Our Telepsychiatry Program offers people in rural and underserved areas access to behavioral health services from afar.
The program offers interactive psychiatric care through secure, real-time audio and video-conferencing.
Services we provide through telepsychiatry include:
Telepsychiatry also provides support for the full range of mental health conditions.
Research shows that telepsychiatry provides the same high quality care as face-to-face care for most people. Some patients prefer to connect with their psychiatrist through telehealth visits rather than in-person visits because it reduces anxiety.
For a growing number of people in need, telepsychiatry is the only way to access behavioral health services. That's why, in 2007, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital launched its Telepsychiatry Program.
The purpose of the program is to address the shortage of mental health providers in rural locations throughout Pennsylvania.
In 2016, we received the Innovation Award from the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania for our Telepsychiatry Program.
Today, the program serves 17 counties throughout PA without over 10,000 encounters per year.