Risks of Online Telehealth Subscription Providers for Anxiety and ADHD Treatment.

Online (Telehealth) Psychiatric appointments have increased availability of ADHD, Anxiety and other mental health treatment, to individuals who may live in rural areas, or in areas with a shortage of mental health providers. Some of the companies providing online mental health care are excellent. However, Dr. Pagnani of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates does have some concerns, particularly about online companies where providers live several states away, and who prescribe a high volume of controlled medications.
Some of these companies will provide (and even advertise) 2, 5 or 10 minute evaluations for patients, to "get a diagnosis" and then be sent controlled medications (like adderall, ritalin, xanax or ativan) to their homes. He has heard stories from patients that some of these providers will send many of their patients the same medication, and even the same doses of medication, without spending a great deal of time considering their unique illness and needs.
There may be advantages to having a mental health provider who lives in your state, and understands the resources and emergency services available for their patients. There may also be advantages to having a provider who spends an hour or an hour and a half with patients at evaluations and 20 to 30 minutes or more for medication management follow-ups, to fully understand their patient's condition, needs, and to explain risks and benefits of the medications they prescribe, in detail.
Again, some of the tele-health providers out there may be providing excellent care, but please think about your unique circumstance and the care that will likely serve you best, before making a decision to see any mental health provider.
Dr. Pagnani is the Medical Director of Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates in Philadelphia, PA and surrounding areas. Their practice has 25 Academically oriented provides and is now scheduling in-office and telemedicine visits.
* This video and text are NOT targeting any one online prescription service, or even any particular group of online services. It is meant to inform patients about a possible concern, and to help them to make the best decision that meets their needs, for their individual mental health care.
For additional informative mental health videos:
/ @rittenhousepsych
www.RittenhousePA.com
www.ChrisPagnaniMD.com