The ability to receive mental health care remotely—through either video or phone—has been available since 1960. Although several barriers stymied the widespread adoption of telehealth in psychiatry, the mindset may have changed after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Demonstrating the capability of telemedicine with doctor specialists at the National Center for Mental Health, Dr. Rodney Boncajes, Medical NCMH Specialist III and Fellow of the Philippine Psychiatric Association highlights the importance of video conferencing recordings during rural health officer referrals of psychiatric patients to the institution. “It is in these video recordings that we could best guide rural health officers to become experts in diagnosing psychiatric evaluation and in assisting them with their cases”, he added.
