Access to Care for Everyone
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) Office of Mental Health is the largest provider of telepsychiatry and telehealth services in the State. Services are available 18 hours per day.
The Programs provide approximately 2,000 psychiatric services per month.
- Emergency Department Telepsychiatry Consultation Program
- Community Telepsychiatry Program
- Inpatient Telepsychiatry
- Deaf Services Telepsychiatry
Overview
Simply put, telepsychiatry allows a person in one location, to interact with a psychiatrist in another location via video/computer technology over a secure line. This is especially helpful for people in rural areas who may not have access to psychiatrists or other qualified mental healthcare providers in their vicinity. Telepsychiatry alleviates the problem of a shortage of psychiatrists in South Carolina, by reducing commute time psychiatrists are able to see, diagnose and treat more patients.
Quick Facts
- BHDD Office of Mental Health’s Telepsychiatry Programs have provided over 100,000 psychiatric services via telehealth. BHDD Office of Mental Health is the largest provider of telepsychiatry services in South Carolina. BHDD Office of Mental Health is also the largest provider of telehealth services in South Carolina.
- Deaf Services Telepsychiatry was one of the earliest adopters of video technology, starting in 1996 to use telepsychiatry to meet the needs of deaf patients who wanted direct communication with their doctor or counselors.
- The ED Telepsychiatry Program began in 2007 and the Community Telepsychiatry Program began in 2013.
- As of February 2018, BHDD Office of Mental Health’s Telepsychiatry Programs provide approximately 2,000 psychiatric services via telehealth per month.
Our Telepsychiatry Programs
Emergency Department Telepsychiatry Consultation Program
BHDD Office of Mental Health’s psychiatrists collaborate with the hospital Emergency Departments (EDs) to assess and treat psychiatric patients in the EDs. Our ED telepsych programs offer critical support to help ensure patients are receiving the best care possible.
Inpatient Telepsychiatry
BHDD Office of Mental Health also partners with inpatient psychiatric hospitals to provide consultations for patients from specialists and experts who are not available on-site.
Community Telepsychiatry Program
Built on the success of the ED telepsychiatry program, the Community Telepsychiatry Program (CTP) started in response to the need for full spectrum community mental health services in rural areas across the state.
Deaf Services Telepsychiatry
For those who are deaf or hard of hearing and use sign language to communicate, video communication is an integral part of everyday life. Whether it be using a Video Relay Interpreter to make a phone call or using a video messaging app to deliver a message, The Deaf Services Program at the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) Office of Mental Health offers telepsych services to meet the needs of patients who want direct communication with their doctor or counselors.
October 7, 2018, the BHDD Office of Mental Health Telepsychiatry Program delivered its 100,000th psychiatric service rendered via telehealth!BHDD Office of Mental Health’s Telepsychiatry Programs now comprise the Deaf Services Telepsychiatry Program, Emergency Department Telepsychiatry Program, Community Telepsychiatry Program, EMS Telehealth Pilot Project and Inpatient Services Telepsychiatry Program. Future plans for BHDD Office of Mental Health’s Telepsychiatry Programs include: continued expansion of the Emergency Department Telepsychiatry Program, continued expansion of the Inpatient Services Telepsychiatry Program, alignment of services with primary care providers Implementation of a telepsychiatry component into the BHDD Office of Mental Health School Mental Health Program, and continued recruitment of ED telepsychiatrists Deployment of physician extenders to provide telehealth services. Central Office Telepsychiatry Program |