Telehealth in 2024: Mental Health Resources
BY: Neighbors’ Consejo|
As we step into 2024, teletherapy continues to revolutionize the healthcare landscape, offering unprecedented convenience and accessibility in medical care. Our purpose in this article is to delve into the current state of telemedicine, exploring its advancements and how individuals and healthcare providers can fully leverage this technology for efficient and effective medical consultations and treatments.
Telehealth.HHS.gov[1] affirms, “telehealth is an effective way to deliver individual therapy. Medicare covers many telebehavioral and telemental health services including audio-only services.” Additionally, they mention some benefits of telebehavioral health theraphy:
- Privacy for the patient
- Reduced stigma associated with being seen by others at a clinic or office
- Convenience, including reduced travel and disruption to daily activities like work and childcare
- Improved accessibility for patients who may have difficulty leaving home.
- Including patients with disabilities, older adults, and parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.
In this modern era there are four types of telehealth[2] , they are:
- Live videoconferencing
- Asynchronous video (AKA store and forward)
- Remote patient monitoring (RPM)
- Mobile health (mHealth)
Are you prepared for a virtual visit?
- Let your healthcare provider know if you need accommodations.
- Check your email for instructions
- Test the technology before the visit
- Tell your healthcare provider if you do not have health insurance or cannot afford the cost.
- Find a private and well-lit spot
- Make sure the camera is steady
- Make sure you are in the middle of the screen and the camera is at eye level
- Reduce background noise
- Close other applications
In conclusion, telehealth has undeniably transformed the healthcare sector, breaking down geographical barriers and making quality medical care more accessible than ever. As we have explored, its integration into routine healthcare practices promises a more flexible, efficient, and patient-centered approach to medical treatment. While challenges remain in terms of technology adoption and policy regulation, the potential of telehealth is vast, offering a glimpse into a future where healthcare is more inclusive, accessible, and tailored to individual needs.
[1]https://telehealth.hhs.gov/providers/best-practice-guides/telehealth-for-behavioral-health/individual-teletherapy#:~:text=Telehealth%20is%20an%20effective%20way,also%20cover%20telebehavioral%20health%20care.
[2]https://isalushealthcare.com/blog/the-different-types-of-telehealth/