Our country's mental health crisis worsens, but access to care isn't always easy. During the pandemic, we all had to find a new way of getting health care without leaving our homes, which is where telepsychiatry comes into play.
At Carolina Wellness Psychiatry, our team is happy to provide every patient with the option of telepsychiatry services for mental health.
Dr. Elizabeth Bullard, Dr. Allison Foroobar, and Dr. Sarah Gilbert lead our team. Each of our board-certified doctors takes the time to provide patients with the best form of psychiatry and psychology for their needs.
The world changed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing everyone to adopt a new way of life, especially regarding health care. Instead of leaving home for an appointment, virtual consultations and evaluations became popular.
Fast forward to the present, and telemedicine is still extremely popular. It allows patients to talk to their doctor, discuss health issues, and receive treatment options over the computer or phone.
But virtual appointments and telemedicine aren't just for your physical health; cutting-edge technology is also available for mental health concerns.
Telepsychiatry is a branch of psychiatry that allows patients to discuss their emotions and mental health concerns with us over the phone or through a video chat on the computer.
It's a convenient option for those unable to leave their homes or patients with busy schedules who prefer jumping on the computer or phone instead of driving to our office.
Telepsychiatry isn't just for depression and anxiety; it addresses many concerns, including marriage counseling, eating disorders, and anger management.
When considering telepsychiatry, you may be concerned about the safety of your personal information over the computer or phone. We take your health information and demographics very seriously, so we use Doxy.me, a HIPAA-compliant online server.
If you have a telepsychiatry appointment scheduled, you'll receive a link to our online waiting room via email or text. At the time of your appointment, you click on the link to "wait" online for one of our doctors to log on.
Once ready, we log onto the same link as you, and your appointment begins. You don't have to worry about any information leaking into cyberspace; our platform is safe and secure before, during, and after your appointment.
During telepsychiatry, we adopt the same methods we use during in-person appointments, with the added benefit of not having to leave the comfort of your home.
You can discuss anything you'd like with our team during your appointment, and when finished, you log out of the link and go back to what you were doing at home.
Telepsychiatry offers many benefits over in-person psychiatry appointments, with the most significant advantage being you can have an appointment anywhere.
It's especially beneficial to those who don't have means of transportation to the office or patients who are sick and unable to leave the house.
It also reduces the need for time off of work and child care to come in for an appointment, when you can simply hop online and chat with our team when it suits you.
Telepsychiatry is also highly convenient, especially in a world of endless appointments and other obligations. It allows you to jump on the computer for a necessary appointment without needing to leave whatever you were doing early for your appointment and drive home after.
We can address most mental health concerns with telepsychiatry. However, you may need to come in for specific treatments that require you to physically be present for it to work.
To book a telepsychiatry appointment with one of our providers, call our office today at 919-446-3232, or request a consultation on the website.
