Highlights
The use of telehealth for mental health has increased over the last few years. Many behavioral health providers incorporate telehealth into their counseling services to meet the needs of their patients. Using an all-in-one therapy EHR with an integrated telehealth service component can benefit your practice by letting you see more patients, lowering costs, and boosting revenue.
The pandemic prompted an unprecedented rise in the use of telehealth for behavioral health. The American Psychological Association reported that over 84% of psychologists experienced an increase in anxiety treatment in 2021 compared with 74% in 2020.
The number of psychologists treating depression is also on the rise. 72% of therapists surveyed by the APA reported an uptick in demand in 2021, increasing from 60% in 2020. Referrals for psychologists have increased to 62%, with 68% having longer waiting lists since the pandemic’s beginning.
Additionally, there aren’t enough mental health professionals in the United States to treat everyone. By 2024, there will be an estimated shortage of between 14,280 and 31,091 psychiatrists, not to mention psychologists, social workers, and mental health providers.
The pandemic has led to an increase in telehealth services from mental health providers; over 96% are using them.
For providers, telehealth offers many benefits, including:
Telehealth for behavioral health lets providers meet more patients daily since they don’t have to follow traditional office hours. They can book appointments according to patient schedules. Telehealth services reduce overhead costs like payroll, rent, and office supplies, allowing you to focus more on patient care.
A mental health provider available virtually via video and voice calls saves both parties time. Telehealth services makes mental healthcare accessible to patients living in remote areas or those unable to meet their provider in person.
Providers can give immediate diagnosis and treatment to patients, improving health outcomes and helping them get the care they need.
By treating patients remotely, providers can spend more time with patients without the barriers of commuting times and travel expenses. Telehealth services allow flexibility for providers to schedule appointments around personal commitments and other patients.
Telehealth can provide ease of access and better treatment for mental health clients meeting their providers.
When patients use telehealth services, they can conveniently meet experienced mental health providers. They can more easily find professionals who can offer care tailored to their mental health condition, culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, and life experiences.
Telehealth increases the availability of behavioral health treatment for clients living in remote areas. Those who struggle to leave their homes due to mental health conditions like panic disorders and agoraphobia can receive care in the comfort of their homes.
With few mental health providers in small communities, patients can access providers in other geographic areas. They can disclose and discuss their conditions in the privacy of their homes, reducing the potential of feeling stigmatized.
Telehealth for mental health has been shown to be as effective as traditional in-person therapy. As a mental health provider, you can easily foster a strong therapeutic alliance with your patients with some simple tips.
The American Psychological Association (APA) refers to several studies that show the effectiveness of telehealth when compared to face-to-face therapy. The Department of Veterans Affairs found that PTSD interventions through videoconferencing were as effective as in-person sessions. Psychological sessions conducted through video and phone calls helped clients suffering from anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorders.
Many telehealth for mental health services include EMDR, cognitive behavioral therapy, and talk therapy. They also provide monitoring for medications and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, practitioners can effectively deliver multiple modes of therapy through telehealth. Virtual behavioral health services can include:
Through telehealth, you can help more patients achieve better mental health outcomes and coping skills to lead a more fulfilling life. With the right virtual tools, you can offer your patients almost any type of therapy.
One such tool is CSTelecare, an integrated telehealth service from ClinicSource, a leading therapy EMR provider in the industry. CSTelecare lets mental health providers interact with patients through virtual means to coach, educate, and measure outcomes for their clients.
With integrated telehealth services, you have the power to:
You can also focus on patient-centric care with built-in data and metrics for CSTelecare. These include data benchmarking, real-time outcome tracking, research capabilities, and MIPS data gathering. Because CSTelecare integrates with ClinicSource, you can access it from any computer or mobile device from within the ClinicSource app.
CSTelecare is encrypted and HIPAA-compliant. You can also access screen-sharing capabilities, allowing you to share resources like graphs or medication information with patients. You can also send them a built-in, editable consent form for the session.
With CSTelecare you can offer your patients convenient telehealth services. Virtual care can help them improve their mental health and seek the treatment they need to succeed. Telehealth with CSTelecare and ClinicSource can also help you grow your practice and work from anywhere, anytime.
Schedule your demo today to discover how CSTelecare works and how it can benefit your practice and your patients.
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