How to prepare for an e-visit to a psychiatrist?

Consultation with a psychiatrist as part of an e-visit is an alternative to a traditional conversation in a doctor’s office. In its assumptions, e-visit to a psychiatrist does not differ from standard specialist advice, therefore it also requires appropriate preparation. What should you remember before visiting a psychiatrist? How to prepare so that it runs efficiently and allows you to obtain appropriate medical support?

Is e-visit to a psychiatrist a good solution?

A psychiatric consultation is not limited to a personal visit to an outpatient clinic or clinic. If the patient, for reasons such as time, own comfort or for any other reason, wants to decide on an e-visit – he has this option. E-visit to a psychiatrist is in fact equivalent to a traditional visit, and the patient can discuss their problem with a specialist, receive appropriate medications (e-prescription) or dismissal (e-release).

Sabina Nadajczyk, a specialist psychiatrist providing telemedicine advice using the haloDoctor.pl platform

Before the e-visit, the patient should first of all ensure a comfortable environment, a place where he can talk freely while feeling safe.

Medical advice via communication systems may take the form of a telephone conversation or a video communicator.

The best form of e-visit is a consultation in the form of a video visit, during which both the patient and the doctor see and hear each other.

This form of e-visit should also be preferred during the first consultation. The ability to observe the patient allows for a more accurate assessment of the mental state. In the period of an epidemic crisis and limitations in providing outpatient consultations, telepsychiatry is an alternative and recommended method.

It is even advisable to use the possibilities offered by telemedicine in the context of assistance from a psychiatrist during the epidemic. This solution gives access to the full range of services offered by a specialist, therefore the patient should be properly prepared for the visit.

First e-visit to a psychiatrist – what is worth knowing?

An e-visit to a psychiatrist can take place via various types of communicators or in the form of a telephone conversation. A video interview allows for a more complete and accurate assessment of the patient’s mental state, and this form of contact is recommended especially during the first psychiatric teleconsultation.

During an online conversation with a psychiatrist, the patient may present his symptoms that prompted him to visit. Examples of such symptoms include sudden changes in mood, insomnia, anxiety, feelings of tension, physical fatigue, sadness, helplessness, guilt, avoiding social contact or experiencing hallucinations.

People planning their first e-visit to a psychiatrist may feel anxious or uncomfortable. In practice, the course of a conversation with a doctor is similar to a regular consultation, and in case of doubts, the specialist will ask the patient the necessary questions. However, it is important to prepare for the medical interview, and sometimes also to write down the information in advance that will have to be passed on to the specialist, because the tension caused by the visit may make us forget about something.

Before visiting a psychiatrist – remember this

Proper preparation for an e-visit to a psychiatrist improves the course of the visit, making the work of a specialist easier, as well as minimizing the uncertainty that the patient may feel. Technical issues (efficient software, access to the Internet or telephone network), formal issues (patient’s personal data, medical records) and issues concerning the patient’s problem (e.g. symptoms, medical history, questions to the doctor) turn out to be of key importance.

Sabina Nadajczyk, a specialist psychiatrist providing telemedicine advice using the haloDoctor.pl platform

Before the consultation, the doctor is required to establish the patient’s identity, most often based on the series and number of the ID card. Data identification also allows for the issuance of an e-prescription and, possibly, an e-medical certificate. Therefore, it is worth preparing a document confirming your identity in advance.

If the patient has medical documentation (not only psychiatric), results of imaging and laboratory tests – it is also worth preparing it in advance, psychiatry is not a field of medicine, and the presence of somatic diseases affects the clinical picture and prescribing drugs.

It is worth preparing a list of drugs taken constantly due to chronic diseases, which has a significant impact on the selection of appropriate psychopharmacotherapy.

The last, but not a trivial matter, is having something to write and a piece of paper – it is worth making a note of an important thing, because doubts usually come to mind not during the visit, but later – after visiting the pharmacy, while taking the medicine.

Bow. Monika Draszczuk – psychiatrist, certified psychotherapist providing telemedicine advice using the haloDoctor.pl platform

In order to prepare for a psychiatric e-visit, the patient should prepare an identity document with a photo. It is necessary to have the test results and current documentation of psychiatric hospitalization. The list of medications and dietary supplements that the patient was taking is also important due to drug interactions. This will certainly facilitate the selection of new medications if the treated person is taking any other medications for co-morbidities.

The most important things to think about when preparing for an e-visit to a psychiatrist:

1. a working device that will be used to call the doctor;
2. a comfortable place to talk;
3. preparation of an identity card (paying attention to the PESEL number);
4. description of the problem with which the patient reports to a psychiatrist;
5. medical records (not only directly related to psychiatric issues), incl results of imaging and laboratory tests;
6. information on drugs taken constantly due to chronic diseases;
7. something to take down to write down points that may later prove useful or raise concerns (e.g. medication).

Sabina Nadajczyk, a specialist psychiatrist providing telemedicine advice using the haloDoctor.pl platform

Before the e-visit, the patient should first of all ensure a comfortable environment, a place where he can talk freely while maintaining a sense of intimacy and safety.

Medical advice via communication systems may take the form of a telephone conversation or a video communicator.

The best form of e-visit is a consultation in the form of a video visit, during which both the patient and the doctor see and hear each other. This form of e-visit should also be preferred during the first consultation. The ability to observe the patient, his facial expressions, behavior and care, allows for a more accurate assessment of the mental state.

What may hinder the course of the e-visit?

The patient should prepare carefully for the telepsychiatric consultation in order to reduce the risk of problems during the e-visit.

Sabina Nadajczyk, a specialist psychiatrist providing telemedicine advice using the haloDoctor.pl platform

The circumstances of the e-visit are most often problematic. Despite the prior appointment, patients often do not care about a comfortable environment, a place where they can talk freely while maintaining a sense of intimacy and safety. We often face technical problems, software efficiency, internet or telephone network connectivity, which we often have no control over. It is worth taking care of updating the software in advance, a place “with good coverage”.

A matter of trust. Patients are concerned about providing personal data. Please note that all data is confidential and is used only for patient identification. Also, the medical documentation meets all the requirements and classification class.

During the e-visit, you do not have to worry about providing personal data that are intended to identify the patient and are confidential. The medical documentation provided to the specialist is also classified as classified.

Read also:

1. When is it worth deciding on telemedicine advice?
2. How does issuing an e-prescription look like during a TV visit?
3. What does issuing an exemption look like during an e-visit?

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