Telepsychiatry: addressing mental health needs in Georgia.
Creation of a comprehensive mental health telecommunications system to serve isolated persons in Georgia, resulting in a more equitable distribution of mental health resources, is the goal of the telepsychiatry program at the Medical College of Georgia. Although telepsychiatric consultation is not a new idea, the "distribution" of telepsychiatry through additional integrated telecommunications channels such as the World Wide Web is a distinctive approach. This report describes the history of the development of the MCG Telepsychiatry Program. Through the use of a multichanneled telecommunications system, a more equitable distribution of mental health resources is underway in Georgia.
Vought
R G
RG
Telemedicine Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30912, USA. rvought@mail.meg.edu
Grigsby
R K
RK
Adams
L N
LN
Shevitz
S A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016730:Program Development; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D013685:Telecommunications; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends