Telehealth increases Alaskans’ access Metal health care. Telemedicine is designed to bring convenient high-quality therapy services to Alaskans. It can bring more timely services when your need is urgent and the follow-up care can be done right in your home town in many instances.

 

The term telemedicine refers specifically to remote clinical services. Telehealth is a broader term that includes telemedicine, but can also refer to non-clinical services like using technology for preventative, educational, and health-related administrative activities.

 

Telemedicine refers to the practice of caring for a patient when the patient and provider are not physically together. It allows our clinicians to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients using technology such as video conferencing and smartphones without the need for an in-person visit.

 

Sitka Counseling is registered with the State of Alaska to provide Telehealth services and all of our clinical team is required to take CEUs for providing services via telehealth to be current on best practices.

 

We take Virtual Therapy/Counseling very serious and work to make sure the clients are in a safe secure place.

 

Visit verywellmind for more information on Virtual Therapy

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Advantages of Telehealth

Patient and clinician convenience is one of the biggest benefits of telehealth. It’s especially advantageous for older adults, homebound individuals, or anyone with a busy schedule that makes it hard to find time for an in-person doctor’s visit.

Some of the other benefits of telehealth include:

• Improved access to—and quality of—health care: With access to remote practitioners, you’re no longer limited to healthcare services within driving distance of your home. This is especially beneficial for people who live in rural areas with limited quality of care.

• Reduced travel time: Telehealth visits can be done right from your living room, so there's no travel involved at all. The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center patients saved 12.2 million miles in travel from March to July.

• Decreased costs: Sometimes, but not always, telehealth appointments are less expensive than in-person visits. You also save money on fuel costs.

• Fewer missed appointments: At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the overall no-show rate for in-person visits was 9% prior to the pandemic. It was 12.2% for Medicaid patients. Once telehealth was implemented, those rates dropped to 5.8% and 9.6%, respectively. 

• Allows more flexibility for patients and clinicians: Generally, in-person office visits have to be done within certain office hours. This limits access for working professionals or those who have schedules that don't allow them to make appointments during these hours. With telehealth, it's easier to schedule an appointment at any time.

• Ensures patient and staff safety: Telehealth appointments are especially beneficial for high-risk patients who may be at an increased risk of contracting infections, like COVID-19. They can continue their care from the comfort of their own home, without worrying about exposure.

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