With the entire world exploring the benefits of virtual presence, telehealth is gaining momentum. The ability to consult patients remotely isn’t just a nice addition to healthcare anymore, it’s a vital component. For substance abuse and recovery practitioners, telehealth is a solution to many challenges related to remote assistance. While offering the ability to reach patients anytime and anywhere, it can cut costs and provide impressive value.
What is Telehealth?
Telehealth is a therapy provided to the patient through a remote video connection. During a session, the patient and the therapist interact using any device with a camera, and microphone. Telehealth is a cost-effective modern solution that offers flexibility in continuing care at a distance. Some of the challenges in care in times of social distancing include:
- Distance barriers
- Lack of specialists
- Accessibility challenges
- Inability to service remote and rural locations
- Therapist shortages
Today, with webcams and mobile devices, therapy practice is going viral. The majority of states passed laws that don’t just accept telehealth as a practice but also reimburse some of its aspects through Medicaid. In 2019, The National Institute of Health launched a project called Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). One of its goals is to implement telehealth into the addiction recovery process.
The Importance of Telehealth Today
The year 2020 brought many unique challenges to businesses with COVID-19 and social distancing guidelines. This impact was immediate on the healthcare industry, who conducted most business with patients in person. With some recovery clinics closed, in-person support meetings suspended, and treatment centers handing out premature dismissals, substance abuse patients could lose much of their support. Telehealth allows people to stay on their road to full recovery..
How Telehealth is Changing the Substance Abuse Treatment
Telehealth gives patients better access to treatment options and improves the quality and frequency of care for substance abuse. The accessibility of telehealth drives motivation. This is especially important for rural states like Montana, which have high drug use rates. Telehealth allows clinics from all over the U.S. to target patients in places that need them the most.
Staying on Track
Telehealth doesn’t stop at video conferencing. It involves messaging, scheduling, and keeping patients on the right track. One of the key reasons for relapse is lack of consistent support. Telehealth anticipates this by providing continuous support through chat, motivational messaging, progress reminders, and more. It gives patients and practitioners a chance to interact outside the clinic at any time and from anywhere.
New Perspective
Substance abuse treatment is historically based on an in-person patient and provider interactions. While its efficiency is high, the new reality due to COVID-19 requires a fresh perspective. Many patients express interest in using telehealth options during the course of treatment. Meanwhile, substance abuse clinics can’t overlook the benefits of this solution. While the latest technologies are making telehealth accessible to people around the globe, remote therapy and assistance are becoming an integral part of substance abuse treatment.
Benefits of Telehealth for Substance Abuse and Recovery Practitioners
How can your practice benefit from implementing telehealth solutions?
1. Improved Flexibility
Telehealth allows counselors to have flexible working hours. It eliminates commute, thus offering them more time to help more patients. It gives clinics an opportunity to hire part-time therapists for a wider outreach in any part of the world.
2. Better Productivity
By eliminating travel, therapists can now manage their caseloads and workloads more efficiently. They can spend more time working with patients and less time in commute. With telehealth, canceled appointments and “no shows” don’t impact specialists as much . They can efficiently change their schedules to accommodate patients.
3. Convenience
With telehealth, therapists have an opportunity to offer services in the comfort of their own home. By upping the convenience level, you are increasing their satisfaction and productivity.
4. Cost Efficiencies
Maintaining a large clinic space can be expensive. With telehealth, it’s possible to reduce these costs with therapists at home at least part-time.
5. Expanded Client Reach
Telehealth allows clinics to reach more clients. Substance abuse practitioners can help more people and widen their potential client base.
6. Safety
With COVID-19, interacting with patients who are at a higher risk of contracting the virus can be dangerous for practitioners. Remote consultations take care of the problem, giving experts a safe environment to practice.
7. More Information
During telehealth sessions, practitioners have an opportunity to see their patients at home. This helps them gain valuable information about their social determinants of health, environment, daily life activities, and stresses.
Benefits of Telehealth for Substance Abuse and Recovery Patients
1. Cutting Costs
Patients don’t have to worry about commuting to the clinic. This is especially important for people who live in remote areas.
2. Accessibility
Traveling long distances to speak to a specialist is costly and often unachievable for some patients. Telehealth eliminates the distance barrier, giving all patients a chance to take full advantage of therapy. For in-person sessions, patients are generally limited to their local healthcare providers. Not all clinics are ready to accommodate the influx of people in need. With telehealth, patients can choose which clinic to work with regardless of its location. This gives them access to the top experts in the niche and a choice of options.
How to Implement a Telehealth Program in Your Substance Abuse and Recovery Clinic
Since telehealth is becoming an integral part of substance abuse treatment, many clinics are implementing the program. The basic steps include:
1. Assessment
Before planning the program, it’s important to:
- Understand how telehealth can improve the lives of your patients.
- Define the types of services under your telehealth offering.
- Discuss unmet needs to be fulfilled by the program.
- Document how telehealth services will be delivered.
2. Planning
You need to create a list of tasks to be completed during implementation as well as a timeline to follow:
- Describe testing, deploying, and operating telehealth service line tasks.
- Identify people responsible for these tasks.
- Determine the time necessary to fulfill the task.
- Describe and purchase materials necessary to market and implement the program
3. Implementation
Your telehealth service doesn’t need to interfere with your regular practice. You can either roll out the program in one day or go for incremental implementation. The approach depends on your program goals, objectives, and the urgency of remote assistance for the patients.
Exploring Telehealth Program Tools
The key to implementing a telehealth program is using the right tools and technologies such as:
- High-quality desktop computers with a fast internet connection
- Digital camera
- Portable kits for practitioners to use on the go (laptop, camera)
- Telehealth software solutions
While choosing the right tools for telehealth implementation, it’s vital to also consider security. Since you’ll be working with patient records and private messages, you need to make sure the software you use is duly protected. Procentive offers peace of mind that your data is secure with our integrated telehealth services through our EHR software.
The Key Takeaway
Telehealth is quickly becoming an important part of substance abuse treatment and recovery services. By implementing into your program, both the practitioners and patients can benefit tremendously.
Telehealth allows you to reach out to patients in remote areas and help people, who are stuck at home for numerous reasons, from lockdown orders to disabilities.
Read more about Procentive tools and resources like Revenue Cycle Management through BillCare, and how it can make a difference for your clinic during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
