The Top 5 Reasons to Start a Behavioral Health Practice
Written by Jennifer Bennett, Posted on , in Section Teens & Tweens
With mental illness on the rise, people are finding it harder and harder to get into the office to seek help. It's concerning for both the providers and patients involved. It’s hard to regulate demand for this specialized field, but one thing is certain—we need more behavioral health care providers. If you’re looking at changing your major or adjusting your field of study, now is the time to get into the behavioral health care industry. Below are the top 5 reasons you should look at building a new behavioral health practice today.
5. Linking Primary Care Doctors to Psychiatric Care: A New Idea
With so many people trying to make appointments seeking psychiatric care, many doctors are looking at options of pairing with primary care physicians in offices. This idea of “sharing patients” can be ideal for those who want to make sure their doctors are providers under the same medical coverage. This helps with getting referrals and speeds up the process of getting an appointment with a specialist.
4. Huge Demand: Are We Meeting It?
The average of 1 in 4 patients can schedule an appointment with an outpatient psychiatrist today. That’s only one-quarter of those seeking treatment. 15 percent of practices are considered full and not accepting new patients. Another 10 percent of the psychiatrists identified through the BCBS directory did not see general adult outpatients. This shows the excessive high demand for help where people can’t obtain the services needed. When people need behavioral health care, they aren’t willing to make continual calls and wait for long periods of time to get in to see a doctor. They need help now.
3. Pay: Who Doesn't Like Money?
Psychiatrists earn between $140,000-$180,000 per year on average. That’s the highest paid earners in the behavioral health field. For those who are interested in medicine, the perks can be beneficial when it comes to pay. In studying those who need care, insurance doesn’t seem to be the driving issue of whether or not people are receiving care or not. People both with or without insurance still can’t seem to get appointments when they need help.
2. Growth: Trends are In... Are You?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the United States will add some 6,000 psychiatry jobs through 2018. Mental health jobs for psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants are also projected to increase. Growth is here in a big way.
1. Help Society: Are You Ready to Make a Difference?
Doing something you like and feel good about as a professional is extremely rewarding. Helping others live more healthy lives within our society can have much bigger rewards than money can buy. Intrinsic rewards in studies have been found to give people a happier and healthier life than those who don’t feel that way about their job. Starting a behavioral health practice can benefit both you and the society in which you live.
