The idea was a topic of discussion at the Addiction Industry Executive Summit in Naples, Fla., earlier this week.
Proponents believe using telemedicine could expand treatment access to addicts who live in rural areas or lack transportation. Psychologist Lisa Merconchini, PhD, founded Premier Telehealth, which uses copyrighted and encrypted software to protect patients. At the summit, Dr. Merconchini claimed she “was just surprised that treatment providers weren’t using this.”
However, opponents are wary telemedicine for addicts won’t give providers a full picture of the patient’s condition. “I have seen people trying to do it on a laptop or itty-bitty webcam,” Corey Waller, MD, senior medical director for education and policy at the Camden (N.J.) Coalition for Healthcare Providers, said at the conference. “If I can’t see [the] patient, I can’t see what’s going on. He could be flipping me off under the table.”
As the debate continues, psychiatrists and other providers must focus on the costs, licensing requirements and security obligations that come with utilizing telemedicine for addiction treatment.
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