Telepsychiatry Making a Difference in Patient's Life

"She keeps me young, she really does," says the 70-year-old Myrtle Beach resident Michael Purvis.

Purvis is the father of Brenda, a 27 year-old young lady who has Down Syndrome, a genetic condition in which the person is born with an extra chromossome.

A little over two years ago, Brenda suffered a "psychiatric breakdown," as her father describes. They looked for psychiatric care in the community but were not happy with the results they were receiving. It was then that the family was introduced to telehealth. Brenda's medical physician, Dr. Williams, works at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital, a local hospital ten minutes from their house. She knew the family was having difficulties and introduced the concept to them.

It has worked out well," Purvis says. "Dr. Gwynette has been caring and he’s really helped my daughter."