Telepsychiatry is the process of providing health care from a distance through technology, often using videoconferencing. Telepsychiatry, can involve providing a range of services including psychiatric evaluations, therapy (individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy), patient education and medication management. Telepsychiatry can play a critical role in addressing the shortage of psychiatrists available to provide treatment for patients with opioid use disorders. Telepsychiatry is now becoming more and more accessible, particularly as state laws, and standards and guidelines are being written to create standards for how telepsychiatry can operate. For instance, there is a law called the Ryan Haight Law that spells out regulations on how providers are supposed to handle online interactions involving controlled prescriptions. Telepsychiatry has become an affordable, secure and viable treatment option for essentially anyone who has access to basic technology (e.g. a smartphone or reliable Internet connection) to connect with a provider.
Access “Telepsychiatry’s Role in Medication Assisted Treatment” at: https://pcssnow.org/event/telepsychiatrys-role-in-medication-assisted-treatment/