Searching for an addiction therapy program within your area on your schedule can be difficult and discouraging. Luckily, the Master Center for Addiction Medicine offers a variety of virtual addiction treatment programs for you or your loved ones. Our telehealth services give you access to online addiction treatment on your schedule, from the comfort of your own home.
If you would like to set up a telehealth appointment today or have any questions, please reach out to the Master Center for Addiction Medicine at 804-332-5950.
What Is Telehealth?
Telehealth generally refers to clinical and non-clinical applications of technology for a patient’s health. Scheduling appointments online and later attending those appointments over the phone or through a video call are both telehealth services. Telehealth is different from telemedicine, which is specific to clinical uses of communication technology, such as diagnosing patients over the phone.
Behavioral Telehealth
Through telehealth, mental health services offer effective treatment for people who cannot always attend in-person therapy. Telehealth allows those who find in-person treatment inaccessible due to disabilities, limited scheduling, childcare issues, and limited travel ability to seek virtual mental health treatment from the comfort of their own homes. Therapists can also use telehealth services to maintain a more suitable schedule for their patients.
Behavioral telehealth offers services such as text message reminders, which reduce the drop-out rates of rehab programs. These features can send out appointment reminders and allow further communication and interaction between patients and clinicians. Reaching out and supporting patients during their recovery helps keep patients accountable and on track. Online addiction rehab programs are more likely to keep patients from relapsing.
Telehealth Addiction Treatment
In addition to virtual conferencing, online addiction treatment can most commonly use:
- Text message contact
- Computer screenings
While these methods seem less intimate than video conferencing, implementing this type of communication through technology inevitably leads to more face-to-face contact between patients and providers. Rather than avoiding or missing therapy appointments, text and email updates motivate patients to attend their scheduled sessions.
Computer screenings can help you lessen the amount of time you spend in the office or filling out forms during your session. Instead of spending time providing demographic data and similar information, you can fill out computer screening applications beforehand, which provides more time for meaningful interactions with your counselor.
COVID-19 and Telehealth
COVID-19 has been extremely difficult for many of us. The need for virtual addiction therapy is at an all-time high. Addiction and substance dependencies have become common ways of coping with the isolation, loneliness, and lack of connection and accountability throughout the pandemic. Being in recovery and also in isolation can interrupt your recovery plans. While we still offer in-person addiction treatment, the Master Center for Addiction Medicine also offers online addiction treatment programs for those who prefer their experience to be online.
Limitations to Telehealth
While telehealth can be highly beneficial to many, it is not for everybody. Some of the technology used requires specific software that ensures patient confidentiality. Many facilities do not have access to this virtual addiction treatment software necessary to maintain privacy. Many people do not have reliable access to the internet or a phone, especially those who may be experiencing severe addictions. Ensuring that both the counselor and the patient have access to telehealth is extremely important.
Find Online Addiction Treatment at the Master Center for Addiction Medicine
Online addiction treatment can be a great way to keep yourself accountable while living your life at home comfortably. If you are interested in discussing the Master Center for Addiction Medicine’s behavioral telehealth options, reach out today at 804-332-5950 or use the convenient online form.
