--- title: "Telemedicine and Depression: A Possible Link - GlobalMed" description: Telemedicine and depression; experts agree that work-life balance is important for physicians to avoid depression, even those who see patients remotely. image: https://46259505.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mentalHealthBlog.png --- [Arizona Telemedicine Program](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/arizona-telemedicine-program) [ATP](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/atp) [Public Policy](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/public-policy) [globalmed](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/globalmed) [intensivist](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/intensivist) [Banner Health](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/banner-health) [depression](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/depression) [Demaerschalk](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/demaerschalk) [ICU](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/icu) [General Interest](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/tag/general-interest) # Telemedicine and Depression: A Possible Link [ GlobalMed ](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/author/globalmed) 20 January, 2017 ![](https://46259505.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mentalHealthBlog.png) ## Experts agree that work-life balance is important for physicians to avoid depression. When it comes to stress, healthcare professionals used to find their medical school studies and post-graduate training especially trying because of the hours demanded. A study in the ***[Annals of ](http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=742530)[Internal Medicine](http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=742530)*** found that nearly 50 percent of students experienced burnout among the more than 2,000 medical student respondents across seven schools. Thanks to an **[update](http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/physicians-and-burnout-its-getting-worse/)** of a three-year study evaluating burnout and work-life balance, it seems American physicians may be worse off today than just three years ago. Burn-out has increased among physicians in all specialties. That includes doctors involved in telemedicine, who must deal with work-related stress, isolation, and EHRs. During a panel discussion at an [Arizona Telemedicine Program](http://telemedicine.arizona.edu/) last week, [Bart ](http://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/demaerschalk-bart-m-m-d/bio-20053331)[Demaerschalk, MD, MSc, FRCP(C)](http://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/demaerschalk-bart-m-m-d/bio-20053331), touched on the topic of [isolation ](http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/isolation)[depression](http://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/isolation). It came up when moderator [Ronald ](http://pathology.arizona.edu/profile/ronald-s-weinstein-md-fcap-fata)[Weinstein, MD](http://pathology.arizona.edu/profile/ronald-s-weinstein-md-fcap-fata) asked panelists to discuss the recruitment of telemedicine physicians for their programs. Demaerschalk, who is Professor of Neurology and Medical Director, Telemedicine, for the **[Mayo ](http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/connected-care-2/)[Center for Connected Care](http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/connected-care-2/)**, said that Mayo is devising and structuring its clinical programs so providers can engage in telemedicine practice without neglecting their face-to-face practice. To be a superb telemedicine doctor, one must be a superb face-to-face doctor, Demaerschalk said in a follow-up email. **Preventing Depression in Telemedicine Providers** Social isolation and loneliness are risk factors for the onset of major depression. Doctors who spend their professional work day seeing patients remotely via telemedicine can be closeted in a room by themselves, staring at several monitors for hours on end. The physical detachment from other people for an extended time can take its toll. Demaerschalk noted some Mayo providers experienced this while developing telestroke programs in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Today Mayo has designed clinical practice initiatives that help clinicians achieve balance in their professional duties and prevent professional isolation and burn-out. Another suggestion came from **[Hargobind ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hargobind-khurana-a7446429)[S. Khurana, MD](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hargobind-khurana-a7446429)**, Senior Medical Director for Health Management at **[Banner ](https://www.bannerhealth.com/services/intensive-care)[Health](https://www.bannerhealth.com/services/intensive-care)**. He oversees the largest tele-ICU program in the country, covering 550 beds in 28 hospitals. One doctor is on duty during the day, but at night five physicians and two nurse practitioners monitor the ICUs. These providers keep tabs on patients with video cameras and answer requests for help, proactively managing care when the situation requires it. Because they work with a larger team, Khurana said it was much less isolating compared to a telestroke provider working alone at home. Khurana also noted that working too many busy shifts in a row can also be difficult, for both in-person care and virtual care. As with so many other aspects of maintaining a healthy provider workstyle, a good telemedicine practice will need to involve consistent work-life balance. Previous Post ###### [5 Lessons From Successful Telemedicine Deployments](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/5-lessons-successful-telemedicine-deployments) Next Post ###### [Telemedicine, Medicare and Moral Obligations](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/better-healthcare-cost-savings) ### Similar Blog Posts [![](https://46259505.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Exploring-the-Cosmos-with-Telemedicine-featured-image.jpg?width=352&name=Exploring-the-Cosmos-with-Telemedicine-featured-image.jpg) ](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/exploring-the-cosmos-with-telemedicine) #### [Exploring the Cosmos with Telemedicine](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/exploring-the-cosmos-with-telemedicine) [![](https://46259505.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/PreviewVirtualHealthBlog.png?width=352&name=PreviewVirtualHealthBlog.png) ](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/will-telehealth-change-your-relationship-with-your-patients) #### [Will Telehealth Change Your Relationship with Your Patients?](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/will-telehealth-change-your-relationship-with-your-patients) [![](https://46259505.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Provider-Burnout_Preview.png?width=352&name=Provider-Burnout_Preview.png) ](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/solving-provider-burnout-with-virtual-health) #### [Solving Provider Burnout with Virtual Care Delivery](http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/solving-provider-burnout-with-virtual-health) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "GlobalMed", "url" : "http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/author/globalmed" }, "dateModified" : "2024-09-18T20:05:08.329Z", "datePublished" : "2017-01-20T10:30:33.000Z", "headline" : "Telemedicine and Depression: A Possible Link - GlobalMed", "image" : [ "https://46259505.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/mentalHealthBlog.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "http://46259505.hs-sites.com/blog/telemedicine-depression-possible-link", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://46259505.hs-sites.com/hubfs/logo-1.png" }, "name" : "GlobalMed Holdings LLC" } } ```