I am glad you are here!

My goal at Grounded Mind Care is to provide you an effective therapeutic experience.

Please take the time to review the policy information provided below.

 

Your agreement to the following terms and conditions is required for you to receive professional services from me.

You consent for yourself or your child to receive an initial psychiatric evaluation.  At the end of the evaluation, we will mutually decide if we will continue treatment together.

You acknowledge that Grounded Mind Care provides the following services: 

• Evaluate and diagnose

• Medication management

• Integrative therapy

• Order diagnostic testing

• Make referrals

• Monitor treatment goals and outcomes

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All communication and clinical treatment will be documented in the patient chart. Both the law and the standards of the profession require such. You are entitled to receive a copy of these records unless I believe that seeing them would be emotionally damaging. If this is the case, I will be happy to provide the records to an appropriate mental health professional of your choice or to prepare an appropriate summary instead. Because client records are professional documents, they can be misinterpreted and can be upsetting. If you wish to see the records, it is best to review them with me so that we can discuss their content.

  

URGENT MATTERS

If you are seeing me for medication management only:

* You will contact your therapist first for any emergency or crisis, unless it may be medication related

* You will inform me if you are considering stopping treatment, or have actually stopped

*If you have a persistent urgent concern that has been addressed with your therapist, you can log on to the patient portal and request a tele-psych appointment.

*Mental health emergency services are available through: 911 and Suicide Prevention line: 1-800-273-8255.

If there is a potential of any physical danger to you, or others, you will call 911 immediately or go to the closest emergency room.

Note I do not have admitting privileges, nor am I affiliated with or are on staff at any hospital. Should I deem more intensive services are needed than I can provide, I will do my best to ensure safety and obtain the appropriate level of care, but I cannot provide that care directly and cannot guarantee the receipt or quality of care that others provide.

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RISKS AND BENEFITS

Risks and benefits of PSYCHIATRIC CARE: Psychiatry has both benefits and risks. Possible risks include the experience of uncomfortable feelings (such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness, or helplessness) or the recall of unpleasant events. Potential benefits include a reduction in feelings of distress, better relationships, better problem-solving and coping skills, and resolution of specific problems. Given the nature of psychiatry, it remains an inexact science and no guarantees can be made regarding the outcome.

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TERMINATION OF TREATMENT

Although you may end treatment at any time, I firmly recommend that you share your desire to end treatment and process this decision in at least one final appointment, rather than terminating by phone or mail. If for any reason, I have to terminate my relationship with you, as your provider, I will extend the same courtesy of having a discussion with you. I will make sure you have  a 3 month of non – controlled medication and one month of controlled medication. I will also provide you with a list of resources to find another psychiatric provider that may be better suited for you and your level of complexity.

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CONFIDENTIALITY

There is no guarantee of confidentiality under the following conditions:

• If I suspect you are in imminent danger of harm to self or others, or a child or elderly person is being abused or neglected (as I am a mandated reporter)

• If a court orders a release of information

• If you initiate a malpractice lawsuit, or a billing dispute with a financial institution

• If your insurance company requests to review your case

• If you pay by credit card, my business name will appear on your credit card statement

• If you do not pay your bill, your balance due statement (including diagnostic and procedural codes) may be sent to a collections agency or other responsible party

• Between me and my administrative staff, or colleagues with whom I consult professionally

 

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 

You are financially responsible for all charges, whether or not:

• Insurance pays for any services

• We decide to proceed with treatment

• Treatment is successful, for which there cannot be any guarantee

 

Thank you for taking the time to review these policies. I look forward to working with you.

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