What is Telepsychiatry?

Telepsychiatry is a branch of telemedicine that provides psychiatric care remotely through live and interactive video conferencing. You can meet with a psychiatrist from the comfort of your home and get the psychiatry care you need. The advantage of seeing a psychiatrist online is that you can see the psychiatrist of your choice and not be restricted by their location. You do not need to travel or take time off work and your child does not need to take time off school.

Using our secure, HIPPAA-compliant video teleconferencing technology, telepsychiatry connects patients with a psychiatrist to provide evaluations, or assessments for psychiatry medications, patient education and associative counseling. Telepsychiatry offers convenient and accessible care for those in need of mental health services. It offers opportunities for reduced wait times, and a much simpler way to schedule appointments with the use of a smartphone or computer. In a society that embraces video in multiple ways on a daily basis, from Zoom meetings to Instagram or Facebook calls, video conversations are becoming the norm rather that the exception.

The demand for telepsychiatry has increased in recent years and its application offers high level of flexibility for mental health patients. It allows providers and patients to bridge a geographic gap that existed previously. Case studies and patient outcomes, based on experience rather than perception, illustrate the potential that telepsychiatry has at a time when there is an increased demand for psychiatric care in the United States.

Studies show that both children and adolescents adapt quickly to telepsychiatry and respond well to online treatment. They are more engaged with video than adults, in everyday life, and online psychiatrists working with them have a way to make their sessions fruitful. Older teenagers especially benefit from seeing a psychiatrist online because it minimally interferes with their busy schedules, academic commitments, and traveling between home and school/college campus.

Whether seeing a psychiatrist online or in person, respect, communication, understanding, and trust are the vital components of a successful doctor-patient relationship.