The evolution and history of telepsychiatry and its impact on psychiatric care: Current implications for psychiatrists and psychiatric organizations

Abstract

We have reached a critical convergence in psychiatry between the changing systems of health care structure and funding, our evolution into a technology-based society, and growth in the science and delivery of psychiatric treatments. Fostered by this convergence is the maturation over the past two decades of telepsychiatry, in the form of live interactive video conferencing, as a critical tool to improve access, increase quality and reduce costs of psychiatric treatment. This article reviews the history and evolution of telepsychiatry including implications for the field in order to provide individual psychiatrists and psychiatric organizations guidance on how to formulate current and strategic directions. This article begins with a broad overview of the history of medicine providing contextualization of the development of the field of telepsychiatry. It concludes with projected trends and recommendations.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Maryann Waughn for feedback and edits.

Declaration of interest: Jay Shore is Chief Medical Officer for AccessCare Technology and AccessCare Services, and has a commercial interest in advancing the use of AccessCare Technology's telemedicine platform which includes videoconferencing and expanding AccessCare Services telehealth services. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.