The mental healthcare industry is constantly under a burden. You always have more people in need of mental healthcare than the number of physicians and providers. On top of that, COVID-19 has made matters worse.
Last year, 17.3 million people in the USA were victims of at least an episode of major depression. Additionally, 1 out of 3 Americans went through an anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, very few of them received professional treatment as we were locked inside our homes.
Statistics show only a handful of mentally ill patients receive medical care. It is not only detrimental to the global population’s wellbeing but also means a loss of business for providers.
Digitization can help mental healthcare providers expand services, get new patients, and grow revenues. Let’s explore how you can resolve current mental healthcare challenges by going digital.
Provide Telemedicine Services
Telemedicine is the offering of clinical services remotely through digital audio-visual channels. Your doctors can use video calling tools to provide consultations remotely without meeting the patient physically.
The consultations are in real-time, with features for chatting, sending files, and messages. Telemedicine can help you offer services to more patients at less cost. Everyone has a smartphone now and can access remote consultations without any issues.
Deliver Therapies and Self-Help Programs
Many mental health therapies don’t need the constant supervision of a medical professional. Patients can follow instructions or materials to go through self-help programs and get better. One example is cognitive behavioral therapy that patients can carry out themselves.
You can deliver instructions and therapy steps directly to patient mobiles or inboxes. Many providers now have dedicated apps to offer self-help programs that also facilitate self-monitoring. Additionally, providers can also track patient progress and wellbeing.
Best of all, you can automate the process to conserve human resources, time, and cost.
Host Live Webinars and Podcasts
Mental health experts can host live sessions with multiple patients or groups to help them get better. Providers can host webinars on their websites and provide access to patients. You can also record podcasts and share them with your patients to listen to in their free time.
Providers can deliver any content or media, like videos and eBooks, to educate patients and facilitate recovery.
Create Online Patient Portal
Patient portals let patients book appointments, access their health records, and get information on your services. Providers can use their websites to allow patients to see when doctors are available and make online reservations. There is no need to call the clinic or even talk to anyone else.
You can use your portal to register patients and reduce front office tasks. Your patient data is also available from a single source, and you don’t have to juggle files and records.
Additionally, an online portal can help you attract more patients.
Final Thoughts
The mental healthcare industry needs to transform digitally to resolve current challenges. You can use mobile apps to deliver treatment and attend to more patients in need. A patient portal also goes a long way to expand your scope and services. Get in touch with Neuswyft to harness digitization and attain business success.