The use of telehealth is rapidly growing. In just four years, claims related to telehealth grew 624% for all medical claims. In 2018 alone, non-hospital-based provider-to-patient telehealth visits made up 84% of all telehealth claims, compared with 52% in 2014. This astounding growth is the result of increased patient satisfaction [...]
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a real and serious problem for veterans returning from service. It is estimated that 11-20% of veterans experience PTSD, and many do not have access to care when returning to civilian life. Long-distance travel, as well as the stigmas that so often accompany mental [...]
Katrina, Harvey, Dorian: record-breaking storms that left destruction and devastation in their wake. The aftermath of these natural disasters is not just monetary and physical though, they cause mental and emotional trauma as well. The loss of homes, family members, and stability takes its toll on survivors. One of the [...]
There has been a lot of news coverage lately on detainees and asylum seekers and their overall well-being during their time in detention. Increasingly, many healthcare workers must face unfamiliar territory when treating patients brought in by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Detainees often present with a variety of psychiatric [...]
In our series, we have covered many of the challenges that hospitals and physicians face from a behavioral health perspective, from burnout to boarding, and how telepsychiatry provides innovative solutions. Here, we continue our exploration into the psychiatric world and how telepsychiatry is helping to advance inpatient care in mental health hospitals. The Shortages Affecting Inpatient Care The United States has an [...]
Wellbeing, burnout, work-life balance. These are all terms that mental health providers are familiar with. Often patients are counseled to take more time for themselves and spend less time at work. But for many providers, it is a case of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Mental health [...]
In many US communities, emergency departments are one of the last remaining safety nets for mental health patients. One in eight visits to the emergency room (ER) today is related to mental health or substance abuse issues. Starting in the 1980s continuing through the 90s, mental health was de-institutionalized around [...]
Opioid addiction is a growing nation-wide concern. It has been declared a Public Health Emergency, and the worst drug crisis in American history. Opioid addiction has torn through the US, destroying lives in its path. Every day, emergency rooms treat over 1,000 people for misusing opioids. Patients with mental health [...]
Telepsychiatry first emerged in the 1920s when psychiatrists would perform consultations over the radio with sailors or people on isolated islands who were ill. We have come a long way from the radio transmission days, but telepsychiatry now plays an ever-increasing role in the healthcare system. Today, telepsychiatry is still [...]
You begin your rounds for the evening ER shift. The screaming toddler in bed one has a painful ear infection. The parents worriedly hover over their crying child, trying to soothe her. Bed two, an elderly patient you’re worried is having a heart attack; you double check the nurse is [...]
