subject: Telepsychiatry is one of the most successful forms of Telemedicine [print this page] Telepsychiatry is one of the most successful forms of Telemedicine
Telepsychiatry is one of the most successful forms of Telemedicine
By Rich Laskowski
The most successful implementation of Telemedicine to date has been within the mental health field in the form of Telepsychiatry. That sounds cool, but whats Telemedicine anyway? Telemedicine may be as simple as a health professionals discussing a care with their patient over the telephone, or as complex as using satellite technology and videoconferencing equipment to conduct a real-time consultation between medical specialists in two different countries. Telepsychiatry is simply an application of Telemedicine.
Telepsychiatry has been successful because a persons mental health, as opposed to their physical health, can be treated almost entirely with clinical communication and/or prescription medication. Because of this, mental health professionals were among the first physicians who could use Telemedicine to diagnose, treat and monitor patients with everyday conditions like anxiety and depression, or to simply help patients find ways cope better with difficult feelings in a timely manner.
Another reason for the emergence of Telepsychiatry is a matter of convenience for the patient. Much like chiropractic or dental care, mental health is often treated through routine checkups scheduled weekly, monthly, or as needed when problems occur. The real disadvantage for chiropractic and dental patients is they must physically travel to receive treatment. If they didnt have to travel, maybe theyd seek care more often, and maybe theyd be healthier and live longer. Lots other forms of medical treatment, like Telepsychiatry, do not share this logistical challenge and have therefore always been among the leaders in Telemedicine.
With todays Telepsychiatry, a consultation can still occur directly between the doctors offices and the comfort and privacy of the patients home; Telepsychiatry isnt just done over the telephone anymore, but with email chat or video conferencing as well. This type of thorough, anonymous care rids patients of the anxiety of wondering what other people might think of them for seeking the help of a mental health professional.
With new communication technologies coming out every year, more and more medical professionals of other fields have wanted to make telemedicine more commonplace in their practices. The reason is simple: all patients enjoy the convenience and higher quality of care that telemedicine offers. In other health fields, Telemedicine was reserved for a few people with expensive private health plans and complicated computer equipment.
This void in the system, and the commonality of home computers, the main factors that led to the creation of new health and service oriented companies like HealthNation. Telemedicine through HealthNation Connect is simply a service where you can access a consultation with a physician by phone, secure email, or video chat 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Its used for diagnosing, treating and monitoring patients with everyday medical conditions. In doing so HealthNation Connect helps to raise the quality of healthcare.
HealthNation Connect is available to you for a monthly fee of just $30, with a one-time activation fee of $100 that includes your first month of service. To learn more about Telemedicine, or to join HealthNation Connect see their website at www.heatlhnation.net
