Why mental health practices need virtual care and world class support.

Have you ever thought about how much time you spend online each week? How often you nervously scroll through your feed, or aimlessly look at your screen after an awkward social interaction.  When there’s a ripple in your day, what’s the first thing you do? Text a friend or Facetime someone close? Over the last decade, technology has become such an integrated part of our lives, far beyond what we originally expected. That piece of glass and metal that we so carefully carry in our pockets marks our digital footprint in a changing ecosystem.  With access to friends and family, delicious meals, quick transportation, instant exercise lessons, and an abundance of knowledge.  It seems we can have it all at our fingertips; living better one might say.  So with all this advancement, why is it when one needs a hand mentally, texting a friend or scrolling through Twitter seems the easiest.  Well providers, let me explain why and how you can help change this by adopting virtual care into your practice.

You see, when one craves a stone baked pizza there’s an app for that.  Need a ride after a night out, well there’s also an app for that.  In crisis and need to text a registered therapist?  Well that app is a little harder to find, and it doesn’t have to be.  As a mental health provider you hold the keys to an untapped demographic eager for easy access to online professional care. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us even more how much we rely on technology, but with what seems like such an advancement in most areas is not the case for most practices. For many the picture that comes to mind for seeing a therapist is a grey room with a comfy couch or chair, and a box of tissues. It’s in person, it’s an inconvenience to commute, and frankly not well integrated into most people’s day. Video killed the radio star, COVID-19 and technology have definitely reshaped how we think about health care.

With the power of a platform like OnCall Health, practices now have the ability to build and scale their own virtual care platform.  This virtual care solution gives mental health practices the ability to directly tap into that demographic, revolutionizing the way in which people can seek help.  For example, imagine taking your practice out of that boring office and into the app store.  You’re now a program that lives on someone’s phone!  Immediate care goes from driving down to an appointment, to sending a quick message and setting up a video call. It’s a proven fact, your clients are more likely to open an app on their phone than pick up the phone to schedule an appointment during a time of need. Robust virtual care opens up a wealth of opportunity, and with a PIPEDA /PHI compliant and verified platform like OnCall transitioning your practice is a breeze. 

One of the biggest reasons most practices hesitate to implement a virtual component to their practice, is a fear of not being successful with technology. It’s a very valid concern, and is the reason why having a world class customer experience and support team becomes vital. Here at OnCall, we offer 24/7 technical support for both patients and providers. Yes, patients as well! The reason being, we very much want your practice to succeed in revolutionizing the way we receive mental health care. Furthermore, we understand first hand the challenges experienced at both ends of the call. Our team is trained to work with clients in crisis, enabling them for success in accessing care. We take an empathetic approach to each interaction and pride our customer’s success on the strength of our support team. More on that here.

To conclude, I invite you to watch the following recorded webinar; A conversation with OnCall Health and Shane Saltzman, CEO, Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centers, highlights how OnCall empowered Shane and his team to launch a virtual-only addiction program. Shane will review key insights and learnings from the launch process, and discuss how like-minded healthcare leaders can leverage OnCall's best-in-class solution to launch their own successful virtual care programs.

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It’s an insightful conversation, and really highlights first hand how mental health especially is in dire need of virtual adoption. That being said, if you are a mental health care provider, clinic owner and operator, or a solo practitioner I invite you to chat with us and further explore the benefits of virtual care. The keys to a large online demographic are in your hands!  

View OnCall's Virtual Care Solutions 🩺