The Telepsychiatry Advantage

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/

The entire telemedicine industry has one date on its mind: December 31, 2026. That’s when the current telemedicine prescribing flexibilities are set to expire, creating what many in the field now call the “telemedicine cliff.”These flexibilities were created during the pandemic and allowed many clinicians to prescribe controlled substances remotely without an initial in-person visit. If they expire without a clear replacement, patients could lose access to medications overnight. The telepsychiatry industry can and will change depending on what the government decides to do next. In part two of our Ryan Haight Act series, Dr. Edward Kaftarian explains what’s going on, tries to read the “tea leaves” the DEA is leaving, and walks through what psychiatrists should be thinking about before the deadline arrives.For more information about Orbit Health, visit us at:https://www.orbithealth.com/

The Ryan Haight Act is one of the most important laws in modern telepsychiatry, especially when it comes to prescribing controlled substances remotely. Nearly every conversation around telemedicine care eventually leads back to this legislation and the events that led to its creation.The law emerged during a chaotic period in the early internet era, when rogue online pharmacies were distributing highly addictive medications with almost no real medical oversight. What followed was a tragedy that changed telemedicine forever and led regulators to fundamentally reshape how controlled substances could be prescribed remotely.In part one of this special four-part series, Dr. Edward Kaftarian recounts the story that led to the Ryan Haight Act. He also gets into what the law actually does, including the baseline in-person requirement and the seven telemedicine exceptions written into it.For more information about Orbit Health, visit us at:https://www.orbithealth.com/

AI is one of the biggest conversations happening in the world right now, and healthcare is no exception. Some clinicians are excited about what AI could make possible. Others are understandably worried about what it could mean for the future of the profession and the doctor-patient relationship.First things first: we don’t think AI is here to take the job of psychiatrists. We think the opposite. Used correctly, AI can improve the way psychiatrists work and give clinicians more time to focus on patients directly.In this episode of The Telepsychiatry Advantage, Dr. Edward Kaftarian explains three practical ways AI is already beginning to improve telepsychiatry — from reducing documentation overload to freeing up time.Here at Orbit Health, we offer some AI tools to our clinicians. To learn more about what we do, visit us at: https://www.orbithealth.com/

Telepsychiatry with children and adolescents comes with a different set of challenges. Younger patients may be distracted, restless, reluctant to talk, or more interested in what’s happening around them than what’s happening on screen. But with the right approach, those challenges can become opportunities.In this episode of The Telepsychiatry Advantage, Dr. Edward Kaftarian talks about how to connect with younger patients virtually by meeting them where they are. That might mean using their interests to start a conversation, letting them introduce a pet, using games or whiteboard tools, building in movement, or working with parents to keep the session grounded without making it feel forced. This episode is packed with examples that Dr. Kaftarian has seen work firsthand. He also explains how the home environment can give clinicians information they may never get in an office — from family dynamics and background noise to the child’s room, routines, privacy, and attention patterns.Yes, treating children and adolescents online comes with unique challenges, but it is NOT harder when psychiatrists are prepared. With the right approach, telepsychiatry can be really effective with younger patients. That's what this episode is all about!For more information about Orbit Health, visit us at:https://www.orbithealth.com/

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/

First impressions in telepsychiatry aren’t made when you start speaking—they’re made the moment your video turns on. And for many clinicians, that first impression is working against them.In this episode of The Telepsychiatry Advantage, Dr. Edward Kaftarian breaks down how your virtual setup shapes patient trust before a single word is spoken. Poor lighting that hides your expressions, camera angles that feel disengaged or even condescending, and audio issues that hurt interpretation—these small mistakes quietly erode rapport and impact the entire session.This episode walks through how to fix those problems from the jump so your setup supports the interaction instead of undermining it. Dr. Kaftarian shares his best tips and recommendations on camera, lighting, audio, and more! For more information about Orbit Health, visit us at:https://www.orbithealth.com/

Telepsychiatry isn't just a "nice to have" alternative anymore—for many patients, it’s becoming the default.The field is seeing more patients, more clinicians, and more sessions. The issue is that information on how to actually deliver high-quality care using telepsychiatry has NOT kept up. Many clinicians are still relying on outdated practices, which frankly, don't work as well as they could. That's why I've created The Telepsychiatry Advantage! A podcast where I'll be sharing EVERYTHING I've learned about this industry over my career—no gatekeeping here. I’ll be pulling the most up-to-date research with real-world experience to break down what actually works in practice and, just as importantly, what doesn’t.This is our debut episode, but we'll be here every week with new content. Be sure to subscribe so you can stay up to speed with best practices, avoid common issues, and stay sharp as the field continues to evolve!