What is telemedicine?
You may hear telemedicine called a variety of names, including telehealth and telepsychiatry. No matter which name you prefer, the service offers easy and accessible health care.
When you use telemedicine, you can video conference with your provider, keeping your appointments over the phone instead of going to the Summit Health and Wellness Center office. You use a HIPAA-secure program, so you can feel confident that your conversations are private.
What are the benefits of telemedicine?
Professional psychiatric organizations recognize telemedicine as a valid way for doctors and patients to interact.
Many patients think that keeping their therapy appointment without traveling to the office is one of the best benefits of telemedicine, but this service also:
- Eliminates the need to take time off
- Eliminates the need to get a babysitter
- Eliminates worries about transportation
- Reduces the barrier of stigma
- Provides quick access to mental health care
Most patients are more comfortable sitting at home talking with their provider, which often makes it easier to be open about feelings and worries.
How does telemedicine work?
The team at Summit Health and Wellness Center uses the VSee® platform to provide video conferencing with their patients. But it’s important to know that under Oklahoma law, you won’t be able to do all your appointments over VSee.
Your initial appointment must be in person, which is essential because that’s when you have your comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, receive a diagnosis, and work out your treatment plan.
After your first appointment, every third visit with your provider must be done in person. That means that for every two out of three appointments, you can use VSee if you want to use telemedicine.
If you decide to participate, you simply go to the VSee website and create an account. After you add your contact info, you can participate in video calls, send files, and record and playback your calls. VSee is compatible with many systems, including tablets, laptops, and smartphones.
Why should a telemedicine program be HIPAA secure?
HIPAA is a law designed to keep your medical information safe. VSee is HIPAA secure, which means it meets and even exceeds the required HIPAA security standards, ensuring your confidentiality is protected.
The way VSee is set up with peer-to-peer architecture and encryption, your information can’t be leaked or read.
If you’re already a patient, call Summit Health and Wellness Center to learn more about telemedicine. You can also set up an initial consultation by phone or online and learn more when you meet with your provider.
Please see here for VSee Instructions.
