Debunking Common Misconceptions About Telehealth

Even as it's popularity and reach continues to expand, misconceptions about telehealth abound among patients and clinicians alike.

In this video, Edward Kaftarian, MD, Executive Chairman of Orbit Telepsychiatry, debunks some common misconceptions about telehealth and its utility for psychiatric screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Topics include the therapeutic bond between patient and doctor; ability to perform an effective exam; and the future prospects of telehealth. 

For more expert insights on practicing psychiatry in a virtual setting, visit our Telehealth Excellence Forum.

Read the Transcript

Psych Congress Network: Telehealth is a rapidly changing field—what new misconceptions would you like to address regarding virtual practice?

Edward Kaftarian, MD: I think that the misconceptions about telemedicine continue. There's a misconception that you can't develop a therapeutic bond between patient and doctor. I think that that has been largely debunked, but there are still people who feel strongly that it's inferior to in-person care.

I think that the newer generations are going to expect telemedicine, so it's not really going to be an option. It's going to be mandatory for the health system to provide telehealth.

I think another myth is that you can't do an appropriate exam. Now, I think most people who've done telehealth understand that they can do an appropriate mental status examination. There are some limitations, but not a whole lot. And I think that that is a myth to say that you can't conduct an appropriate mental status examination.

Finally, I would say, one of the biggest myths is that telemedicine is going to go away, or we're going to return to the old way of doing medicine. I think there are some institutions, even some really high profile institutions that are trying to go back to exclusively in-person care. Ithink that that is not a wise strategy because now that the horses left the barn, so to speak, people expect telehealth, patients really don't want to unnecessarily go into an office when they can stay at home and get the same level of care.

So the myth that we're going to go back to how it was I think it has been debunked, and we're going to see a further expansion of telehealth over the next decade.

Edward Kaftarian, MD, is a preeminent authority in the field of Telepsychiatry. He holds a distinguished seat on the Telepsychiatry Committee of the American Psychiatric Association and is a member of the Steering Committee for PsychCongress, the United States' largest independent mental health educational conference. Additionally, Dr. Kaftarian is a prominent speaker on the rules and regulations governing telehealth. Dr. Kaftarian completed his psychiatry training at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and holds board certifications in Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine.