Can an online psychiatrist prescribe Klonopin?

The short answer is yes! Online psychiatrists who went to medical school and have a valid license in your state do prescribe medications. But you should know a lot more about online psychiatry (also called telepsychiatry or telemedicine).

What is online psychiatry, or telepsychiatry?

Telemedicine is a method or process of providing medical care at a distance using online technology, often using video conferencing. Desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones are all potential devices that can handle a virtual doctor's visit, and psychiatry is one of the most obvious choices for safe and effective care. So, yes, a psychiatrist online can prescribe you the medication you may need to treat any problems he or she thinks need medication.

Psychiatry is one of those specialties that is suitable for video or telephone consultations, since almost all psychiatric illnesses do not require a physical examination for diagnosis and treatment. In addition, any medication that can be prescribed in person can be administered via telepsychiatry. One of the special advantages of telepsychiatry for prescription medications is the ability to record sessions so that information about medications and side effects can be reviewed at any time in the future. The electronic transmission of the prescription is instantaneous, so appointments or home delivery of the medication can be made quickly.

Telepsychiatry can involve a range of services, including direct psychiatric evaluation, therapy such as individual, group and family therapy, and patient education and medication administration. Emergency departments are particularly well suited to the use of telepsychiatry because many emergency departments do not have an "on-call" psychiatrist or one available to see patients in person.

Benefits of online psychiatry

Telepsychiatry sessions via video link are accessible and readily available for almost any mental illness. Listed below are the benefits of electronic mental health services.

• Improving access to specialized mental health care, especially in rural areas
• Care is provided at the patient's location in the same state
• Reduce the number of visits to the emergency department
• Reducing delays in medical care
• Improve continuity of care and follow-up, especially with primary care physicians, leading to better outcomes
• Reduce the need for time off and child care services because people don't take their children to doctor's appointments - in general
• Reduce the potential lack of transportation or the need for long commutes
• Reduce the stigma barrier
• Allows psychiatrists to assess and serve more patients over a longer period of time

Most people feel comfortable and more at ease talking to someone else through a screen, which can facilitate openness in their own home or in another medical setting, such as the emergency room. People feel safer in their own homes, and they like the privacy that online psychiatry offers.

Psychiatrists and other physicians must be licensed in the state(s) where the patient resides. Licensing boards and state legislatures consider a patient's location to be where the "practice of medicine" takes place. According to the American Telemedicine Association, as of 2016, thirty-two states have passed laws stating that telepsychiatric services are covered by insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare. This means that an online psychiatrist can prescribe medications and they will be covered by Medicaid or Medicare in those states if the online psychiatrist accepts those insurances.

There is considerable research articles and clinical evidence for the effectiveness of online psychiatry. In terms of diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, quality of care, and patient satisfaction, telepsychiatry is on par with an in-person visit. Patients of all ages report favorable experiences with telepsychiatry. People with severe anxiety or autism can benefit even more from a private and less stressful home environment.

Dr. Sean Paul, MD, is an online psychiatrist who prescribes medications, provides therapy and other services through telepsychiatry to treat conditions such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, etc.