Frequently Asked Questions
Information about psychiatric and mental health services near North Shore of Boston, Massachusetts
Services FAQ
We treat patients 18 years of age and older.
New patients may request an appointment via the Book An Appointment page on our website. You will receive an email with a link to some intake and consent forms that need to be completed prior to your appointment. All forms must be submitted within 72-hours of receiving confirmation for your appointment or your appointment will be cancelled. You will be able to reschedule once all forms have been submitted.
Current patients can schedule, cancel, and modify their appointments by logging to the IntakeQ Patient Portal
The purpose of an initial psychiatric evaluation is to gain a comprehensive understanding of your mental health and well-being. During this assessment, the clinician aims to gather information about various aspects of your life, thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and overall mental state. The key objectives of the evaluation include:
Diagnostic Assessment: You and the psychiatric provider will work to identify and diagnose any mental health conditions or disorders you may be experiencing. This involves exploring your symptoms, their duration, and their impact on your daily life.
Medical History: Gathering information about your medical history, including any past psychiatric treatments, medications, and relevant family history, helps in understanding potential contributing factors to your current mental health.
Identifying Stressors: Exploring potential stressors or triggers in your life can provide insights into the factors that may be influencing your mental well-being.
Treatment Planning: Based on the assessment, you and the psychiatric provider will collaboratively develop a treatment plan. This plan may include therapy, medication, lifestyle adjustments, or a combination of interventions tailored to your specific needs.
Establishing Rapport: Building a trusting and open relationship between you and your psychiatric provider is crucial. This rapport fosters effective communication and ensures that you feel comfortable discussing your concerns.
Confidentiality: The psychiatric provider will explain the limits and principles of confidentiality. It’s important for you to feel secure in sharing personal information, knowing that it will be kept confidential within legal and ethical boundaries.
Setting Goals: Establishing realistic and personalized goals for your mental health is an essential part of the evaluation. These goals will guide the treatment process and help measure progress over time.
Initial psychiatric evaluation is a collaborative process aimed at understanding your unique experiences and tailoring a treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. Open and honest communication during this evaluation lays the foundation for a successful therapeutic relationship. It is also important to note that the initial session is a time for both you and your provider to determine if it feels like a good fit for both parties.
Following the initial psychiatric evaluation, we will arrange subsequent appointments, typically lasting 20-30 minutes, to assess the effectiveness of the prescribed medications and address your evolving needs. While we are adjusting the medications, the follow-up visits are typically scheduled every 2-4 weeks, depending on your response to medication(s). Patients who are stable on their medication are generally seen every 1-3 months, depending on the diagnosis, medications, treatment plan, and individual needs.
When you schedule an appointment, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a link you can click on to join the video call with your provider. You will need a device with a camera, microphone, and speakers, along with a reliable network connection. Most patients use a laptop, tablet, or smartphone.
Insurance & Payment FAQ
Massachusetts & New Hampshire residents: We currently accept the following insurances: Aetna, United Healthcare, Optum, MGH PPO and HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim, Anthem Blue Cross
Unfortunately, we do not accept any MassHealth, Medicare, or Medicaid insurance plans at this time.
HelloAlma does insurance verification and billing for all insurance plans we accept. Once you’re accepted into the practice we will direct you to their site so they can verify your insurance and handle billing for services.
New patients may request an appointment via the Book An Appointment page on our website. You will receive an email with a link to some intake and consent forms that need to be completed prior to your appointment. All forms must be submitted within 72-hours of receiving confirmation for your appointment or your appointment will be cancelled. You will be able to reschedule once all forms have been submitted.
Current patients can schedule, cancel, and modify their appointments by logging to the IntakeQ Patient Portal
Payment is expected at time of service and can be provided by credit card through the patient portal or by check/cash (for in-office appointments only). You may have out-of-network (OON) benefits with your insurance company and if so, we can provide you with a “super bill” that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. Submitting an out-of-network (OON) and seeking reimbursement is the full responsibility of the patient/guarantor. We recommend checking with your insurance regarding OON benefits prior to scheduling an appointment.
For self-pay patients, the following fees apply:
- Initial Psychiatric Evaluation (50-60 minutes) – $350
- Follow-up Appointment (20-30 minutes) – $200
All other fees and fee policies are detailed in the policies and administrative forms you receive upon being accepted to the practice.
All patients are required to have a credit card on file in the electronic medical record. Your credit card information is safeguarded here and protected from security breaches. Wheeler Brook Psychiatric Care, PLLC does not have access to the information, though we may extract payment according to the terms of our agreement. Payment can be made by cash or check (in office), through your credit card and/or HSA/FSA card. For self-pay patients the fee for the initial appointment must be paid in full at the time of booking. For existing patients, payment is due at the time of your scheduled appointment.
Medications & Refills FAQ
Please reach out to your pharmacy first to check if they have refills in their system – we generally provide sufficient number of refills to last until your next scheduled appointment. If there are no refills at the pharmacy, please send us a message via Patient Portal and allow 2 business days for your refill to be processed.
All medication changes/adjustments require a visit with your provider. Medication changes can not be approved without an appointment.
Some insurances require prior authorization before they cover certain medications. Prior authorizations typically take 5-10 business days to complete. If your insurance company does not cover prescribed medication, you may chose to pay out-of-pocket. Several resources, such as GoodRx and CostPlusDrugs mail-order pharmacy, are available to help with the out-of-pocket costs and we will be happy to provide you with additional information on these programs.
We do not provide early refills for any controlled substances regardless of the reason.
Appointment & Cancellation FAQ
If you need to reschedule your appointment, please log into the patient portal and click on “Manage Appointments.” Please reschedule or cancel a minimum of 24 hours in advance of your appointment time so we can offer your time slot to another patient waiting for care.
We understand that life happens and occasionally something unexpected may arise. In that case, please call or send a message via Patient Portal as soon as possible. Please be aware that late cancellations (less than 24 hours) and no shows will result in a fee (new patient psychiatric evaluation – $ 350; established patient follow-up appointment – $200). Arriving more than 15 minutes late to an appointment is considered a “no-show” and you will be charged the full appointment fee and asked to re-schedule. Please note that insurance can not be billed for missed appointments and we will charge your credit card to collect these fees.
Provider Availability & Emergencies FAQ
What should I do in emergency situations?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or feel unsafe at any point.
You can also call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 -they are available 24-hours a day. It’s free and confidential support. You can find out more or engage in live chat through their website.
If you or a family member in Massachusetts is experiencing a mental health or substance use disorder crisis, the Emergency Services Program/Mobile Crisis Intervention is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 877-382-1609 for help.
Wheeler Brook Psychiatric Care, PLLC is unable to schedule emergency appointments, and has no on-call clinicians. There is no after-hours monitoring of email or phone calls/messages. As such, you should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room or the local crisis team if that is what is necessary for you to maintain safety.
Location
Office Location:
100 Conifer Hill Drive Suite #310
Danvers, Massachusetts 01923
General Email: info@wheelerbrookpsych.com
(for efficient client correspondence, please use patient portal link)
Phone: 978-705-9775
If you are having an emergency and need immediate help, please call 9-1-1.
Fax: 978-288-0144