10-2018 Telepsychiatry : Access in Rural Areas

Rural areas have experienced higher than average healthcare workforce problems, especially concerning limited access to mental health services. Telepsychiatry may provide at least a partial solution, as it has improved access and quality of care available in rural environments despite implementation problems. As technology continues to advance access, telepsychiatry will also need to strengthen making access more readily available. Additional research is required to identify modalities and diverse methods that can be used to increase access to mental health services further and improve outcomes in rural and underserved areas.