What is Telehealth?

(Also referred to as Telemedicine, Teletherapy or Telepsychiatry)
Telehealth is a form of video conferencing allowing psychiatrists and therapists to provide services to patients outside of the office, for example at the patient’s home or workplace. It also provides the opportunity for consultation with family members, teachers and other providers involved in the patient’s care. Surveyed patients participating in telemedicine say they are very satisfied with the care they are receiving and that they feel telemedicine is a reliable form of practice. In addition, they find that they are able to keep their appointments on a more regular basis.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry comparing in-office-treatment to treatment via telepsychiatry indicated “There were no statistically significant differences between study groups for symptoms, quality of life, and patient satisfaction... there is a strong hypothesis that videoconference-based treatment obtains the same results as face-to-face therapy and that telepsychiatry is a useful alternative.”

What do Telepsychiatry & Teletherapy Require?

For your appointment, you will need to have access to a private place and a computer/tablet/smart phone with a camera and high speed internet. HCC will provide you with access to a secure HIPAA compliant videoconferencing software free of charge. All you have to do is be on your device and logged on at the time of your appointment. Is Telepsychiatry & Teletherapy Secure? HCC ensures the interaction between the patient and psychiatrist/therapist is completely secure and HIPAA compliant. The teleconferencing software encrypts all forms of data, including video and audio.

Benefits

Telepsychiatry & teletherapy provides the patient with benefits that may lead to better care. We understand it can be difficult to take time off from your busy schedule to come to our office. This form of treatment can eliminate your commute time and lead to less stress, especially when you are scheduled to see your psychiatrist/therapist often. For patients who are usually seen in the office but are sick or traveling, this form of treatment allows you to still keep your appointment without interrupting your care.