Telepsychiatry

DX'd - Other
1

A while back my psychiatrist moved far enough out of the area that I couldn’t see her anymore. She was a great doctor and I’d like to see her again. I thought maybe she’d be open to telepsychiatry, she’s used video conferencing before with insurance company doctors. I sent her an email today asking for her thoughts on the subject. I hope she’ll do it and I hope the insurance company will cover it.

Have any of you participated in telepsychiatry or considered it? Did your insurance company pay for it?

2

You know, my brother and cousin are seeing the same pdoc - my cousin lives in another state and my brother is so busy he does not have the time to see him in person. This doctor conducts phone sessions with them. He also has sessions online - a lot of psychiatrists are doing this now - you should ask him, you never know

3

I thought that psychiatrists weren’t aloud to talk to two people who are in the same family?

4

There is no law against it - they are not immediate family so I guess they are ok with it - I personally would feel uncomfortable with it but they seem to be fine doing so

5

Oh, that makes sense. The psychiatrist I had talked to only talked to me once via email because he knew my sister.

6

I guess some doctors allow seeing family members others probably do not like doing it - I would be uncomfortable seeing a doctor who is also seeing another one of my family members - but this is me

7

That is pretty understandable, I’d be concerned with him telling the other person even though its against the privacy agreement, or something like that.

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8

I called my mental health insurance and while I didn’t get to talk to someone in benefits, I spoke to a clinician. She said that she didn’t think it would be covered but that I should call back and talk to someone in benefits to be sure.

I wonder if my psychiatrist will cut me a break on the cost? She was my doctor on and off for over 10 years and we have a good relationship.

9

They may pay for telephone sessions - would you be up to doing that?

10

Yeah, that would be ok I guess. She’s such a good psychiatrist I’d be up for almost anything.

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11

doctors in australia use skype or something similar for rural australia as patients can’t get to surgery and councelling…we also use it for schooling kids on outback stations…
take care

12

Yeah I was wondering about telepsychiatry too a long time ago, since I have a fear of driving. I was told that psychiatrists don’t like to do this because they like to see (and smell) in person whether people are actually taking care of themselves.