When to Consider Telemedicine for Your Mental Health Needs

The United States is in the middle of a mental health crisis as levels of behavioral health needs increase among people of all ages.

The lack of sufficient behavioral health workers to meet these needs is certainly due, in part, to the substantial shortages of addiction counselors, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, psychologists, and psychiatrists projected to occur by 2036.

However, you also can’t dismiss the pervasive stigma that makes patients hesitate to speak up and get the help they need, nor that more than half (169 million) of the U.S. population lives in a mental healthcare HPSA (health professional shortage area), where care may be too far away to be convenient.

At Sidhu Psychiatric in Palm Harbor, Florida, our board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kanwaljit “Kavi” Sidhu NP-C, PMHNP-BC, offers telehealth services to any of her patients who can’t, or won’t, come to our office.

If you’re wondering if telehealth is right for you, here’s what Kavi has to say.

A brief history of telemedicine

Telemedicine isn’t a new concept. In fact, it dates back to the 1940s, when Pennsylvania doctors sent radiology images 24 miles between two townships over a telephone line. A Canadian doctor built upon the technology, and, in the 1950s, he built a teleradiology system used in and around Montreal.

With new developments in film technology came serious plans for a form of video medicine. In 1959, doctors at the University of Nebraska created a two-way television setup to transmit information to their medical students across campus. Five years later, they linked with a state hospital to perform video consultations.

Telehealth really took off with the COVID-19 pandemic, as people in lockdown still needed health services, and healthcare providers could provide many of their services remotely in two ways:

1. Asynchronous telehealth: secure messaging platforms for efficient medication adjustments and refills
2. Real-time telehealth: video consultations that replicate the intimacy of in-person visits while maximizing patient-provider convenience

Through telehealth, we can treat mental health issues through talk therapy and behavioral intervention, including individual/group counseling and peer support groups.

The advantages of telemedicine

Telemedicine has a number of advantages over in-person visits for issues that don’t require a hands-on approach (e.g., a test or specimen).

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) strongly supports using telehealth for behavioral healthcare. In particular, benefits include:

Care collaboration

Providers can monitor patients remotely, obtain their health data, and get more information about their medical history. It thereby provides continuity of care via remote patient monitoring and timely interventions.

Physical limitations

If you have physical challenges, including vision or hearing impairments, or you’re separated from medical care by geographical and physical barriers, you can still keep your telehealth appointment. All you need is a computer or tablet with internet connection, and you’re connected right to your provider, as if you were in the same room.

Prescribing medications

Mental health providers prescribe both controlled and noncontrolled medications. Before COVID-19, most states required an in-person visit before a provider could prescribe a controlled substance. However, the extension of the temporary flexibilities during the pandemic allows DEA-registered practitioners to continue prescribing some controlled medications.

For most mental health conditions, research suggests there’s no significant difference between online behavioral health therapy and in-person therapy.

The disadvantages of telemedicine

Telehealth for mental health offers many benefits, but you should also consider potential limitations.

Technology issues

Can include poor internet service, or patients’ lack of access to appropriate devices to enable telehealth to work. Disproportionately affects the elderly, those with disabilities, and those who aren’t tech-savvy.

Limited intervention capacity

Telehealth isn’t always appropriate for every condition. Some patients may require at least one in-person physical examination before the conferencing platform can be used.

Privacy concerns

Providers may need to send sensitive medical information electronically, so practices have to implement robust safeguards to protect patient information.

We should let you know that at Sidhu Psychiatric, Kavi uses technology that’s fully encrypted and complies with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) standards. Rest assured that your conversations with her are secure and private.

Telehealth, with its convenience of dialing in from anywhere and not needing to arrange for transportation, gas, or daycare, has revolutionized the healthcare landscape, especially since the pandemic. Patients receive convenient access to care and clinicians can expand their reach and improve patient outcomes.

Additionally, telehealth helps provide access to mental health care in remote or underserved areas. And it continues to be a rapidly evolving service as technology improves.

If you have mental health concerns and want to consider a telemedicine appointment, call our office at 727-382-1383, or contact us online today.