Our Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic is a joint effort between Amy Morrison, PA-C, and her remote supervising physician.

Built on a Foundation of Collaboration

Amy excelled in a collaborative care setting and is profoundly appreciative of the personal investment her supervising physicians have made in her professional development. However, she also experienced the challenges of working in a large clinical practice. She noticed increasing healthcare costs and a shortage of psychiatrists often required clinicians to manage over 25 patients daily.  This high-volume, fast-paced approach, prioritized the number of patients seen over the quality of care provided. Moreover, the appointments were often brief, with limited time for patient-provider interaction. Patients noted feeling rushed and not fully heard or understood. Consequently, Amy observed the focus on efficiency and throughput, appeared to be at the expense of personalized care. She also recognized the stress this workload placed on herself and her colleagues. There were notable signs of burnout among the clinical staff.

The Origins of Morrison Clinic’s Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic

In 2017, Amy decided to shift away from the traditional business model of psychiatric clinics in Texas. According to data published in 2017 by the Texas Department of State Health Services Health Professions Resource Center, only 67% of patients in need of psychiatric care were able to access it. Recognizing this gap, Amy decided to shift away from the outdated practice model. This approach avoids the traditional model where a PA’s billing collections are divided into thirds among the PA, administrative expenses, and the onsite supervising MD. By doing so, she reduced costs. She also enhanced access to care for Texans. Morrison Clinic Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic provides online mental health care to residents of Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, Waco and throughout Texas.

Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic: Addressing Mental Health Needs Amidst the Psychiatrist Shortage in Texas

Due to the physician shortage, Texas laws have removed the on-site supervision requirement for PAs, reducing overhead costs. Amy aimed to further cut administrative expenses by implementing electronic medical records and practice management systems. These systems improved patient access to mental health care while maintaining quality. She also adapted her practice to better serve patients during and after the pandemic. Morrison Clinic is now a fully virtual Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic serving patients in Dallas, Houston, Austin, and throughout Texas.

Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic: Prioritizing Patient Connect over Patient Volume

By prioritizing quality over quantity, Amy believed she could offer superior psychiatric care, allowing more time to connect with each patient. Her goal is to deliver comprehensive, personalized, and detailed psychiatric care tailored to each individual. This is enhanced by the added benefit of a team approach and collaboration with her supervising medical doctor.

Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic: Physician Assistant and Medical Doctor Collaboration

Amy’s Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic services are governed by protocols set by her remote supervising physician, who is licensed in Texas. These protocols outline Amy’s scope of practice. Her supervising physician determined her scope of practice by considering Amy’s education, training, and clinical experience. Amy’s scope of practice specifies the medical tasks and services she is permitted to perform.

Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic: Continuous Supervision

Texas state laws mandate ongoing supervision, efficiently managed at Morrison Clinic via electronic medical records for remote review, countersigning, and chart note audits. Amy and her supervising physician hold regular meetings to collaborate. They also communicate continuously through portal messages, calls, virtual chats, emails, or texts.

Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic: Improving Patient Access to Care

Acting as an extension of her supervising physician, Amy practices within her scope of training and experience, enhancing patient access to care and reducing the caseload burden on Texas psychiatrists. Notably, Amy’s work caught the attention of Local Profile, which published an article by Linda Chism highlighting Morrison Clinic’s innovative practice model.

Plano Profile: Meet Amy Morrison, a pioneer in mental health medicine

Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic: Overcoming Board Complaints and Early Challenges at Morrison Clinic

Although Morrison Clinic received high praise from Linda and the Plano Profile, it faced challenges in its early years. A local psychiatrist in the Dallas area raised concerns about the practice setup, alleging that Amy was referring to herself as a physician. The Texas State Board of Medical Examiners dismissed this complaint, along with subsequent similar complaints. Amy is encouraged by the community’s growth, as both clinicians and patients have become more receptive to a collaborative approach that involves medical doctors, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners to address the mental health care needs of Texans.

At Our Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic We Recognize Your Time is Valuable.

 

We have embraced technology by moving away from the outdated pen-and-paper model of the 1980s. We’ve integrated electronic medical records, online psychological testing, and online lobby check-ins. As a result, this streamlines our workflow and maximizes data gathering. With this optimized system, clinicians can therefore focus on providing excellent and compassionate care. Moreover, Amy believes technology enhances healthcare efficiency. It gives her more time with each patient and more data for medical decisions. Furthermore, this extra time and pre-session data help her listen attentively and understand each client’s unique situation, thereby fostering strong relationships and better meeting their needs.

At Our Texas Telepsychiatry Clinic We Provide Fast and Reliable Access to Care

The Morrison Clinic’s online patient portal is specifically tailored to fit the busy schedules of our clients. It offers quick appointment scheduling and a secure messaging system. Our 24/7 online triage system and Prescription Processing Virtual Assistant help patients manage insurance, pharmacy needs, and access telepsychiatry and urgent care referrals. Additionally, the clinic’s online billing portal provides easy access to billing records and receipts. Our new patient intake and online psychiatric evaluation scheduling are fully online, allowing for flexibility beyond traditional telephone scheduling and business hours.

Have More Questions?

If you have any questions that aren’t addressed on our FAQ page, please feel free to email us at officeassistant@morrisonclinic.com. We will respond to your inquiry at the earliest opportunity.

Click here to learn more about Amy Morrison’s care philosophy.