Question 1

What Can a Psychiatrist do for Me?

Accepted Answer

A psychiatrist is a certified medical doctor (MD) that specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental illness and psychological problems. A psychiatrist completes four years of training in general psychiatry after finishing medical school. Certain specializations within psychiatry, such as child and adolescent psychiatry, require an additional two years of training in order to become board certified as a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Question 2

What is a Concierge Practice?

Accepted Answer

The concierge model allows the physician to be more widely available for patients to address time-sensitive needs, follow-up more closely, and coordinate with specialists to provide more thorough and complete management of the patient’s care and treatment plan. This additional attention and access is made possible through the annual fee paid by patients for these benefits, while leaving the fees for therapy appointments unchanged.

Question 3

What Specific Benefits Do Practice Members Receive?

Accepted Answer

As a member of Psychiatry Studio's concierge practice you will receive a wide array of premier services and amenities including:
 
- Priority follow-up appointments, including tele-medicine options for urgent cases or as appropriate

- Extended appointment times (can be scheduled up to 90 minutes on request)
 
- Direct access to your physician's personal email and cell phone for time-sensitive urgent issues. All emergencies or life-threatening situations should still be directed to 911 immediately.
 
- Medication refills within 24 business hours
 
- Annual treatment review meeting to thoughtfully reflect on the past year and plan for the coming year
 
- Routine communication with all clinicians in the treatment team
 
- Basic care coordination communications with schools or other agencies when appropriate
 
- Fully integrated secure electronic patient portal to coordinate care, receive appointment reminders and messages, and communicate with your clinician
 
- With access to your portal secure electronic records, you have direct access to complete assessments for ongoing treatment, review your labs, change and make appointments.
 
- HIPAA compliant virtual appointments
 
- First two no-show fees waived

Question 4

What Should I Bring to my Appointment?

Accepted Answer

Once you make an appointment, we will send you forms to complete prior to the appointment. Additionally, if you have done any evaluations, work ups, or testing in the past, we encourage you to share those prior to the appointment.

Question 5

What Should I Expect At the First Appointment?

Accepted Answer

The first session includes meeting with the patient, guardians, or signifiant others. The purpose of the initial meeting is to gather information such as the reason for the visit, history, symptoms, and your concerns. The initial appointment takes up to 90 minutes.
 
At the end of the session, your physician will collect all the information from the appointment, as well as past evaluations and collateral information and will offer to speak with your therapist, school contact, or primary care physician, if applicable. She will provide a summary of her initial impression, next step recommendations, and, when appropriate, consideration for therapy or psychotropic medication. If needed, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled in 1-2 weeks (often 60 min) to proceed with the treatment.

Question 6

Will I Have To Complete Blood Work, CT Scan, or Other Testing?"

Accepted Answer

As part of the medical evaluation, your physician will discuss medical or neurological conditions that could cause or attribute to psychiatric symptoms and conditions. At the initial appointment, they will likely request a basic medical work up to be completed, especially for younger clients and for clients with an existing medical diagnosis. In appropriate cases, she may order additional tests or recommend consultation with colleagues, such as those in endorinology, cardiology, neurology, sleep disorders, and gastrointestinology.

Question 7

Does My Physician Provide Rating and/or Screening Tests?

Accepted Answer

Yes. One of the features of her unique practice is that, in addition to psychiatric clinical examination, our physicians utilize clinical screening, rating inventories, and genetic testings to assist in diagnosis and treatments, as required.

Question 8

Will Clinicians-in-Training be Present in the Room?

Accepted Answer

As an instructors to multiple academic centers, our physicians allow students to observe their sessions so they have a better understanding of this field. They hope that their passion and interest in child psychiatry will encourage future doctors to enter this underrepresented field of medicine. Whether or not students can stay in the room for observation is optional and completely per your discretion. Any participation is greatly appreciated by our physicians and the medical students.

Question 9

What is Neuropsychological Testing?

Accepted Answer

Neuropsychological testing is conducted by a neuropsychologist. A neuropsychologist is a licensed clinical or school psychologist (with a Psy.D. or Ph.D. degree) who has also completed two years of training in neuropsychology. Our physicians are not neuropsychologists. However, they can refer you to a neuropsychologist if neuropsychiatric testing appears necessary or helpful.

Question 10

Do the Physicians Provide Psychotherapy?

Accepted Answer

Our physicians provide brief educational and supportive therapy.  Presently they do not accept clients for regular, weekly or biweekly therapy sessions.  However, based on the initial evaluation, they will discuss evidence-based recommendations for therapy and will provide appropriate referrals if needed. For those with an existing therapist, your physician will collaborate with the therapist per your authorization.

Question 11

What Happens Once the Treatment Goals are Achieved?

Accepted Answer

Your physician will continue to oversee your care by monitoring your mental health and medications. After stabilization, they require a minimum of two yearly visits for members. They will help to transfer your care, if you choose to transfer, to other providers or to your primary care physician.

Question 12

Will the Cost of my Treatment be Covered by my Insurance Plan?

Accepted Answer

Depending on what type of insurance provider you are currently using, coverage for our services will vary.  Many insurance companies reimburse out-of-network rates by anywhere from 50-80% of the total cost of services. The best way to know what your plan will cover is to contact them directly and ask about your out-of-network mental health and deductible benefits, including benefits for tele-medicine.
 
For your reference, the commonly used procedure codes used for the appointments are listed below. 
 
Initial Evaluation: 90872 
Follow-Up Appointments 30-60 min: 99214 with or without 90833, 90834, or 90836

Question 13

What are the Insurance Codes?

Accepted Answer

For your reference, the commonly used procedure codes used for the appointments are listed below:
 
Initial Evaluation: 90792
Follow-Up Appointments 30-60 Minutes: 99214 with or without 90833, 90834, 90836

Question 14

What if I Have an Emergency or an Urgent Situation?

Accepted Answer

If you find yourself in the midst of an emergency, please call 911 immediately. If you have an urgent situation, call Psychiatry Studio and your physician will return your call within the next business day.

Frequently Asked Questions