Defining “Telemedicine”
Over the past century technology has evolved and no longer do you always need to come to the (mental)-health-care professional’s location. (Dorsey, Venuto, Venkataraman, Harris, & Kieburtz, 2015).
Telemedicine has emerged as an umbrella term which includes the practice of health care delivery, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of medical data and education using interactive audio, video or data communication. In video therapy treatment is delivered remotely which means that you and your professional are not physically in the same room however you meet face-to-face, live. In today’s society, the use of telemedicine is rapidly expanding; from delivering long distance education, to facilitating regular check ins for individuals with diabetes, to psychological therapy. (Dorsey et al., 2015; Perednia & Allen, 1995).
Today’s technology makes mental-health-care more accessible to everyone.
Differences & similarities to face-to-face therapy?
Research shows that telemedicine is as effective and beneficial as traditional therapy which takes place in the same room. (Barak & Grohol, 2011; Richardson, Frueh, Grubaugh, Egede, & Elhai, 2009) In 2019, a study found that short term CBT-therapy was as effective in reducing anxiety when delivered via traditional therapy or via video therapy. The researchers also paid extra attention to the participants experience of the relationship with their therapist, and found that in both scenarios participants report a positive working relationship with their therapist. (Novella, 2019)
As mentioned in our previous blogpost, though the two are as effective as one another, therapy online and therapy in the same room have unique differences. When engaging in video therapy using a telemedicine platform, one will need to pay extra attention to a few things. the location needs to be considered; such as having a private and confidential space for the duration of the session which includes a private and stable internet connection. Some people will experience video therapy as more anonymous, because no one will see them entering the practitioner’s office. Others report finding it more convenient as it can save travel-time and as it is from the comfort of one’s own home. (Peters, Robinson, Vold, & Calvo, 2019)
Telemedicine allows us to reach and help more individuals who previously might not have had access to care. Telemedicine is especially helpful or convenient for you if you can’t make it into practice near you regularly. This could be due to personal circumstances such as having trouble leaving home or not living near your preferred psychologist. You might also avail of ‘hybrid care’, a combination of therapy which takes place in the same room and video therapy occasionally: for example, when one is injured or traveling telemedicine technology makes it possible to stay in touch and continue your personal development through video therapy.
Telemedicine with TOPclinic
Video therapy with us at TOPclinic is easy to setup. After you’ve made an appointment, we will send out a link to our virtual waiting room where we will ‘meet’ at the designated time for the online therapy session. We use a secure and encrypted telemedicine-platform called Doxy.me to connect with our clients for video-therapy and any consent forms and assessments are done digitally via this platform.
We, at TOPclinic, also talk our clients through the process of video-therapy to ensure an optimal experience for the client. We are a session-based psychological service for people in Ireland and the UK,
Need help now? Book as session with our online psychologists now.
If you want to read more our telemedicine-service, read it on our homepage andour previous blog post.
Written by Tim van Wanrooij,
Bc. SW., H.Dip. Psych, M.Ps.S.I.,
Counselling Psychologist in doctoral training
References
Barak, A., & Grohol, J. (2011). Current and Future Trends in Internet-Supported Mental Health Interventions. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 29(3), 155.
Dorsey, E. R., Venuto, C., Venkataraman, V., Harris, D. A., & Kieburtz, K. (2015). Novel Methods and Technologies for 21st-Century Clinical Trials. JAMA Neurology, 72(5), 582–7. http://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2014.4524
Fortney, J. C., Pyne, J. M., Turner, E. E., Farris, K. M., Normoyle, T. M., Avery, M. D., et al. (2015). Telepsychiatry integration of mental health services into rural primary care settings. International Review of Psychiatry, 27(6), 525–539. http://doi.org/10.3109/09540261.2015.1085838
Kim, H. E., Gellis, Z. D., Bradway, C. K., & Kenaley, B. (2020). Depression care services and telehealth technology use for homebound elderly in the United States. Aging & Mental Health, 23(9), 1164–1173. http://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1481925
Novella, J. K. (2019). A Comparison of Online and In-Person Counseling Using Solution-Focused Brief Therapy for College Students With Mild to Moderate Anxiety.
Perednia, D. A., & Allen, A. (1995). Telemedicine Technology and Clinical Applications. Jama, 273(6), 483–488.
Peters, D., Robinson, D., Vold, K., & Calvo, R. A. (2019). Responsible innovation in online therapy (pp. 1–30).
Richardson, L. K., Frueh, B. C., Grubaugh, A. L., Egede, L., & Elhai, J. D. (2009). Current Directions in Videoconferencing Tele‐Mental Health Research. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 16(3), 323–338. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2850.2009.01170.x