It has been a busy year for digital mental health. While no one knows what 2021 will bring, some themes are sure to continue to shape the field.
What's Trending?
-The shift was receiving care from offline to online
-The rising incidence & prevalence of mental health illnesses
-The Alarming rate of provider and staff burnout
-Operating a clinic is getting harder than ever
2. WHATS TRENDING?
OUR TOP FOUR PICKS
Shift from offline to online
Rising incidence & prevalence of mental health illnesses
Alarming rates of provider and staff burnout
Operating a clinic is getting harder than ever
1.
2.
3.
4.
3. The shift from
offline to online
Before COVID-19, virtual care existed but on the fringe of the
healthcare system. Evidence grew of its effectiveness in various
specialties but adoption was slow. But COVID-19 forced millions
of healthcare providers to adopt telehealth and shift their
practice online. It moved from the fringes and into the spotlight.
A recent study found 81 percent of behavioral health providers
surveyed used telehealth for the first time during the pandemic.
4. Timeline of
Telehealth
1960s - EARLY DAYS
The first case of telehealth via telephone: the University of
Nebraskaa has a doctor exchange documents for
neurological examinations.
The first case of telehealth via video: the Nebraska
Psychiatry Institute had psychiatrists use CCTV to see and
interact with their patients.
1925 - THE "FIRST"
The magazine "Science and Invention" introduces the
concept of the "radio doctor" - a doctor who interacts via
video and audio with a patient.
1990s - DEVELOPMENT
The American Telehealth Association (ATA) was formed.
As well, many governments started funding telehealth
projects.
5. Timeline of
Telehealth
(cont.)
2021 AND BEYOND
While in-person healthcare is expected to increase
gradually, telehealth will still account for 440 million
visits in 2021.
2000s & 2010s - EARLY
ADOPTERS
More health care organizations start experimenting with
telehealth. Telehealth use increase by 53% from 2016 to
2017 mostly for mental health or primary care services.
Yet, less than 10% of the US population used telehealth.
2020 - ACCELERATION
Providers switch to 100% virtual to deliver services and
saw an explosion in usage. For example, Brighton Health
Plan Solutions in New York saw telemedicine visits up
3,400%. The American Psychologists Association (APA)
reported 96% of psychologists saw patients remotely
during COVID-19, a jump from a mere 20% before COVID
19.
6. 85%
What do
patients think?
How does Telehealth help
Patients
*Percentages are based off of United Steates Saving
93%
$19-$120
of patients are willing to accept telemedicine as a
sufficient form of medical care
of telepsychiatry patients feel that they can present the
same information virtually as they can at a face-to-face
visit
The average cost patients save by not having to
commute, or take time off work. Saving an average of
1500-2000$ anually. (price does not include childcare)
Telehealth makes it easier for people with
disabilities to access care. Studies show
telehealth improves access for specific
populations like older adults, geographically-
isolated people, and those lacking access to
public transportation.
Patients get convenience and access to care from
the comfort and privacy of their own homes. As
well, patients do not have to take time off work,
commute, or arrange childcare.
To many, telehealth is a video appointment with a
mental health counselor or doctor. But telehealth
can be more than that. With the right solution,
patients can schedule their own appointments,
securely message their providers, and access
their records.
7. 2021 and beyond
Hybrid is the key
2020 has shown that telehealth can deliver quality mental health
services.
Telehealth usage has reached historic highs in 2020. Also, over 70%
of behavioural health providers expressed they will continue
providing telehealth post-COVID. Why? Because telehealth tackles
longstanding mental health care issues like lack of access and
barriers.
The future will have mental health providers shifting to a hybrid
option for their practice - in-person and virtual care. Patients won't
return to the norm - in-person care for everything. Providers now
have a financial incentive to offer virtual care. And the mental health
system will benefit.
8. COVID-19 and beyond
Fact 2
Only 5% of virtual healthcare visits result in the
need for an in-person examination.
Fact 1
Telehealth-based solutions are projected to save
the healthcare industry over $305 billion
annually.
Fact 3
96% of Telepsychiatry patients are satisfied with
virtual mental healthcare.
Fact 4
Healthcare providers completed 50-175x more
telehealth visits in 2020 than they did in previous
years.
Let's talk statistics
9. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were already in a mental health crisis.
Now, it looks certain that the crisis has gotten worse. In a study conducted
in the UK, rates of mental distress have significantly increased during the
pandemic. Forty percent of Canadians surveyed indicated their mental
health has worsened, particularly the unemployed, those with a pre-
existing mental health issue, and the youth. 1 out of 5 diagnosed with
COVID-19 is also diagnosed with a mental health disorder like anxiety,
depression, or insomnia.
As rates of mental health increase, so are the demand for mental health
services. A recent survey by the National Council for Behaviour Health
found over 52 percent of organizations have seen increases in services.
Rising incidence &
prevalence of mental
health illnesses
10. Improve access and
reduce wait times
Reduce delays in care and
improve continuity of care by
complementing your practice
with telehealth platforms.
Improve patient
engagement
Increase patient engagement
by using digital health tools like
secure messaging and patient
portals to stay engaged with
patients.
Demand more funding
Governments and institutions
should substantially increase
funding for mental health
programs and research.
Be more efficient to
reduce admin overhead
Streamline & digitize your
workflow using tools like online
booking & automated
notifications to reduce admin
overhead so you can focus on
care.
Continue addressing the
stigma of mental illness
Continue advocating and
educating people about mental
illness.
Now what? 2021 and beyond
2021 will demand more from our mental health and behavioural health
providers to take care of our communities and families.
It will take a team
You can't do it all on your own.
Collaborate with other
healthcare professionals when
possible.
11. Increased Provider &
Staff Burnout
Frontline healthcare professionals face high adversity, workloads,
and stress, making them vulnerable to burnout.
In a recent survey, more than two-thirds of physicians say they're
feeling burned out in 2020 due to paperwork, working countless
hours, and COVID-19.
Among mental health professionals, over half reported moderate
to high burnout. Common symptoms of burnout are emotional
exhaustion, depersonalization, and lower self-evaluation. Burned-
out providers tend to provide a lower quality of care and pose a
financial burden to the healthcare system.
12. Manage workload
Delivering therapy and managing a practice can be overwhelming. That is why you should take a look
at your calendar and caseload and ask - is it manageable? Should I accept more patients or reassign
patients to a different provider?
Be selfish - think self-care
Providers have been trained to think - patients first, yourself second. But how can your patients
improve if you are not healthy and available? Attend self-care workshops, yoga, massage, and
mindfulness meditation to learn more about how you can reduce burnout and take care of your
health.
Reduce paperwork without impacting patient care
Every hour of actual patient care, you spend an hour doing administrative work - calling, scheduling,
invoicing, forms & charting, etc. Some tools that streamline administrative activities and increase
efficiency are online booking, automated invoicing, and automated notes.
Now what?
2021 and
beyond
What can you do?
Be efficient & effective
Look for opportunities where you can deliver care efficiently - like with group counseling. Studies
have shown some forms of group counseling are as effective as individual counseling. Find a virtual
solution that can facilitate a group counseling session to remove barriers to patient access.
13. A clinic provides much needed mental health therapies and services.
It helps people in the community work, contribute to the local
economy, and live quality lives. But a clinic is also a business. And
operators are working harder than ever before to keep the lights.
Operating
a clinic is
getting harder
than ever
14. So, whats so
difficult?
Running a clinic can run up to $70-100,000 USD per year.
And with expenses like commercial rents and marketing
rising, it is more difficult than ever to keep the doors open.
The average practice loses an estimated $150,000 USD
per year in revenue due to missed appointments. Thus
many operators have the administrative burden to keep
no-shows low to avoid financial loss.
In a recent study, behavioral health organizations reported
losing 20 percent of their annual revenue. More alarming,
only 40 percent expect to survive for less than six months.
Let's talk numbers
15. 2021 & beyond, now what?
HOW DO YOU OPERATE TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES?
Deliver more therapy online
By delivering more through virtual care, you can effortlessly expand
your practice while effectively reducing no shows. As well, virtual
care can reduce in-person expenses while still providing quality
care.
Working solo? Get in a group
practice
Many mental health providers work on their own. Setting up a
group practice with a few of your colleagues allows you to
reduce costs like administrative staff, leases, and technology.
Make it easy to access your
services
Use tools like online booking and secure messaging so patients
can easily access your services to increase bookings and
decrease administrative costs.