Dr. Noah Minskoff on Telehealth Impact on Mental Health Accessibility

Telehealth has had a monumental impact on mental health accessibility. With many individuals suffering from some form of mental illness and a shortage of psychiatrists in clinics, it is not surprising that telehealth has become an imperative service. Telehealth allows those who may otherwise not be able to receive care the opportunity to do so.

Convenience

Many people prefer online visits because of the convenience . If your child is suffering from an illness, you can log into their account and see their vitals, and they don’t have to be in the same room as a nurse or doctor. This allows parents to be at home with their children and still get the care they need.

In addition to being more convenient, telehealth has resulted in fewer missed medical appointments . Telehealth allows individuals to schedule appointments with ease, which helps prevent the high rate of missed medical appointments. This significantly impacts those suffering from chronic illnesses who may have trouble keeping their appointments due to illness-related fatigue or pain.

Health Care Professionals

Telehealth also has implications for mental healthcare providers and their practice. It allows the doctor to spend more time with patients because of fewer cancellations and a higher number of patients seen per day.

Telehealth also provides an avenue to gather a greater understanding of patient needs. The patient can answer questions relating to the diagnosis and treatment of the illness and provide feedback on their experience with the visit. This allows a doctor to determine if they are giving the proper care or if they need to develop a new plan of care.

Education

Psychologists provide education to students and parents alike through the use of telehealth. Many students receiving treatment from psychologists need therapy to help with school issues. Telehealth allows them to get the help they need for school problems and mental illness through video conferencing and other technological means.

Cost & Distance

Telehealth also benefits those who cannot afford a therapist or prefer therapy online rather than in person . Online therapy allows patients to receive and give feedback on their treatment plan, communicate with their therapist, and continue working on issues without leaving the comfort of their own homes.

Telehealth allows individuals to get the care they need and the therapy benefits even when they live in remote areas. This allows those who cannot afford a therapist to benefit from therapy online, but it also allows those with severe mental illnesses to receive telehealth treatment at home.

Originally published at https://drnoahminskoff.com on May 8, 2022.