[mossanimal]

I just read an allusion to this in another thread and thought I would start a new one rather than spam that one.. Apparently it entails receiving behavioral health care online via Skype or whatever. I've been wondering about this due to my remote location and narrow options. My first impulse is that it sounds... I don't know... gimicky. But if the therapists are actual MDs... maybe it's a good idea? It sounds like they can even do prescriptions and med management.

Has anybody tried this??

[lilypup]

They are totally using this at the free services clinics here in our large city. Most people have been complaining it feels too impersonal. But I could see where it would be handy for long distances.

[mossanimal]

Originally Posted by lilypup

They are totally using this at the free services clinics here in our large city. Most people have been complaining it feels too impersonal. But I could see where it would be handy for long distances.

Okay... I had a feeling people would bring up the impersonality of it. I suppose it really depends on the doctor/therapist.

Anyway.. I would just like to talk to somebody who is known to be a bipolar specialist somehow. And also a better option for 'talk therapy' and behavioural therapy.. since those options appear to be absent here. The nearest place for this would be over 5 hours away.

[bioChE]

I've seen this and looked into it a bit. The places I found online were cash-only and didn't take insurance, so I didn't really pursue it. They did look like they had some good doctors, though. You might look into your insurance plan and see if it's covered.

[mossanimal]

Originally Posted by bioChE

I've seen this and looked into it a bit. The places I found online were cash-only and didn't take insurance, so I didn't really pursue it. They did look like they had some good doctors, though. You might look into your insurance plan and see if it's covered.

Exactly. To me it's only worth it if covered by insurance.

[LacunaCoiler]

My wife goes to the VA here in town and her old pdoc quit so they assigned her a pdoc that we do conference calls with. We sit in front of a screen and we talk face to face with a pdoc in another city but in the same state (she worked out of her home!). We've only done it once and it went great. She was really nice and she took the time to look over her file and I feel that it was a productive appt (better than some in person pdocs imo).

She has another appt in a few weeks but overall I liked it and she is up in the air. She's old school and would like to have a person in real life compared to a teleconference but it's impossible to get one at the VA without having to wait 4-6 months and that's if there's a doc to see you at all!

[Alokin]

I would love this. I live far from care too. While I am lucky to like my NP, she is the only option I have where I live.

[*Laurie*]

Hi, I have to do telepsychiatry with my pdoc. The clinic I go to is short-staffed and there are few options in my town. So I have to 'see' a pdoc who lives in a different town. The clinic sets up the computer for me and I have the appointment over the computer. I've been doing appointments that way for about 6 months.

If I had a choice, I would definitely choose 'in person' rather than tele. For one thing, my pdoc keeps saying, 'I wish we didn't have to do appointments like this' (meaning teleappointments). He is clearly not comfortable with the teleappointments, which doesn't help me feel calmer.

I like my pdoc, but the tele situation interferes. Nothing I can do for now, though.