There can be real benefits to telehealth services with a psychiatrist. It is not always necessary to be seen in an office. Doctors are equally effective in person and via telehealth.
Do I Need to See a Psychiatrist?
Taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Having a broken leg does not allow you to function normally and makes life painful and nearly impossible to manage. Similarly, dealing with debilitating depression or crippling anxiety is emotionally brutal and makes engaging in everyday life tasks extremely challenging. Don’t wait until mild symptoms have become severe and paralyzing. You need to function and live life, so you need to take care of yourself. When most people tackle a project or problem, they consult or hire experts to get the job done right the first time. Psychiatrists are experts in dealing with and treating mental health conditions.
Is it alright to See a Psychiatrist Telehealth?
Many doctors treating physical aliments need to complete a physical exam. That might be getting x-rays, drawing blood, checking reflexes or the like. Psychiatrists rarely need to be hands on with the examination and evaluations. The clinical interview typically provides all the information a psychiatrist will need to complete their assessment, make a diagnosis, and formulate a treatment plan. Seeing a psychiatric provider through telehealth is perfectly acceptable.
After the initial one-hour diagnostic intake appointment, most people are seen back in a month for 15–30-minute follow ups to talk about how medications are working, evaluate side effects, and determine if any adjustments are needed to be made. Once people are stable on the right medication and dose, they are often seen less frequently, maybe every 3-4 months for check-ins. Accordingly, many people find the convenience of telehealth very nice. They often do not have to take time off work for appointments, do not have to fight traffic and deal with a commute there and back and can quickly get what they need via telehealth.
Similarly, many clients in rural areas have trouble locating specialists like psychiatrists in remote areas. Telehealth affords them the luxury of not driving for 1-3 hours to see a psychiatrist and still obtain expert care in the convenience of their hometowns. Telehealth is excellent at providing access to specialists that would otherwise be challenging to see.
If you are interested in meeting with one of our adult or child & adolescent psychiatric providers to treat your mental health, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule an appointment with of our specialists. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
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