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VIDEO: How to safely implement telepsychiatry in your practice

SAN ANTONIO — “The verdict is in. Telepsychiatry has been shown to be just about equivalent to in-person psychiatry,” Steven Hyler, MD, of New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, told Healio.com/Psychiatry.

In this video, Hyler discusses information psychiatrists should consider before implementing telepsychiatry in their practice, including licensing, professional liability and malpractice insurance coverage, and HIPPA-compliant software.

He recommended against using Skype, as it is not technically a HIPPA-compliant platform.

Clinically, clinicians using telepsychiatry should develop a fool-proof back-up plan to prepare for technical difficulties and other issues that may interrupt a session.