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Telepsychiatry’s Transformative Role in Behavioral Healthcare

By: | Tags: , , , , , , , , | June 11th, 2024

Mental illness affects at least one in five adults in the U.S. today. Mental health disorders, substance abuse disorders, anxiety, and depression are just a few of the daily struggles people are dealing with. Due to a scarcity of resources and a nationwide shortage of psychiatrists available to treat these cases, many people are forced to wait weeks to receive treatment or, worse, don’t receive the necessary care at all. Implementing our TelePsychiatry services in your facility ensures that your hospital will never have to turn patients away because of a lack of available physicians. This program is a trusted and valuable service that can significantly improve patient outcomes in your facility.

Breaking Down Barriers

Telepsychiatry introduces solutions to various challenges often faced in the healthcare field. Usually, individuals who live in rural areas have trouble accessing psychiatric services due to a shortage of providers or limited transportation options. Telepsychiatry eliminates this obstacle by providing patients with psychiatrists and therapists remotely, regardless of location.

The thought of entering a behavioral health clinic or office can be overwhelming for individuals, and this may be a reason for them to avoid seeking help. Telepsychiatry helps address the stigma associated with seeking behavioral health treatment. It allows people to be comfortable in their environment, enabling them to receive the support they need without fear of judgment or stigma.

Expanding Access

The convenience and flexibility offered by telepsychiatry are valued benefits. Psychiatrists can provide detailed and comprehensive evaluations, assessments, treatment plans, and next-level care recommendations. These services can prepare your facility to help those patients effectively and on time by providing on-demand access to board-certified psychiatrists. Virtual care eliminates the need for a lengthy commute and time-consuming office visits. This accessibility benefits individuals with mobility limitations, busy schedules, or childcare responsibilities. Receiving timely interventions and support leads to better outcomes and improved overall well-being.

Enhancing Quality of Care

Although there is hesitancy and misconceptions about telepsychiatry, the quality of care is not compromised. Research has shown that telepsychiatry intervention is as effective as in-person consultation for various mental health conditions. A study published in 2000 found that diagnoses in face-to-face and telemedicine interactions were the same in 96% of the patients seen. There is an overwhelming sense of positivity regarding telepsychiatry. Data collected over the past two decades show that physician satisfaction rates are over 90% compared to in-person psychiatric care. One study even showed that 91% of parents preferred videoconferencing due to the ease of access.

TeleSpecialists’ TelePsychiatry collaborative care model allows psychiatrists to work closely with primary care providers, psychiatrists, and other behavioral health professionals to deliver holistic, integrated care. Our program ensures that patients receive comprehensive support, addressing both their behavioral health needs and any underlying medical or psychosocial factors contributing to their condition.

The Future

As telepsychiatry grows, its transformative impacts on behavioral health care are rising. By breaking down barriers to access, expanding reach, and enhancing the quality of care, telepsychiatry mental health services continue to revolutionize the field.

Our TelePsychiatry program provides quality care, detailed implementation processes, ongoing scheduling support through our Rapid Response Center, and quality management collaboration to ensure the best quality outcomes. This program consists of extensive benefits for optimal patient care. Technology creates a more inclusive and responsive behavioral health care system that prioritizes accessibility, convenience, and effectiveness, ultimately improving the lives of individuals and communities worldwide.

How TeleSpecialists Can Help  

Facilities seeking to enhance their psychiatry services can find their solution in our TelePsychiatry program. We offer 24/7/365 access to inpatient psychiatry professionals, evidence-based customized protocols to optimize care, reduced ongoing personnel costs, improved patient throughput, optimized regulatory compliance, and reduced stress and worry. Board-certified physicians will collaborate closely with your facility’s team to provide advanced care and provide next-level care recommendations.

Learn more about our TelePsychiatry program and how we can be a solution for your facility by contacting us today.

Nattasha Acevedo, MD

Dr. Acevedo received her medical degree from the Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico and did her neurology residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York. She went on to do a clinical neurophysiology fellowship at Emory School of Medicine in Atla nta, Georgia and then joined private practice in Fort Myers, Florida. She currently resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She likes running, paddle boarding and spending time with family.
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Bernadette Borte, MD

Dr. Borte received her medical degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine in Grand Cayman. She completed her neurology residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. Her areas of interest include inpatient neurology and acute stroke. When not working, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. Dr. Borte joined the TeleSpecialist family in March of 2019.
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Mazen Almidani, MD

Dr. Almidani is board certified in pediatrics by the American Board of Pediatrics and board certified in epilepsy, as well as neurology with special  qualification in child neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  Dr. Almidani is happily married with 4 children. His oldest son has autism and his daughter has complicated seizures; both were a drive for him to become a neurologist. Dr. Almidani enjoys soccer, running and spending time with his family. He is very involved with his sons’ therapy and helping with daily challenges. He is double board certified in Pediatric and Adult Neurology and Epilepsy. He sees children and adults. He also participates in charities for children in Syria who may be underprivileged and/or affected by the war. Dr. Almidani joined TeleSpecialists in August 2020.
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Amanda Cheshire, MD

Dr. Cheshire received her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky. She completed her neurology residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She did a fellowship in neurophysiology at the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Cheshire is double board certified in neurology and clinical neurophysiology. She enjoys traveling, reading and music. She currently resides in Viera, Florida.  Dr. Cheshire joined TeleSpecialists in June 2019.
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Jessica Floyd, MD

Dr. Floyd completed her neurology residency at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida followed by fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology with focus in EEG and epilepsy at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, South Carolina. She has particular interest in hospital neurology and patient education as well as the blossoming specialty of lifestyle medicine. She strives to take advantage of every encounter with patients and medical staff to empower them to do their own research into how daily thoughts, choices, and habits can add up to create greater and longer-lasting brain and neurologic health for ourselves and our loved ones. She lives in Florence, South Carolina with her awesome husband of 13 plus years and three beautiful children. She is an avid yogi, astrologer, and lover of food and all things neurology! Dr. Floyd joined the TeleSpecialist family in July 2017.
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Nancy Futrell, MD

Dr. Futrell received her medical degree from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah. She also did her neurology residency at the University of Utah as well as a research fellowship in cerebral vascular disease at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida. She currently resides in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has authored 2 books and 50 peer reviewed papers. 
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Rebecca Jimenez-Sanders, MD

Dr. Jimenez Sanders received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, and her medical degree from the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine in Puerto Rico. She completed her neurology residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, where she also did a specialized headache medicine and facial pain fellowship. She currently resides in Tampa, Florida with her husband and her two daughters. She is also fluent in Spanish and Italian languages, and enjoys photography, baking, boating, and biking.
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Cory Lamar, MD

Dr. Lamar received his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his internship and residency at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Following residency, he completed a clinical fellowship in neurophysiology, with a concentration in epilepsy. He currently resides in Florida and enjoys outdoor activities.
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Clifford Meyers, MD

Dr. Meyers received his medical degree from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and his MBA from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester in Rochester, New York. He completed his neurology residency at the University of Rochester, where he also did a neurophysiology fellowship. Dr. Meyers resides in Webster, New York with his wife and daughter. When not doing teleneurology, he enjoys playing sports with his wife and daughter.
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Tao Tong, MD

Dr. Tong received her medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida. She completed her neurology residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Florida, where she also did a neuromuscular/EMG fellowship.  She currently resides in College Station, Texas. Dr. Tong is married with two boys. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and reading.
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Shubhangi Chumble, MD

Dr. Chumble attended BJ Medical School. She is a board certified neurologist with a subspeciality interest in sleep medicine. Dr. Chumble did her residency at Howard University in Washington DC and has practiced neurology since 2001 in private and corporate settings. She lives in Melbourne, Florida and loves the sunshine state. Her hobbies include yoga, meditation, cooking , traveling and meeting new people. She also loves to do stained glass, pottery and painting. She joined TeleSpecialists in June 2019.
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