Telepsychiatry in a Rural Inpatient Psychiatric Hospital: A Model for Expanding Access to High-Quality Care

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Delivery
• Telemedicine
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Increasing mental health crises necessitate novel care models.
• Rural areas face significant challenges in accessing psychiatric services.
• Academic medical centers can play a role in bridging care gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a telepsychiatry model staffing rural inpatient psychiatric units.
• To assess the impact of this model on workflow, administrative, financial, and satisfaction outcomes.
• To determine the viability of telepsychiatry for underserved rural populations.

Main Methods:

• A partnership between an academic medical center and an affiliated health system was reviewed.
• Data from inpatient psychiatric units (N=1,064 in-person, N=722 virtual care) were analyzed.
• Changes in unit workflow and key outcomes were examined.

Main Results:

• Telepsychiatry facilitated the staffing of rural inpatient psychiatric units.
• The model demonstrated potential for effective administrative, financial, and satisfaction outcomes.
• Workflow adjustments were identified as part of the implementation.

Conclusions:

• Telepsychiatry offers a promising solution to psychiatric provider shortages in rural areas.
• This model can extend high-quality inpatient psychiatric care to underserved populations.
• Further research is needed to validate these findings and support broader implementation.