What services do you offer?
We provide psychiatric evaluations and medication management via video-conferencing (zoom). Medication Management means prescribing medications, checking your response to medicine, and discussing things outside of medication treatment.
Are you a therapist? What’s the difference between psychiatry versus counseling?
We are an expanding group of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners and prescribing psychologists. Psychiatrists, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, and prescribing psychologists learn and practice various therapy modalities. However, they also diagnose and treat psychiatric conditions with prescription medications. Our visits incorporate brief therapy, but most people find a combination of treatment with their counselor, therapist, or psychologist, and our psychiatry visits beneficial.
What is the difference between psychological testing and psychiatric evaluation?
Our psychiatric evaluations assess for medication treatment. They are up to one hour long and involve discussing mood, history, medical conditions, and family history to help us determine the best course of action with you.
Do you prescribe medication?
Yes, medications will be sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy. You will receive refills so you do not run out between visits.
Can you treat my ADHD with medication?
We believe in treating ADHD with evidence-based treatment, which includes stimulant and non-stimulant medications.
Due to telemedicine rules, this practice cannot prescribe stimulants to anyone prescribed benzodiazepines, Buprenorphine, or narcotic pain medications.
Additionally, our practice has the following safety procedures:
- If you are changing providers, your new prescription medication will be fillable 30 days after the State’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program shows the last controlled medication was filled.
- We do not authorize early refills of controlled medications
- A urine drug screen is part of the evaluation and ongoing treatment.
- MONTHLY telehealth visits are needed for continuation/refills of controlled medications.
- We do not prescribe above the FDA-indicated doses.
- We require monthly heart monitoring, including blood pressure, and may include obtaining an EKG.
What do I need for Telepsychiatry?
You will need an internet connection. You will be prompted to download the Zoom application on your phone or computer for our visit. You must also know how to upload your driver’s license into our system.
Do you accept insurance?
No. We do not take insurance, medicare, or medicaid. If needed, we will provide you with a statement or receipt that you may submit to your insurance for partial payment.
How long are appointments?
New appointments are one hour long, and follow-up appointments are thirty minutes long. We will schedule a second diagnostic appointment if you require more than 75 minutes for your initial evaluation. You can text us directly if you have questions or concerns after or between your visits.
ADHD-only (no other conditions present) visits are scheduled for 15 minutes.
What if I cancel an appointment?
You can reschedule your appointment online. There will be no charge for rescheduling. If you cancel your initial visit, please contact us for a refund.
What if I can’t figure out the technology?
Text us, and we will go through it together.
What if I don’t like it?
If, after your first visit, you find Telepsychiatry isn’t for you or didn’t care for the appointment for any reason, we will refund your money. No need to say why; just text or email us after your visit for a refund.
How do I get in touch with you?
Please text us at 866-297-7792. You may also email or call, but texting is faster.
Is texting ok in medicine?
Our text messages come through an encrypted, protected portal on our end. You do not have to download any mental health app, but you may download the Spruce Health app if you prefer. You do not need a patient portal to get a message to us. We incorporated a unique system like calling or faxing your doctor’s office; your end may not be secure depending on your telephone provider, but on our end, all your information is going into an encrypted portal, with no work on your part!
Is this nationwide?
No. Though we are one of the nation’s longest-spanning privately owned (not venture capitalist-funded) telepsychiatry practices, our clinicians are licensed only in these states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Vermont, and Washington.