Tech-enabled psychiatry practice

In today’s world, most physicians have integrated technology in a number of ways to better answer their patient’s needs. The pandemic forced physicians and patients alike into non-traditional mental health treatments. Tech-enabled psychiatry goes beyond zooming with your patients. It also encompasses EHR systems, text alerts and automatic follow-up appointment services. These are just a few of the ways tech is helping physicians to run their practices more smoothly. Below we will discuss some of the ways tech can better assist you, your practice and your patients’ needs.

Shifting Testing to Computerized Versions

In the past, testing patients was done by the psychiatrist with a pad a pen. The questions would be asked by the doctor, answered by the patient and recorded by hand. Today much of this testing is initiated through computers and programs. Many patients have reported that doing such testing through a device has made them more comfortable, as having the questions recorded in person has been reported to make patients feel nervous and anxious at times. Testing patients remotely also saves times for psychiatrists allowing them to collect more data in less time.

Text (SMS) Alerts for Appointment Management

In many psychiatry offices, the person working the front desk is not only answering the phone anymore. They part take in many more operational jobs that help the practice run smoothly. For that matter, delegating a simple job such as appointment confirmation to a tech system is helpful. A poll created by Harris reported that individuals actually preferred certain business interactions to be handled by text, specifically scheduling or changing an appointment (32%). With a simple text alert, appointments can be confirmed or declined and allow a patient the opportunity to reschedule by calling at their own convenience. Pew Research and Experian Marketing report that Businesses benefit from texts by receiving a response quickly—within 90 seconds on average. Email, on the other hand, takes 90 minutes on average.

Streamline Patient Info and Zoom in One Portal

Integrating an EHR (Electronic Health Record) system into your practice is essential for streamlining information. This allows doctors to upload notes, test results, appointments, current prescriptions and billing into one cloud system that can be accessed from anywhere. Additionally, many times these EHR systems can also be linked with video functions so that video appointments can be accessed there as well. EHR systems also can capture evidence-based scales to track patients’ progress over time, allowing you to keep an organized record to refer to over the time of your therapy. Lastly, EHR systems also handle sending automatic billing updates and can be linked to text messaging to manage appointments and scheduling as mentioned above, making it easier for you to stay on top of your patient’s accounts and collect payment on open or outstanding invoices.

Therapy Made More Accessible  

It goes without saying that the option to receive therapy from your home or your mobile device makes receiving therapy an easier task. Scheduling issues and trying to fit in appointments with family, jobs, and life in general can make getting to an appointment in person challenging. Therapy can be challenging enough, and if it is hard to access it, some people may decide not to do it at all. By providing more accessible treatment patients are more likely to get the help they need and see their treatment plans through to the end.

More Flexibility for Clinicians

Above we discuss how therapy is made more accessible for your patients, ultimately allowing them to reach their fullest level of progress. Additionally, you as a physician (professional) will reap the rewards of creating a more flexible schedule for yourself, as you can tend to your patients from anywhere you like, even on weekends or after hours. You can provide therapy and consultations far beyond the four walls of your office and you can maximize how many appointments you handle by cutting out the travel and waiting time.

Stay Up to Date with Trainings Remotely

Staying up to date with different types of trainings is key to providing great care for your patients. Today you and your team can access hundreds of courses and trainings online from the comfort of your own home. With remote options, you can undergo training as well as see patients all in a day’s time.