Abstract：
To identify potential barriers to care, this study examined the general psychiatry outpatient new appointment availability in the US, including in-person and telepsychiatry appointments, comparing results between insurance types (Medicaid vs. private insurance), states, and urbanization levels.
This mystery shopper study investigated 5 US states selected according to Mental Health America Adult Ranking and geography to represent the US mental health care system. Clinics across five selected states were stratified sampled by county urbanization levels. Calls were made during 05/2022-07/2022. Collected data included contact information accuracy, appointment availability, wait time (days), and related information.
Altogether, 948 psychiatrists were sampled in New York, California, North Dakota, Virginia, and Wyoming. Overall contact information accuracy averaged 85.3%. Altogether, 18.5% of psychiatrists were available to see new patients with a significantly longer wait time for in-person than telepsychiatry appointments (median = 67.0 days vs median = 43.0 days, p < 0.01). The most frequent reason for unavailability was provider not taking new patients (53.9%). Mental health resources were unevenly distributed, favoring urban areas.
Psychiatric care has been severely restricted in the US with low accessibility and long wait times. Transitioning to telepsychiatry represents a potential solution for rural disparities in access.
This mystery shopper study investigated 5 US states selected according to Mental Health America Adult Ranking and geography to represent the US mental health care system. Clinics across five selected states were stratified sampled by county urbanization levels. Calls were made during 05/2022-07/2022. Collected data included contact information accuracy, appointment availability, wait time (days), and related information.
Altogether, 948 psychiatrists were sampled in New York, California, North Dakota, Virginia, and Wyoming. Overall contact information accuracy averaged 85.3%. Altogether, 18.5% of psychiatrists were available to see new patients with a significantly longer wait time for in-person than telepsychiatry appointments (median = 67.0 days vs median = 43.0 days, p < 0.01). The most frequent reason for unavailability was provider not taking new patients (53.9%). Mental health resources were unevenly distributed, favoring urban areas.
Psychiatric care has been severely restricted in the US with low accessibility and long wait times. Transitioning to telepsychiatry represents a potential solution for rural disparities in access.
摘要：
目的：确定潜在的护理障碍，这项研究调查了美国普通精神病学门诊新预约的可用性，包括面对面和心灵感应预约，比较保险类型之间的结果(医疗补助与私人保险)，states,和城市化水平。
方法：这项神秘购物者研究调查了根据美国心理健康成人排名和地理位置选择的5个州，以代表美国的精神卫生保健系统。按县级城市化水平对五个选定州的诊所进行了分层抽样。在05/2022-07/2022期间拨打了电话。收集的数据包括联系信息的准确性，预约可用性,等待时间(天),和相关信息。
结果：总之，在纽约对948名精神病医生进行了采样，加州,北达科他州,弗吉尼亚,还有怀俄明州.总体联系信息准确率平均为85.3%。总之,18.5％的精神科医生可以看到新患者的等待时间明显长于心灵感应的预约（中位数=67.0天，中位数=43.0天，p<0.01)。无法使用的最常见原因是提供者没有接受新患者（53.9％）。精神卫生资源分布不均,有利于城市地区。
结论：在美国，精神病护理受到严格限制，可及性低，等待时间长。过渡到心灵感应是解决农村获取差距的潜在解决方案。
方法：这项神秘购物者研究调查了根据美国心理健康成人排名和地理位置选择的5个州，以代表美国的精神卫生保健系统。按县级城市化水平对五个选定州的诊所进行了分层抽样。在05/2022-07/2022期间拨打了电话。收集的数据包括联系信息的准确性，预约可用性,等待时间(天),和相关信息。
结果：总之，在纽约对948名精神病医生进行了采样，加州,北达科他州,弗吉尼亚,还有怀俄明州.总体联系信息准确率平均为85.3%。总之,18.5％的精神科医生可以看到新患者的等待时间明显长于心灵感应的预约（中位数=67.0天，中位数=43.0天，p<0.01)。无法使用的最常见原因是提供者没有接受新患者（53.9％）。精神卫生资源分布不均,有利于城市地区。
结论：在美国，精神病护理受到严格限制，可及性低，等待时间长。过渡到心灵感应是解决农村获取差距的潜在解决方案。
