Virginia Telehealth Network’s Benchmarking Telehealth Usage in Virginia survey revealed the many benefits of telehealth, like increased flexibility for providers and patients. Another important benefit the survey findings illustrate is how telehealth is increasing mental health access for Virginians.
The survey report finds that 97% of behavioral and mental health providers in the state expanded the use of telehealth as a result of the pandemic. Nine in 10 (91%) plan to maintain or expand their current level of telehealth services.
According to the providers, telehealth is working: 68% of behavioral and mental health professionals say telehealth allows them to spend more time with their patients, while 82% cite telehealth for helping to reduce patient no-shows. And for many, telehealth eliminated costly and timely elements that made accessing care a challenge.
“I was one of the skeptics to telehealth. I do a lot of trauma work, and wondered if [virtual appointments] would be the same,” said Dr. Muriel Azria-Evans, director of mental health & wellness at Health Brigade. “I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised that care was equally effective via telehealth. [Telehealth] made it more accessible too. I’d have clients that would be on two buses to get to me for a 50-minute mental health session, and two buses to go home. So now they’ve spent three-and-a-half hours away from home or work. There’s a cost to that. Moving forward I foresee telehealth as a permanent option for clients and predict a hybrid model will emerge.”
Growing supports across Virginia
The Virginia Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness estimates that 1.2 million adults in the Commonwealth have a mental health condition, but only 4 in 10 people received any treatment in the past year. And according to the Health Resources & Services Administration, 97 of Virginia’s 133 localities are federally-designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas.
Many healthcare leaders, organizations and institutions like Health Brigade point to the importance of telehealth in reducing gaps in mental health access. However, virtual care poses new challenges for patients, like limited access to internet connectivity, devices, digital literacy and interpreter services to help connect more vulnerable Virginians to mental health telehealth services. It’s important for industry professionals, stakeholders and policymakers to work together to break down these barriers for underserved populations.
VTN, along with the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics and with support of hundreds of mental and behavioral health providers across the state, are working to implement a new plan that would expand access to mental health care while supporting and training Virginia’s future counselors, therapists, social workers, etc. Click here for more information about the new program.
For more on addressing equity in telehealth, visit VTN’s Equity & Telehealth series at ehealthvirginia.org/equity-telehealth.