Telepsychiatry is a technology that allows video and audio conversations between the patient and the specialist psychiatrist at the same time from a distance.
With telepsychiatry technology, the patient has the opportunity to talk to their doctor face to face. Telepsychiatry enables psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Therapies, patient education, medication management can be provided anytime, anywhere thanks to the telepsychiatry system. With telepsychiatry, not only individual therapies but also various therapies such as group therapy and family therapy can be provided. Thanks to telepsychiatry, the doctor increases the opportunity to be in contact with the patient at all times. The process becomes much easier thanks to the telepsychiatry system. In addition, the psychiatrist can record this telepsychiatry interview and watch it later at any time and apply a healthier diagnosis and treatment about the patient and ensure the management of the telepsychiatry process.
IMPORTANT! People who want to receive telepsychiatry services must receive this service from a reliable institution for privacy and confidentiality rules.
The patient can make an appointment for telepsychiatry with the doctor they have been seeing regularly before. Or they can also choose another physician. In the telepsychiatry system, the patient is free to choose a physician. Patients can choose any doctor they wish. It will be more beneficial for the patient to make preparations before the telepsychiatry interview in order to ensure that the process is not interrupted and the treatment process is efficient. If the doctor has given the patient medication, the patient can remind the doctor of the medication used during the telepsychiatry. If the patient has benefited from the medication prescribed by the doctor, or if the medication had a side effect, or on the contrary, if the medication had no effect at all, the patient can make a note of this in advance to convey this to the doctor. If the patient's complaints have increased, he or she can communicate this to the doctor during telepsychiatry. The patient may forget all these results during the telepsychiatry session. Therefore, taking notes before the telepsychiatry interview is a positive contribution for the patient and the process.
Telepsychiatry is also an advantage for the doctor. The doctor can establish and manage a more efficient appointment system with patients in the telepsychiatry system. With the telepsychiatry system, the doctor can reach the patient without the need for a hospital or clinic. The patient can call the doctor in case of emergency. This is also a relief for the doctor. Telepsychiatry is a technology that improves the process. The telepsychiatry system can continue for as long as the patient and the doctor agree. They do not have to meet with the telepsychiatry system all the time. For example, if the patient is a working person, he/she can create his/her own order by agreeing with the doctor and choosing the telepsychiatry method during the week and directly face-to-face at the end of the week. In this way, a more efficient process is followed in terms of time planning.
What are the Benefits of Telepsychiatry?
While telepsychiatry has some disadvantages, it is a system with more benefits. Although the choice of the telepsychiatry system is recommended by the doctor, it is initiated entirely within the patient's wishes and desires. If we look at the disadvantages of the telepsychiatry system, access to video recordings may be possible by hackers without the permission of the patient, except for the doctor and the patient, by exceeding the confidentiality limits. For this reason, it is very important to provide security equipment for the telepsychiatry system. Therefore, the person who will receive telepsychiatry services should make sure that the doctor is working under the roof of a reliable institution.
IMPORTANT! People who want to receive telepsychiatry services must receive this service from a reliable institution for privacy and confidentiality rules.
The easier the telepsychiatry system is to use, the more the patient's trust in this telepsychiatry system increases with the confidentiality of information, and the more work is carried out to improve this telepsychiatry system, the more widespread the telepsychiatry system becomes, the more errors and deficiencies decrease. These errors and shortcomings are fewer in a trusted institution.
Telepsychiatry opens the door to a good process for patients and doctors. When it comes to the advantages of telepsychiatry, first of all, telepsychiatry is a modern system where the patient can easily receive mental health services via video conferencing.
The benefits of telepsychiatry for patients can be listed as follows:
- Improving access to treatment with the telepsychiatry system
- Convenience for patients who cannot afford to come for treatment
- In case of an emergency, instead of going to the doctor, you can get instant service through the telepsychiatry system
- Reduced service delays with telepsychiatry technology.
- Continuous control of the patient.
- The patient can better adjust his/her time planning by spending the time he/she spares to come to the doctor with his/her family.
- Facilitating patient follow-up for the doctor.
- Telepsychiatry keeps the patient away from the stress of trying to keep up with the doctor's appointment, which is far away.
- Thanks to the telepsychiatry system, no one is aware that the patient is receiving help from the doctor, so that the patient can continue the treatment comfortably.
- No one knows that the patient is seeing a doctor, so the patient is not subject to stigmatization.
- No transportation problems thanks to telepsychiatry.
- The cost incurred for transportation is zeroed out.
- Psychiatrists can be in contact with more patients thanks to the telepsychiatry system and more patients have the opportunity to regain their health.
Even if some patients do not prefer telepsychiatry technology, most patients find this telepsychiatry technology more useful for the reasons explained above. Patients who did not prefer the telepsychiatry system stated that they felt strange because they were not used to this technology. Patients who preferred the telepsychiatry method, on the other hand, stated that since they received this service in a more home environment, the treatment became comfortable and they were satisfied with this situation and they became more willing to receive treatment. Since patients who do not prefer telepsychiatry technology are strange because they are not used to it, the problem will disappear as they will get used to this technology in the future. In addition, although telepsychiatry technology creates a disadvantageous situation just because the patient and the psychiatrist are not in the same room, patients should approach more comfortably because this technology is based on confidentiality.
How is telepsychiatry done?
First of all, before using the telepsychiatry system, the patient can have a prior meeting with the doctor. Or they can make an individual appointment for the telepsychiatry system. An appointment is created according to the patient's convenient hours for the telepsychiatry interview. When the appointment time arrives, the interview takes place with the video camera system. This requires a fast internet connection with a strong connection and a video camera system. The telepsychiatry interview can take place in the places that both parties want and predetermine. The time of the telepsychiatry interview is determined according to the joint evaluation of the patient and the psychiatrist. A session may last half an hour or even an hour. The psychiatrist may prescribe medication according to the patient's condition. After the doctor writes the medication on the patient's e-prescription, the patient can get the medication from the pharmacy with a password. Let's say you don't know how to use the medication, here you can of course contact the doctor. The psychiatrist may not require medication depending on the patient's condition. He may prefer therapy instead of medication. With telepsychiatry, if the doctor decides on therapy for the patient, therapy can be started thanks to this system.
Since working people cannot take leave from the institution where they work, most people cannot start treatment, and even if they do, they have difficulty in continuing. Even if they take leave from the institution, their salary is deducted for the time they cannot come and the patient suffers economic loss. Or they may hesitate to explain the reason for the leave to the institution from which they will take leave. Even if he explains his situation, he may be afraid that people will stigmatize him. Therefore, telepsychiatry service saves time and provides convenience.
The patient may be a mother. She may be a mother who has to take care of her children. A mother in this situation may have trouble entrusting her children to someone she trusts. Even if she goes to her appointment, her mind will remain on her children. Or think of a disabled person. They may have difficulty getting to a treatment center. There may be a patient who cannot come to the treatment center without the help of another relative. In this case, not only the patient but also the person who comes with the patient falls into financial and moral distress. Examples can be multiplied. Patients may experience such problems. These problems can be reduced with the telepsychiatry system. After these problems increase, the patient can now apply to the telepsychiatry system. After choosing the telepsychiatry system, of course, the problems they experience may decrease. He may find the telepsychiatry system necessary.
Telepsychiatry is a practical system that creates advantages that bring many opportunities for people to regain their health. Special studies are still continuing in our institution to make the telepsychiatry system more useful. NPISTANBUL Hospital offers a reliable and healthy service to its clients with years of experience in the field of psychiatry and psychology. People who want to use the telepsychiatry system should get support from a reliable institution, otherwise the person himself may be harmed.