By Saleem Rana
Allen Cardoza interviewed Larry Vargas on LA Talk Radio about American Tele-psychiatrists, a group of independent psychiatrists who provide psychiatric services solely through the Internet.
These board certified and licensed psychiatrists all have years of training and experience with outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services. Some practice general adult psychiatry, while others have specialty training in different fields.
Although the tele-psychiatrists work with hospitals, regional health centers, correctional facilities and county agencies, their primary focus is to provide psychiatric services to rural and underserved areas.
They provide psychiatric care to underserved and remote populations through secure teleconferencing equipment and software. The psychiatrists work from home or their office while the patients see and talk to them from a distant location using rooms set up with an Internet-ready computer and video conferencing equipment. If the patient is under critical care, a psychiatric nurse, will be available in a nearby room for any emergency intervention.
In small towns and rural areas, a psychiatrist may not be available, or psychiatrists may take three to six month turns serving the area. With this frequent change, long-term care patients may get exposed to different treatments, some of which may be conflicting. Tele-psychiatrists solve this problem by providing continuity of care for both the patients and the treatment providers. This benefits everyone, from the individuals to the local hospitals and mental health clinics providing psychiatric services.
Tele-psychiatry provides psychiatric services to people living in remote locations, to high profile people who need complete anonymity, and to hospitals and clinics where the waiting list may be as much as 6 months.
Currently, the Department of Defense is evaluating the possibility of providing tele-psychiatric services to soldiers on a tour of duty through the use of smart phones.
To listen to the show in it’s entirety or learn more about American TelePsychiatrists go to; www.answersforthefamily.com
