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
Ryan Haight Act: How New DEA Rules Could Impact Telepsychiatry (Part 4)
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Prescribing controlled substances through telepsychiatry requires more than knowing the law. It requires knowing how to evaluate risk, read what is happening on camera, and maintain the same clinical standard you would bring to an in-person visit.
In this episode of The Telepsychiatry Advantage—and part 3 of our Ryan Haight Act series—Dr. Edward Kaftarian explains why the screen does not lower the bar, especially when it comes to medications with safety risks, abuse potential, or diversion concerns.
The episode gets into what clinicians should be watching for during a video visit—signs of intoxication, withdrawal, sedation, cognitive slowing, inconsistent stories, early refill requests, and other red flags that may change how you prescribe or monitor. Dr. Kaftarian also discusses the role of PDMP checks, collateral information, drug screens, documentation, and functional outcomes when deciding whether a controlled medication is truly helping the patient.
For more information about Orbit Health, visit us at:
https://www.orbithealth.com/