Psychiatry and Psychiatric Disorders

Biography

Biography: Jim Varrell

Abstract

Telepsychiatry is a growing in popularity as more psychiatrists look to work from home, cut time traveling between multiple facilities and minimize the inconvenience of overnight calls. Clinical research shows telepsychiatry to be an effective and efficient tool for increasing access to care in a variety of settings. One model of telepsychiatry that is growing in popularity, but has received little attention to date is crisis telepsychiatry. By “beaming in” to hospital emergency departments, crisis telepsychiatrists are able to offer much-needed psychiatric expertise that can reduce the amount of time patients in crisis wait for proper care. This presentation will discuss the benefits and challenges of working as a crisis telepsychiatrist. It will compare positives of the field, such as work-life balance and practicing in a growing field to the potential negatives, such as working remotely and being licensed in multiple areas. It will emphasize the diversity of crisis telepsychiatry and the ability for US-certified providers from all over the world to have a remote career. Next, it will review the training, setup and practical considerations of beginning work as a crisis telepsychiatrist, including tips for collaborating with onsite clinicians and navigating the murky waters of collecting collateral, prescribing and more. Lastly, this presentation will look at several crisis telepsychiatry case studies and review how a practicing telepsychiatrist dealt with each unique patient encounter via televideo. This presentation will give crisis telepsychiatrist hopefuls a comprehensive perspective on all of the considerations necessary to delve into this booming form of care