Clinician Corner: Meet Dr. Isabel Norian, MD

Iris clinicians are at the heart of what makes our organization such a special place to work. That’s why we’re turning the spotlight on the amazing work they’re doing every day. This week we’re sitting down to talk with Dr. Isabel Norian.

Q: How did you find Iris and decide you wanted to be an Iris provider?

A: At the time, I was working in outpatient psychiatry at a community mental health center. It was a very fulfilling job, but I had a growing family with four kids, a husband, and pets. I was dissatisfied with the back and forth between the clinic and the really late nights. There were times I felt my work-life balance was out of kilter. That’s when I decided I wanted to look into telepsychiatry.

I started researching different telepsychiatry companies and was quickly impressed with Iris. I had other leads, but I found Iris to be the most responsive, welcoming, and clear in its mission. As soon as I had my first meet and greet, I felt like I belonged. I wouldn’t dream of working with any other company than Iris.

Q: What does a typical day as an Iris Telehealth provider look like for you?

A: I work at a community mental health center with patients affected by intellectual and developmental disabilities and patients on the autism spectrum. My typical day includes protected time for administrative work, seeing patients, and collaboration with the clinical staff. I often see them for consultations, and they call me if they have a question or a complex issue.

I’m also a big fan of our protected time for staff meetings. While the meetings don’t happen often, they’re a huge part of my job satisfaction. We talk about cases, bounce things off each other, and connect. It’s really therapeutic. Even though I’m not on-site, it gives me a real sense of community and that I’m a part of the clinical team. Our clinic works really well with Iris, so that’s a great feeling. I really lucked out in a lot of ways.

Q: What do you love about being a telepsychiatry provider?

A: Everything. I feel like I got my personal and family life back. My family and I love that I’m not commuting. Without all the transitions, I can end work one moment and be out the door to pick up my kids the next. Transitions can be quicker, and for a working mom, that’s priceless.

By working in my home, I can look at the screen and be present for the moments when my patients need me. I’m able to tune out the rest of the world, and that’s serene. It’s almost meditative at times, and it really helps me focus.

I also feel less tethered to a system I am frustrated with, which is my experience in previous jobs. Now, I’m partnered with a company that I chose and who chose me. I pursued them voluntarily and intentionally because they presented synchronous values.

Then, I was matched with a clinic that I feel very fulfilled by and that is very receptive to my needs and aspirations. It is a great balance. I feel more in control than I have in any other work situation. I think that’s empowering.

Q: How do you foster connection with patients virtually?

A: Creating connections has come naturally. I act as if I’m in the room with the patient, which informs how I ask questions, make eye contact, present myself physically, and relate to them through the screen. My job is to make patients feel comfortable and with a little bit of practice, you quickly forget the screen is there.

However, when my patients seem unsure, I try to provide education and reassurance. I also remind families that they have options. Where I work, we have one or two on-site providers at any given time. I let patients know that if telepsychiatry isn’t something they’re ready for or if it isn’t something that’s a good fit, there are other ways they can be seen.

I’ve found that if I’m providing education, reassurance, and reminding people of their options, it’s enough to dissolve the uncertainty. When people feel they have choices, they typically navigate towards something that works.

Sometimes I’ll check in at the end and ask, “How is this for you?” I’ll ask them, “What might I do differently?” “I welcome you to always tell me what I can do differently to help make this work better.”

Q: As a healthcare professional, how do you manage work-life balance?

A: Boundaries are important when you work from home. I’ve learned that I have to close the door, even when I’m home alone, to provide a sense that I’m at the office. When the workday is done, I close the door and say, “Now the office is closed.” I even have a little sign on my door that says, “out of office” and “in a meeting.”

It’s also important to take advantage of the flexibility that telehealth provides. I would recommend using that flexibility to build in movement breaks throughout the day and stretch. Along with this, I’d say do something different or something that you enjoy. For me, it’s dance. When I’m not dancing, I’m not taking care of myself.

I’ve also found it’s helpful to spend time with my family without devices. Since devices have become such a significant part of my work, I’ve found that it’s imperative not to be staring at a screen when I’m not working.

Q: What are your biggest learnings from your time at Iris?

A: I’ve learned that it’s not only okay but also good and healthy to delegate. There’s an impulse to fix things when working in broken systems, and I’m a fixer. When systems weren’t working, I tried to fix things independently. Whether it was the computer, EHR, staff support, or the lack of resources for people with mental illness — I would work harder, not smarter, to compensate for breaks in the system. That’s why I was relieved when I found Iris. Iris is so well-resourced and well-prepared to address all the hiccups and challenges that come with the daily work in mental health.

I have many experts to lean on, whether it’s IT, HR, or my clinic liaison. This support gives me the freedom to focus on patient care. I have the structure to succeed, and I’m learning to let experienced, talented, dedicated people help me be more effective.

Q: Why do you think telepsychiatry is important to the future of mental healthcare?

A: I think access to care is one of the biggest mental health crises that exists. It’s not that there aren’t talented providers or a lack of students ready to become psychiatrists — it’s that there’s a disconnect between resources and people who need those resources.

Telepsychiatry provides access to care that is unparalleled. As a telepsychiatrist, you get to see people from their home, group home, or foster care system. So for me, telepsychiatry is the connection, and it is the future of mental healthcare.

At Iris, our providers help create a better world through healthy minds. Thank you, Dr. Norian for helping us further our mission through your incredible work. If you’d like to learn more about working for Iris Telehealth, contact us today.

6 Qualities to Look for in a Telepsychiatry Provider

If you’re looking to hire a telepsychiatry provider but don’t know where to begin, we’ve got you covered. At Iris Telehealth, we’ve learned how to identify the qualities that make (and don’t make) a great telepsychiatry provider.

Whether you’re optimizing your behavioral health program or bringing in someone to help with the growing demand for high-quality mental healthcare, there are key considerations and questions you should be asking.

Before you post the job description

Getting started requires a deep understanding of your existing clinical workflows and how a telepsychiatry provider will integrate into your clinical team. By identifying potential roadblocks, you’ll be better prepared for future issues that, inevitably, will arise.

Key questions to consider before starting the hiring process:

Location

  • Will your telepsychiatry provider be completely remote, or will they occasionally come on-site? Location is a key consideration as it can affect workflows, clinical organization, and recruiting efforts.

Integration

  • How will your existing clinic workflows develop to include a telepsychiatry provider?
  • How will the patient’s experience change?
  • How will your current staff’s roles and responsibilities change?

Communication

  • How will you ensure open communication between your telepsychiatry team and your existing care team?
  • Will your telepsychiatry provider join regular care team meetings?
  • Will you set up a daily/weekly huddle with your on-site team and your telepsychiatry provider?

Training

  • Will you provide training for everyone to learn telepsychiatry workflow?
  • Who will develop and deliver this training?

Taking the time to consider these questions will help you find the right provider for your organization.

What makes a great telepsychiatry provider?

It’s important to note that not every excellent doctor is a fantastic telepsychiatry provider. We’ve learned it takes a strong and unique skillset to make a superb telepsychiatry provider.

Here are six key components that make up a great telepsychiatry provider:

They believe in patient-centered care. This belief can be said for any provider, right? Regardless of medical specialty or whether they’re on-site or remote, it is imperative. This approach to care is one of the most critical factors to ensure patient satisfaction and high-quality care. That’s why it’s essential to take the time to identify providers who put their patients first – but you don’t have to do it alone. At Iris, we provide a thoughtful job matching process that ensures every organization is matched with a high-quality provider who shares their values.

A team mindset is central to their work. It’s easy for remote employees to feel like they are a “team of one,” so it’s vital to foster a sense of inclusion between remote providers and on-site teams. Providers with a team-focused mindset tend to integrate well into existing clinical care teams and feel like they are genuinely a part of the team, no matter the physical distance. We all know it takes a village to care for our communities, and the better we work together, the better the outcome for our patients.

They’re self-motivated. It’s much easier to be held accountable when you’re surrounded by colleagues than it is when you’re potentially 3,000 miles away from them. Telepsychiatry doctors need to be self-motivated go-getters who can hold themselves accountable in their work. When it comes to having remote employees, there’s a level of trust that needs to be reached. That’s why at Iris we ensure organizations are set up to succeed, matching them with thoroughly vetted providers who become an indispensable part of the team.

They’re tech-savvy or willing to learn how to be tech-savvy. Telepsychiatry providers do best when they have an intermediate level of comfort with technology (and we’re lucky enough to have an IT team available to our providers 24/7). You want the technology to fade into the background during the patient’s experience.

They have a willingness to ask for help. Our providers are incredibly knowledgeable, but they also know when to ask for help. We’ve found that this is an important quality as you scale your team and continue to improve your program. Providers who don’t know how or when to ask for help may find themselves overburdened or stuck with an issue for days, especially since they can’t just walk down the hall for support. Instead, those willing to ask for help will increase productivity, improve quality of care, and foster a sense of camaraderie with on-site teams.

Independence is a part of their success. Your telepsychiatry providers will be interacting with patients all day, but they need to be independent workers. They’ll likely be in a home office, and independence is essential for anyone working from home. Their independence will help them remain motivated, but it is also just a good quality for anyone who will be alone for much of their job.

If you find a provider who encapsulates these characteristics, you and your organization will surely be set up for success.

How we know what works

Iris Telehealth is a telepsychiatry organization made up of only the highest quality behavioral health providers. We partner with health systems and clinics nationwide to bring mental healthcare to the communities that need it most.

We employ more than 200 psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who are truly integrated as part of our team. We have a comprehensive and rigorous vetting process, and our tried and true method has given us the opportunity to work with the best in the business. Our partners and their patients also report a 97% average patient satisfaction rate with our services. With over 1.5 million patient encounters, we’ve found that our patients can seamlessly build relationships with their providers, even in a virtual environment.

If you need help finding the perfect match for your organization, contact us today.

3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Implementing Telepsychiatry

There’s a lot to consider when implementing telepsychiatry into your health system, but first, let’s explore what telepsychiatry really is.

Telepsychiatry delivers psychiatric assessment and care via telecommunications technology, typically video conferencing. This solution equips health systems across the nation with the tools to provide high-quality, accessible, and affordable mental healthcare to their patients. This approach has never been more critical as the demand for mental healthcare in the United States grows.

Telepsychiatry is transforming the way care is delivered. This solution allows hospitals and clinics in rural and underserved areas to recruit excellent providers and improve patient care while reducing and maintaining costs. So, where do healthcare organizations begin? It starts by asking three simple questions.

1. Why telepsychiatry?

Before you begin, determine why you need a telepsychiatry solution. Are you looking to add, maintain or grow psychiatric services? This answer will help you navigate to the right solution. A few things to consider:

  • Do you have psychiatrists but need a few more people to help with the patient load?
  • Is your health clinic located in a remote area where it’s hard to recruit or retain doctors?

Knowing whether your organization will use telepsychiatry to supplement in-person care or as the main vehicle to care is critical to determining your plan moving forward.

Next, determine which method will work best for your setting.

1. Are you planning to supplement current on-site psychiatric providers with a telepsychiatry provider? If so, you’ll need to determine how their workflows will mirror each other. You will also need to develop best practices for your care team’s communication.

2. Are you planning to exclusively use telepsychiatry in your organization? If so, then your on-site staff will need to be prepared to make small changes to the current workflow in order to integrate the remote provider and ensure your program is successful.

We have seen both approaches work successfully in various settings. Knowing which one you plan to use ahead of time is crucial.

2. What technology will you use to deliver telepsychiatry?

Take an assessment of any existing hardware and software that you can use for your telepsychiatry program. Regardless of your starting point, it doesn’t need to be complicated or require a significant up-front investment. Often, people already have equipment that can be repurposed for telepsychiatry, which often reduces the early fees of getting started. As far as software goes, telepsychiatrists will typically document into your existing EMR and use simple video conferencing platforms, like Skype for Business.

Even if you don’t have much equipment – or any equipment at all – startup fees are typically minimal. All you really need is a laptop with a high-quality camera and microphone, but knowing what you already have, and what you need, helps get the ball rolling.

3. How will you build your telepsychiatry program?

Once you’ve determined the “why” behind investing in telepsychiatry and have taken a scan of existing equipment that will help get you started, it’s time to figure out how you will build out your telepsychiatry program.

Key considerations

  • Will you keep your telepsychiatry program in-house?
  • Will you work with a telepsychiatry provider vendor?
  • Will you partner with a telepsychiatry provider services organization?
  • Do you have the know-how, equipment, and people to start a telepsychiatry department on your own?
  • Would you like the support, expertise, and assistance of an experienced telepsychiatry provider partner?

Many groups have the resources and infrastructure to start in-house telepsychiatry on their own. For other organizations, that’s simply not a desire, or even a reality. Picking a partner you can trust is essential. After all, they will be working with your patients and your staff. You want a partner that is a leading industry expert with the experience to be a true consultant, working alongside you every step of the way to develop and deliver a custom telepsychiatry solution.

Iris Telehealth has helped countless healthcare organizations across the country deliver high-quality, specialty care to their patients. If you’d like to learn more about how Iris can help implement a telepsychiatry solution at your organization, you can talk to an expert today.