HJBR Jul/Aug 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE  I  JUL / AUG 2021 41 one way providers can improve outcomes. Telehealth can be used to report patient metrics from their home, with remote teams serving as coach and counselor to engage patients in their own journey to- ward health. Expand access to care and reach more patients We know there is an increasing physi- cian shortage — especially in behavioral health. Nevertheless, because it can reach patients in rural areas who are outside the normal care delivery systems, telehealth can maximize provider networks by help- ing them expand access to care without straining resources. Reduce patient no-shows No shows are a familiar cost center for practices. Patients in need of treatment for substance use or behavioral health are the most likely to no-show when their appointment time arrives. Behavioral illnesses often impair motivation, and they make it difficult for patients to fol- low through — especially when it involves leaving their home. Telehealth has shown to reduce patient no-shows by as much as 34%. Increase practice revenue and improve work/life balance In addition to reducing overhead costs per visit, telehealth is less time-consum- ing, both for the patient and for the pro- vider. Telehealth can allow physicians to bill for previously uncompensated phone calls, extend hours to capture more time that is billable or simply take a break in Stewart T. Gordon, MD, FAAP Chief Medical Officer, Medical Affairs Louisiana Healthcare Connections SOURCES www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare-systems- and-services/our-insights/telehealth-a-quarter- trillion-dollar-post-covid-19-reality https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm www.behavorialhealthworkforce.org Robin Gelburd, Telehealth Claim Lines Rise 2980% in One-Year Period Through September 2020, Ameri- can Journal of Managed Care, December 2020 Telebehavioral Health: An Effective Alternative to In-Person Care, Millbank Memorial Fund Issue Brief, October 2020, www.milbank.org/publications/ telebehavioral-health-an-effective-alternative- to-in-person-care/ www.americantelemed.org/resource/why-telemedicine/ www.ihpi.umich.edu/MItelehealth www.mendfamily.com/wp-content/uploads /2019/05/eliminating-no-shows-mental-health.pdf their workday. Because of the reduced no-shows, telehealth could improve the efficiency of a practice as well as provide a competitive advantage by attracting and retaining more patients through new models of care. GOING FORWARD Advocates have called for the expan- sion of telehealth for decades, and while not a panacea, it is an alternative patient engagement platformwith the potential to increase the reach and impact of behav- ioral health services. For patients requir- ing behavioral health support, the future is clear: accessible and flexible telehealth services can improve their lives. n Behavioral health services responsibly delivered via telehealth include cognitive behavioral therapy, general psychotherapy, behavioral activation, problem-solving therapy, medication management and training for parents of children with behavioral disorders like Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder. Examples of traditional, in-person utilization methods converted to a telehealth protocol: SERVICE Assessment Treatment Medication management/ monitoring Continuing care Education Collaboration TELEHEALTH APPLICATION Online substance use questionnaire Cognitive-behavioral therapy through videoconferencing Text message reminders to take medications as directed Group chats for relapse prevention Webinars for clients and providers Interactive video for consultation