Experts say that telepsychiatry could help address a shortage of child psychiatrists in Michigan, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Medical experts estimate that there are only about 200 child psychiatrists in the state to treat the roughly 500,000 Michigan children who might need behavioral care.
Psychiatrists at Michigan State University and Mott Children's Health Center in Flint, Mich., already are using videoconferencing tools to remotely treat patients.
Lawrence Reynolds, CEO and president of Mott Children's Health Center, said he believes the technology could be successful in other areas with a shortage of child psychologists, such as Detroit.
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) has co-sponsored a bill that would increase funding and reimbursement to help health care providers expand telemedicine services (Satyanarayana, Detroit Free Press, 11/15).