(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Most patients and doctors now prefer virtual visits for mental health treatment, according to a recently published study from Advocate Aurora Health researchers.
Virtual visits were utilized heavily during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which lead to patients opting out of in-person visits and preferring virtual ones.
The study found that patients seeking virtual mental health care had significantly higher rates of attendance, a greater numbers of visits, and were more likely to complete treatments.
“With the need for mental health services substantially increasing, it’s vitally important that both patients and clinicians view virtual treatment as appealing and effective,” said the study’s lead author Mindy Waite, PhD, senior staff scientist for Advocate Aurora Research Institute and Advocate Aurora Behavioral Health Services.
“The superior attendance outcomes found in our analysis lend further credence to the idea that virtual visits are necessary for ensuring access to mental health care for our communities and potentially comparable to or better than in-person treatment.”
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