Using Skype in Psychiatry

Although there are more psychiatrists in the U. S. per capita than in any other country, about 50% of seriously mentally ill people are unable to access appropriate care. Psychiatrist can begin to use Skype to improve access to care in 3 ways:
1. Following well established patients
2. Consulting with a multidisciplinary treatment team,
3. Consulting with primary care practitioners.

Category:

Science & Technology

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• Video
• 2

[laolsonmd]

Insurance companies are generally not paying for this at this time, although there is some movement in that direction.

[SeanDoeOO]

what's with these bullshit comments......diagnose what? A corporately designed, propoganda illness diagnosed by corporate puppets and dishing out the corresponding "corporately" designed pill............

WAKE UP ppl these bstrds stole 13 yrs of my life and i'm well fckn pissed at these imposters!!

[simoncouillard1]

Good insight from an experienced doctor on the future of medicine vs advances in telecommunications.

Physical examination is pretty much impossible though with skype. I guess for medical examination its way more efficient than the phone, being that you can judge more accurately the appearance and affect of the patient; maybe as efficient as in person?

As you said, interdisciplinary collaboration could definitely profit from this, especially for ambulatory services.

-2nd year med student, Canada

[usedalittle]

Innovative. I could have used this as a patient with my phychiatrist after we had established our relationship. And it would have been a time saver for me since it took me 1 hour travel time each way. It would be interesting to study total therapy time required in-person treatment vs. skype treatment. Insurance companies surely would like to know.

[fearfactor66]

Thanks Doctor, for posting this. I can only hope that use of this technology in psychiatry can be expanded, and any stigma about it can be overcome. There are so many people that suffer from agoraphobia and can not get proper treatment due to their disorder; if this technology were available in more places, these individuals would be able to get treated!