Telehealth is Good to Go

This is an article for people who need to focus on their personal recovery. It is strange times indeed when going to the grocery store feels like walking through a post-apocalyptic movie, but the negative consequences of not being able to access treatment for substance abuse or behavior problems can be life-altering. 

However, telehealth is not just for the COVID-19 era. Telehealth resources are for any circumstance where in-person help from a therapist is needed but otherwise not practical.

Telehealth Might Be Your Best Option

There are a number of issues that can be treated via telehealth. Whether you suffer from an addiction or a behavior problem, you can have access to a therapist or other professional through the convenient means of telehealth. That convenience is among the primary drivers of this innovative process. 

Waqaas Al-Siddiq reports the increasing prevalence of telehealth saying, “According to an IHS report, the number of patients using telehealth services increased to 7 million in 2018, up from less than 350,000 in 2013. The rise of telemedicine is a clear attestation that our healthcare system is being forced to adapt to rising expenses, an aging population, and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.”

The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality further attests to the effectiveness of telehealth efforts, “In general, the evidence indicates that telehealth consultations are effective in improving outcomes or providing services”. 

It’s important to remember that meeting with your therapist online doesn’t mean you can’t ever meet with them in person or that it might not be more effective to do so. Instead, the aim of telemedicine is not to replace the patient-provider relationship altogether but to supplement and optimize the care experience. During the days of the COVID-19 crisis, the ability to be flexible by utilizing technology is vitally important. 

Are there security risks?

When you meet with a therapist there is the expectation of privacy. Therefore, an important aspect of telehealth is security. Your health information is private and there are laws preventing unauthorized disclosures of such. Treatment providers like A.V.Y. work hard to maintain their HIPPA approved telehealth services. Robust security measures are required to ensure that health information remains private. Common security technologies, such as firewalls, can prevent organizations and individuals from sharing information and accessing health care IT resources. 

How to Get Signed Up

All it takes to get started is a phone call. From the comfort and privacy of a setting of your choice, you can access the treatment you need. A.V.Y.’s telehealth services are court compliant in most cases and have proved effective over a significant period of time. If you have questions about technology requirements or whether or not telehealth is right for you, give A.V.Y. a call!