Mental health has gained much-needed visibility in recent years. But for those seeking care, one common question arises: What’s the difference between psychology and psychiatry? Understanding these two fields is essential for anyone navigating the mental health system. While both psychologists and psychiatrists aim to improve mental well-being, their approaches, education, and tools differ significantly. In this blog, we’ll explore these distinctions and highlight how healthcare technology plays a unique role in improving mental health.
What Is Psychology?
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychologists focus on understanding thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to help individuals navigate challenges, develop healthy coping strategies, and improve their overall mental health. They often work through talk therapy modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Group Therapy, psychoanalysis, or mindfulness practices.
Psychologists aren’t medical doctors; instead, they hold either a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). Their deep expertise lies in assessing and diagnosing psychological disorders and providing evidence-based interventions. Whether you’re dealing with stress or anxiety or seeking personal growth, psychologists can help you uncover patterns in your thoughts and behaviors and guide you toward lasting change.
What Is Psychiatry?
Psychiatry, on the other hand, is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs or DOs) who are uniquely qualified to prescribe medications and provide medical interventions. They focus not only on the psychological aspects of mental health but also on the biological and physiological factors that may be at play.
In their clinical practice, psychiatrists often use a combination of medication management and psychotherapy to treat conditions like bipolar disorder, clinical depression, schizophrenia, and more. Their training involves significant time spent understanding both mental and physical health, ensuring they can address the complexities of mental health disorders across a spectrum of needs
Psychologists and Psychiatrists Have Different EHR Needs
Mental health professionals rely on tools like electronic health records (EHRs) to effectively provide care. However, psychologists' and psychiatrists' needs in terms of EHR functionality differ based on the nature of their work.
What Is an EHR?
An EHR (Electronic Health Record) is a system used by healthcare professionals to store, manage, and update patients’ medical records. For psychologists and psychiatrists, the right EHR can streamline workflows, reduce administrative burdens, and improve the quality of care.
EHR Needs for Psychologists
Psychologists’ work often centers around documenting detailed therapy sessions and tracking patients’ mental health progress over time. Their EHR system would need:
- Extensive Note-Taking Tools: Features to record subjective insights, therapy notes, and behavior assessments.
- Recurring Appointment Scheduling: Tools for organizing regular, ongoing therapy sessions.
- Progress Tracking: Ability to review patients’ progress through customizable reports and therapy treatment plans.
- Minimal Emphasis on Medication Management: Psychologists rarely prescribe medications, so this functionality is less critical for their workflow.
- Customization: State-specific forms and personalization helps psychologists save time and focus more on client care instead of doing administrative work.
EHR Needs for Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists frequently integrate biological and medical treatments into their patient care. As such, their EHR system should include:
- Medication Management: Tools for tracking prescriptions, medication interactions, and dosages.
- Integration with Diagnostics: Options to access lab results, imaging reports, and other patient health data for a more comprehensive treatment plan.
- Quick Medical History Access: To account for medical factors contributing to mental health conditions.
- Streamlined Communication with Pharmacies: Ensuring fast and accurate fulfillment of prescriptions.
Why EHR Customization Matters for Mental Health Professionals
For both psychologists and psychiatrists, an EHR tailored to their specific roles can save time and improve patient outcomes. Mental health-specific EHRs that address these distinct needs are critical in ensuring that both professionals can focus on what matters most—helping their patients.
Questions to ask when shopping for a Psychiatry or Psychology EHR
Will this EHR vendor customize their product to fit my practice?
Customization is often a key feature offered by EHR vendors. The best vendors will tailor their software to your practice's specific workflows, specialties, and needs. Customization might include adjusting custom forms, integrating with other systems, or modifying processes to fit unique requirements. As your practice grows, choosing an EHR with scalability to handle your present and future needs is more important than ever. It's important to ask the vendor about their flexibility and ensure they can accommodate your practice's operational goals effectively.
What kind of training does this EHR vendor provide when transitioning to their system?
Most reputable EHR vendors offer robust training programs to ensure a smooth transition for your staff. Be sure to consider an EHR that has: - On-site training: In-person support during initial implementation.
- eLearning Management System: Interactive online training to help the onboarding process
- Virtual training: Webinars, video tutorials, or virtual meetings for convenience.
- Ongoing educational resources: User guides, FAQs, and refresher courses as needed.
Do I need an ONC-certified EHR?
Yes, in most cases, it is highly beneficial to choose an ONC-certified EHR. Certification from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) ensures that the EHR meets government standards for functionality, security, and interoperability. ONC-certified EHRs are also necessary to participate in certain incentive programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Programs, which offer financial benefits for improving patient care with certified systems.
What kind of support does this EHR vendor offer?
EHR vendors typically provide a range of support options, including:- Technical support: Assistance with software issues, often available via phone or email.
- Account Management: Assistance with billing, licensing, renewals, and potential add-ons
- Updates and maintenance: Regular system updates and bug fixes.
How does the EHR vendor protect patient data?
Patient data security is critical for compliance with HIPAA and safeguarding your practice from breaches. Leading EHR vendors typically offer the following:- Data encryption: Ensuring information remains private during transmission and storage.
- Access controls: Role-based permissions to limit access to sensitive data.
- Audit trails: Tracking user activity to detect unauthorized access or changes.
As technology continues to influence healthcare, tools like electronic health records (EHRs) must adapt to the specific needs of mental health professionals. Psychologists require EHRs that emphasize therapy documentation and progress tracking, whereas psychiatrists need comprehensive tools for managing medical treatments and patient diagnostics. Tailored EHR solutions allow both psychologists and psychiatrists to work efficiently, prioritize patient care, and address their distinct clinical workflows.
