Through the use of special equipment that connects patients in rural and underserved areas with health care providers in other locations, telemedicine increases access to primary and behavioral health in areas where such services are unavailable.
Currently, the Division oversees the establishment and administration of a statewide telepsychiatry program that allows referring sites to use consulting providers at a remote site to provide timely psychiatric assessment and rapid treatment for patients who are experiencing an acute mental health or substance abuse crisis. A long-term objective of this effort is to create a sustainable telepsychiatry program throughout the state.