The Telepsychiatry Advantage
The Telepsychiatry Advantage is a podcast for clinicians who want a clear, practical understanding of how telepsychiatry actually works. As more care moves online, the show breaks down the real considerations behind it—who it works for, where it doesn’t, how to handle risk, what regulations matter, and how to deliver care effectively through a screen. Each episode focuses on what you need to know to make better decisions and avoid common mistakes in a rapidly changing environment.
Your host is Dr. Edward Kaftarian, the founder of Orbit Health, the longest-running telepsychiatry company in the world. He received his psychiatry training at the renowned Johns Hopkins University and holds board certifications in Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Addiction Medicine.
The Telepsychiatry Advantage
Best Tips To Manage Crises In Telepsychiatry
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Managing a psychiatric crisis online is not the same as managing one in person. If a patient is manic, psychotic, intoxicated, or in danger of self-harm, good clinical instincts still matter—but they are not enough on their own.
he patient may be in another city. They may be in another state. They may hang up. Calling 911 may not send help to the right place. And in that moment, the clinician cannot afford to be thinking about what to do next.
That is why crisis care in telepsychiatry has to begin BEFORE the emergency itself. In this episode of The Telepsychiatry Advantage, Dr. Edward Kaftarian breaks down the pieces clinicians need in place ahead of time — patient location, emergency contacts, local response options, and a clear plan for what happens if the session escalates.
He also gets into the clinical side of the moment itself: recognizing when a routine appointment has turned urgent, assessing risk, and knowing when safety has to take priority.
It's an important episode with a lot of nuance so make sure you listen all the way through!
For more information about Orbit Health, visit us at:
https://www.orbithealth.com/