As a medical specialty dating back to the early 1800s, psychiatry has played a critical role in helping people manage, understand, and treat a wide range of mental health issues.
While mental health has historically been stigmatized, psychiatric treatment has moved more into the mainstream today with Americans feeling more comfortable talking with professionals, friends, and family about their mental challenges.
In addition, prescription medications continue to play a major role in psychiatric care. From antidepressants to anti-anxiety to mood stabilizers, there’s a wide range of medications that psychiatrists prescribe on a daily basis to patients.
According to the CDC, almost 16 percent of Americans took prescription medication for their mental health in 2019, and nearly 47 million Americans experienced mental illness in 2017¹. COVID-19 has also put a spotlight on the value of psychiatric care, during a very challenging time. During the peak of the pandemic in 2020, approximately 4 in 10 U.S. adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder, up from 1 in 10 adults in 2019.²
With the pandemic not fully behind us yet, psychiatry and the prescribing of critical medications will still be in the forefront.
In order to safely and effectively manage patient prescriptions and reduce human error, ePrescribing in the psychiatry arena is proving to be more valuable than ever. For example, the American Psychiatry Association (APA) offers a number of resources to help practicing psychiatrists start their ePrescribing journey.³
Soon, psychiatrists in the United States must also use Electronic Prescribing of Controlled Substance (EPCS) technology when prescribing controlled substances, including psychiatric medications, to Medicare patients.
Fortunately, Juno RxTracker can meet these needs. It is easy to use, effective and does not require massive IT investments or technical capabilities. Juno RxTracker can also be used as a stand-alone solution that does not require an EHR – while also meeting new EPCS requirements. Our dedicated Onboarding Specialists can get you up and running in three easy steps with the highest level of confidence.
As mental care continues to become more mainstream, and the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lives on, the ability to safely prescribe psychiatric medications will be vitally important.
Sources:
- Mental Health Treatment Among Adults: United States, 2019
- The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use
- APA ePrescribing Resources
