Telepsychiatry In Massachusetts
ACCESS TO CARE
Research suggests the average waiting period for an appointment with a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner is in excess of 90 days. Due to the reduction in the number of psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners practicing throughout the country, patients having to wait or go without care results in worse outcomes. Using telepsychiatry reduces the barriers as patients no longer must travel hundreds of miles to receive care.
CONVIENIENCE & COMFORT
No more battling congested traffic just to arrive at your appointment late. No more sitting in uncomfortable waiting rooms reading outdated magazines and trying to make awkward small talk with other patients. With telepsychiatry, there is no need to leave your home or office. Just sit down in front of your computer, smartphone, or tablet at your appointment time and start your appointment. Then go back to whatever you were doing once your appointment is over. All you need is a broadband internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone, smartphone, or tablet. If you can use Skype or Google Hangouts, you can conduct telepsychiatry appointments.
HIGH-QUALITY CARE
Research has shown that patients receiving telepsychiatry care are just as comfortable with their psychiatric nurse practitioner as patients receiving in-person psychiatric care, with similarly positive treatment outcomes. And because telepsychiatry appointments can be conducted from the patient’s home or office, hundreds of hours can potentially be saved each year from no longer needing to travel to and from the office or sitting in waiting rooms.