Telehealth breaks down barriers to mental health care
The convenience of telehealth has grown beyond those seeking care for a sore throat or skin rash to issues such as anxiety and depression.
Telemental health, as it is called, has increased 45 percent per year since 2014 by offering a solution that eases the stigma that often comes from mental health disorders. Its popularity has exponentially grown since the advent of the COVID19 pandemic, which has enforced social distancing and added to a rise in mental health issues.
“The growth speaks to the fact that telehealth medicine for psychiatry and mental health lends itself very well to this type of intervention because we don’t have to lay hands on our patients to examine them,” said Christina Waite, M.D., medical director of psychiatry for Miami Valley Hospital.
Aside from traditional health care settings, such as emergency rooms and doctor’s offices, telemental health has become an effective tool for those being treated in prisons, schools, nursing homes and military bases, said Dr. Waite, who practices with Premier Physician Network.
Telemental health is very effective and provides the same level of accuracy in terms of diagnosis, treatment outcomes, quality of care and patient satisfaction. It also is a viable tool for any age. In fact, some providers can conduct family therapy using telemental health by delivering materials such as toys ahead of a scheduled session and watching a child or entire family interact over the screen.
“It’s interesting to see how creative we can be with using this type of module,” Dr. Waite said.
Telemental health has been found to benefit many individuals by breaking down common barriers to mental health care.
Dissolving social anxiety — Some people struggle with social anxieties that make it difficult to leave their home. Others may have phobias — such as driving in a car — that are triggered by steps that must be taken to go to a provider’s office.
Avoiding stigma — Some may avoid seeing a provider because they don’t want to risk the stigma that may come from being seen in the office.
Improving access — Not all outlying areas or smaller communities have the level of psychiatric care that are found in larger communities. Telemental health provides access to a wider network of providers.
Creating convenience — Telemental health allows greater flexibility in a provider’s schedule, and as a result, opens more appointment times from which a patient can choose.
There are still times when in-person care is best or necessary, Dr. Waite said.
“There are individuals who need an in-person, therapeutic presence where they feel like there’s someone there with them that cares,” she said. “That type of person would not do very well if they were switched to telehealth. They tend to decompensate, and we’ve actually seen a number of these patients in the past couple of years.”
Others do not have access to the technology needed to conduct telehealth or have a disability that makes it impossible for them to physically operate technology. Some who are critically ill in a hospital may require someone to be physically present for an evaluation.
Still, this type of technology is a lifeline for many who can use telemental health. And one silver lining to the pandemic is that it created a wider acceptance for its use and reimbursement from insurance companies — something that Dr. Waite hopes will continue beyond COVID-19.
For more information about telemental health, or to schedule an appointment with a Premier Physician Network provider near you, visit PremierHealth.com/MakeAnAppointment.