U.S. study finds telehealth for severe mental illness improves patient follow-up, contact with outpatient providers

There's limited research concerning the deployment of specialty mental healthcare and medication adherence through telehealth. This study also states that, for rural areas, access to specialty care remains a challenge for patients with serious mental disorders. The researchers provided video-enabled tablets to veterans living in rural areas to find the service decreased ER visits and suicidal behaviours. They also found the use of telehealth services improved the rates of patient follow-up with healthcare professionals after hospitalization, along with a modest increase in contact with outpatient care. The results revealed no substantive changes in medication adherence but  they showed an increase in hospitalizations. The authors explain the increase in hospitalizations shows the use of telehealth allowed healthcare professionals to identify patients having an acute crisis.