and every other type of professional that you may need.  While doctors must be licensed in the state where the patient is present for ongoing visits, many people will move within the state, and sometimes physicians hold licenses in multiple states.  Your move may not require switching psychiatrists.

8.  Technology is improving

Most new phones and laptops have built in cameras and microphones now. That means you likely already have the equipment to participate in a telepsychiatry online appointment.  Even the instructions can be quite simple to reach your physician.  With a connection to the internet, you may be all set.

9.  Physical obstacles are not a hindrance

One of my biggest reasons to cancel an appointment is either due to injury or weather event.  Accidents happen.  A broken leg can make it quite difficult to drive to your appointment.  New antibiotics can cause nausea which makes it unsafe to drive.  The electricity going out during a storm can make it difficult to get your car out of your garage.  These events aren’t easy to overcome and often result in cancelled appointments.  Not anymore!  Transitioning your appointment to telepsychiatry can make it simple and easy.

10.  Maintain social distancing

I’m not sure there has ever been a time similar to the present in which Americans are unified to maintain a social distance due to a global pandemic.  There is a general increase in anxiety throughout the nation related to being in public.  While doctors are spacing out appointments and utilizing strategies to make waiting rooms less crowded, there is no better way to social distance and see your doctor than by telemedicine.  

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