Upon reflection of recent statistics, I got to thinking about the shifting landscape of treatment.  I urge you to consider these statistics:

• 20-30% of global population has behavioral health issues each year

• 2/3 of people with behavioral health issues receive no type of treatment

• “Under” treatment occurs even in the richest countries in USA 67% receive no treatment

Combine that with the uptick of telehealth resources and it really gets one to thinking.  Again I ask you to consider these statements presented by Julius Schillinger at the California Purchasers Healthcare Coalition meeting:

• Access– consumers increasingly want on-demand care; high risk, remote patients need frequent assessments, advice

• Convergence – between technology & Healthcare.  Encryption, video & cloud computing advances enable new possibilities for HIPAA compliant distance counseling

• Scarcity of Doctors–90,000 Physician shortage by 2025.  Adoption by Insurers embracing telehealth. Anthem, nation’s 2nd largest insurer, offering telehealth visits with no copay to Medicare Advantage members in 12 states (NY, CA)

• Demographics – by 2020, Millennials—the 1st generation to have grown up in the “digital age” will comprise 46% of all U.S.  Workers. Boomers want personalization, convenience

• Solving the Unsolvable – massive computing power, scientific breakthroughs are driving “prevention” as a cure

He further reported that there are more than seven thousand startups around the world developing solutions in digital health.  WOW!

Is anyone else feeling “behind the curve” about these issues?  Are most of us thinking about digital solutions for ourselves personally, and for those of us in behavioral healthcare, for our professional lives?

I often have wondered how our clients feel about this issue.  Are they concerned that their providers will move to a “boutique” practice?  Or that we will only provide Telemental health services?  Maybe it is time we asked…….

“Pretend I asked, now answer the question…” – Laurell K. Hamilton