Introduction
Telehealth generally demonstrates positive results and favorable effects for patients with mild, moderate, and severe mental disorders. For instance, numerous investigations have proven that through this approach, professionals can confidently work with people who have been diagnosed with panic disorder, social anxiety, or PTSD (Schaffer et al., 2020). Therefore, video conferences, online forums, or smartphone apps are beneficial, effective, and productive methods for obtaining high-quality psychiatric care (SAMSHA, 2021). Consequently, in its essence, idea, and structure, telemedicine is extensive, diverse, and multifaceted, as it affects a wide range of different disorders, population groups, and conditions (Schaffer et al., 2020). Undoubtedly, some cases beyond telemedicine require an individual approach to a patient and face-to-face communication.
The Integration
As practice shows, integrating traditional and scientifically-based practices into telemedicine within the psychotherapy framework brings many benefits and advantages. Although, indeed, it is necessary to emphasize and insist that today some barriers prevent the synthesis of the two previously designated areas. Therefore, in this case, increasing the awareness of patients and healthcare professionals about telemedicine technology will smooth out the situation and minimize the occurrence of various difficulties.
The Appropriateness
Considering the population, specialty, and treatment preferences, using various telemedicine instruments is an expedient, appropriate, and strategically important step in treating patients and developing medicine in general terms. The use of virtual clinics, telephone, or video chats increases the chances of highly qualified medical care available regardless of a person’s location. Moreover, these tools allow a professional to monitor patients’ health without unnecessary visits to a medical institution, giving additional secondary consultations.
Issues
Potential ethical issues the author may face include depersonalization of the relationship between a specialist and a patient, lack of confidentiality inherent in personal communication, and poor quality of medical services provided. In contrast, the probability of the appearance of professional troubles correlates with difficulties in determining serious diagnoses and prescribing appropriate treatment. Accordingly, the risks of using these delivery methods include the likelihood of encountering charlatans and non-professionals who illiterate the data, misdiagnose and name the wrong medications (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). Moreover, patients risk facing a lack of reimbursement from Medicare and violation of privacy and security standards (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). On the contrary, the benefits of using these procedures contain access to the best specialists and prompt assistance, as well as saving time and money.
References
Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218-221. Web.
Schaffer, C. T., Nakrani, P., & Pirraglia, P. A. (2020). Telemental health care: A review of efficacy and interventions.Telehealth and Medicine Today, 5(4). Web.
SAMSHA. (2021). Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders. SAMSHA.