Tele-Psychiatry | Bucks County, Pennsylvania

What is Tele-Psychiatry?

Are you looking for tele-psychiatry in Bucks County, Pa? With advancements in communications, the internet and mobile devices, receiving mental health services has never been easier. Through video conferencing, now patients have the opportunity to speak with a certified professional in the convenience of their own home. Tele-Psychiatry opens up new possibilities regardless of difficult schedules, distance, and other obstacles that prevent people from seeking and receiving quality mental health services.  

To date, psychiatry is the most common medical category currently using tele-communication methods, and psychiatric practitioners are leading the way with this innovative and important technology. Historically, finding mental health providers across the United States has been a difficult endeavor. Access to care is often restricted, as almost half the counties in America have no mental health professionals to see people in need. Mental Health America is a nationally based, non-profit organization, which published a report titled: The State of Mental Health in America 2018, by Nguyen, T. et al (2017)*.

Here are some interesting facts to keep in mind when discussing tele-psychiatry:

One (1) in five (5) adults have a mental health condition. That means over 40 million Americans would benefit from quality mental health services. Rates of teens/adolescents with severe depression has increased from 5.9% in 2012 to 8.2% in 2015. It’s concerning that approximately 76% of youth are left with little to no treatment at all. Access to insurance and treatment increased, as healthcare reform has reduced the rates of uninsured adults. The greatest decrease in uninsured Adults with mental illnesses occurred in states that expanded Medicaid. 56% of American adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment. There is a serious mental health workforce shortage. In states with the lowest workforce, the number of providers per patient is up to six (6) times greater than in other areas. This includes psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses combined.

This is why it is important to consider tele-psychiatry to supplement or even replace in office visits depending on your particular situation. To learn more, please contact our office located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.