The Internet has transformed the way in which people access healthcare information and providers – the Web offers huge amounts of health related information from thousands of worldwide sources.
Some current statistics highlight this extreme growth and the extent of the opportunity for healthcare practitioners.
According to the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health’s final report, Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America, the strongest need in healthcare today is improved access to healthcare information. Major recommendations included; using technology to improve access to care that is appropriate, culturally competent, located in rural or geographically remote areas, and coordination between the private and public sectors. (PSYCHIATRIC NEWS - August 15, 2003, Page 27.)
TherapistSites.com gives you the opportunity to leverage the power of the Internet to promote your practice and educate the community about your role and services. TherapistSites helps individuals find your practice. You can reach the maximum the number of individuals; describe yourself, your subspecialties and your organization; or post a topical article. You and your practice will be being placed or ranked on major search engines, listed in Internet Guides and publicized through other appropriate media. Your information can be updated and immediately available. Your memorable website address can be searched alphabetically, by subspecialties, locations, languages, or any combination requested!
A typical business start-up site can cost $1000 or more, and a listing in a national "find a therapist" directory ranges from $240 to $720 per year and may contain distracting or inappropriate commercial advertising. TherapistSites’ charges range from completely free for a courtesy listing with optional linking buttons, to $100 for a totally customized web page!
Most importantly -- the goal of PsychSites and TherapistSites is to improve access to Mental Health Providers. This is not a high profit commercial business venture. Dr. Alex Green, the sponsor of these websites, has been a clinician since 1975 and has had a long term interest in technology and way it can improve access to healthcare. He views TherapistSites as his contribution to the mental health community. TherapistSites keeps its fees low by employing state-of-the- art creation and editing tools and high speed access. There are no printing or distribution expenses, and your use of the online application form for enrollment and revision minimizes our hosting costs. Technical services are available individually and can be customized to accommodate more complex or time-consuming needs.
Free sites often disallow or discourage professional or business use, usually have space or content limitations, and may contain commercial, distracting or inappropriate advertising. Your page may be buried under many layers making it difficult for potential patients to find. You may not be able to transfer your information if you develop an independent site later. Some national listings do not provide the subspecialty search capability needed by the consumer. At TherapistSites, our focus is on providing separate directories for cities or regions while keeping you connected to your local community of respected professionals.
Absolutely! Any of the web page options at TherapistSites.com including courtesy (free) can link directly to your established site. You will benefit by appearing with your colleagues, the major search engine registrations, the Internet Guide listings, and promotion in your community. By including your list of subspecialties you can help patients/clients to find you more easily.
Dr. Green, associate clinical professor at the UCSD School of Medicine, is sub-specialty board certified in forensic psychiatry. He is the Chair of the Information Management Committee of the local psychiatric society, on the steering committee of the American Association of Technology and Psychiatry, and was co-chair at Scripps-Mercy Hospital for many years. Dr. Green has taught office automation and has presented at behavioral informatics conferences. He has a lifelong interest in electronics, computers and telecommunications, and has been in private practice since 1975. In 2002 he became a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. His personal mission is to use technology to improve access to Mental Health Providers.
Ms. Ross, a San Diego native, specializes in the technical side of developing marketing programs for professional services. She spent over 17 years as a senior director of Annual Giving at Scripps Foundation for Medicine & Science. Her experience includes development and maintenance of complex data bases, client services, customer development, and administration of programs and special events. Ms. Ross has excellent people service skills and enjoys working with a broad range of professionals. Ms. Ross helped found the website but has since relocated. Her excellent contributions continue as she remains available for technology consultation.
Mr. Penner, a Microsoft Certified Professional, has designed databases, desktop- and web-based applications for southern California companies ranging from international law firms to a local homeless shelter. He has had articles and programs published in PCM (nationally-distributed computer magazine) and has been a guest lecturer on database topics at UCLA extension. He can be contacted at Sheldon@SheldonPenner.com.
Since 2000, Ms. Schwartz has worked with an online marketing company where her experience included web development campaigns, email marketing and search engine optimization. She spent the previous 17 years with software companies as a sales and customer service administrator. Ms. Schwartz has sophisticated computer skills with Microsoft office tools and complex databases. She is a highly motivated self-starter and has excellent office management and communications skills. Ms Schwartz is enthusiastic about being the Web Master of this unique professional website and will be pleased to provide technical assistance and support.
No technical knowledge or access is required on your part. Your individual web page will be fully visible to anyone with a connection to the Internet and software for viewing. Access is available through most home or office computers and also at libraries and schools.
Consumers seeking treatment, along with primary care physicians and other professionals looking for referrals for their patients/clients welcome the availability of qualified providers in one place on the web. TherapistSites is organized by profession and subspecialty. This interdisciplinary approach helps create optimum exposure to those seeking a specific type of evaluation or treatment. The focus of TherapistSites is on doctoral level providers.
All pages place your profile on an individual web page on a shared web site. You may begin with a courtesy page and upgrade later to a personalized page with text and an optional photo. A completely custom page offers additional consultation and design time, with more possibilities for layout, graphics, and practice information, qualifications, directions to your office, and your own domain name/Web address.
You may enroll immediately. Please complete the online application.
Photos must be in digital format, which can be created easily and Photos must be in digital format, which can be created easily and inexpensively from regular prints. Contact a professional photo shop for specifics or you may ask for conversion to disk when developing standard films. Alternatively, you may mail a color or black and white glossy print, 4 inches by 6 inches, and we will arrange for conversion.
For further information or assistance please contact Ms. Schwartz or Dr. Green at:
Phone: (877) 793-2204 Fax: (858) 793-2205 Carolyn@TherapistSites.com Alex@TherapistSites.com
You may also request an information packet, which will be sent, faxed or e-mailed to you with no obligation.
