Telepsychiatry is steadily growing into a robust industry. Telepsychiatry refers to a specific component of telemedicine which deals with the assessment and delivery of mental health care through telecommunications services, usually video conferencing. Insurance companies and medical providers are increasingly covering and providing psychiatry services for patients through telemedicine. Given the prevalence of Americans currently dealing with mental illness, this is a welcome development. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported that in 2014 18.1% of all US adults aged 18 or older had any mental illness (AMI) defined as:
·
A mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder
(excluding developmental and substance use disorders);
·
Diagnosable currently or within the past year;
and,
·
Of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic
criteria specified in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).
Treating individuals with mental illnesses requires an
enormous amount of medical resources and a dedicated number of mental health
professionals. Unfortunately, in the U.S., according to the Department of Health and Human Services,
there are over 4,000 mental health shortage areas. Essentially, in these
regions the ratio of psychiatrist to patient exceeds 1:30,000. “Applying this
formula, it would take approximately 2,800 additional psychiatrists to
eliminate the current mental health HPSA designations.” Unless we see a
dramatic increase of 2,800 psychiatrists tomorrow, most medical facilities and
practices are unequipped to deal with the shortage of mental health care
professionals. This is where telepsychiatry is beginning to play a crucial role
in expanding access to care and relieving pressure on overburdened systems.
Those seeking care for mental health illnesses might be
better positioned to receive care virtually, and emergency rooms can now offer
virtual psychiatry sessions reducing the burden on ER staff. The growing
telepsychiatry industry means broader access across the U.S., especially for
U.S. veterans. Of the 1.7 million veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan,
300,000 (20 percent) suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or major
depression (RAND Center for Military Health Policy Research, Invisible Wounds
of War, 2008). Most Veterans will not seek treatment from VA system
psychiatrists or health professionals. MyOnCallDoc President and CEO, Craig
Zurman, created the international telemedicine services solution provider
MyOnCallDoc to help address this very need. While working with the U.S.
Department of Veterans Affairs, the need for a comprehensive, affordable, and
quality telepsychiatry program was overwhelmingly apparent. Now, MyOnCallDoc
features a robust network of providers able to offer psychiatry services at
affordable rates, bringing the care people need directly to their homes.
While telepsychiatry is a rapidly expanding industry, there are still challenges and barriers to its
implementation. Most insurance companies do not have regulations in place to
allow for telepsychiatry reimbursement. The number of insurance companies or
employer provided health programs that offer coverage for these services is
expanding, but not quickly enough. Other times, psychiatrists may only consult
with patients located in the state in which the psychiatrist is licensed due to
very specific licensing requirements. Training can also be an issue, simply
because a psychiatrist has access to the technology does not mean they have
been adequately trained to handle virtual sessions. Fortunately, the American Telemedicine Association has
put together guidelines
for video-based mental health services. The guidelines are comprehensive and
address technical, clinical, and administrative processes.
As long as psychiatrists remain open to offering psychiatry
sessions via telecommunications, patients are amenable to participating in
virtual sessions, and patient outcomes continue improving, telepsychiatry
stands to help provide broader access to mental health services for at-risk and
vulnerable populations and reduce health care costs in the long run.
For more information, please contact MyOnCallDoc to speak
with one of our psychiatrists today.