Understanding Telepsychiatry
Living in the world today is challenging; pressures from work, home and family make keeping body and soul together as important as ever. Telepsychiatry offers patients a convenient way to get the mental health care they need wherever there’s an internet connection.
How Psychiatry Connection Delivers Virtual Care
Psychiatry Connection offers telepsychiatry, real-time dynamic audio-video conferencing, in multiple U.S. markets. This care is delivered over a platform that complies with personal health information laws (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA) and the care can treat a host of conditions, including depression; anxiety; obsessive-compulsive, attention-deficit/hyperactivity, bipolar, post-traumatic stress disorders, among others.
“Think of this as a FaceTime or a WhatsApp video call, but done over a platform that is secure and HIPAA compliant, ensuring the information is protected and confidential,” said Dr. Sid Khurana, Psychiatry Connection’s co-founder. “When real-time audio-video is not an option, then audio only can be done if insurance approves. Whether it’s your laptop, smartphone or tablet, you can have the same care from the comfort of your living room or when taking a break from work.”
Want to know what your first session might be like? Read our post “What to Expect at Your First Psychiatry Appointment” for a closer look.
How Effective Is Telepsychiatry?
Khurana said research over the last 20 years shows that psychiatric care delivered through telepsychiatry is comparable in diagnosis and treatment to in-person care. Telepsychiatry improves access in rural areas, he said, where in-person psychiatric care can be scarce, and in urban areas, where transportation, traffic and busy work-life schedules can make care hard to arrange.
Some studies have also shown that telepsychiatry visits have higher attendance and completion rates for patients than in-person visits do. Telepsychiatry also lets far-flung family members attend sessions together, from wherever they are, and opens care for people who struggle with anxiety, social phobia or fear of driving or who are on the autism spectrum.
Khurana said that because telepsychiatry lets patients stay comfortable, in their homes or cars, they can build better rapport with their clinicians.
“This care is forward-thinking and patient-first,” he said.
