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  #1  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 10:00 AM
Lola5 Lola5 is offline
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Still on my journey to find a psychiatrist. I got a name from another doctor. Here was I found on this psychiatrist's website:
  • He only works 2 Wednesdays a month for 12pm to 4pm each day. I see that he is a professor at a medical school so I assume he spends the rest of his time there.
  • He states that he only sees patients short-term. He says his goal is to ultimately have you return to the care of a primary care physician.
  • His initial evaluation/consultation is $325 for one hour. Subsequent appointments are 30 minutes and are $170.
  • He says he doesn't prescribe medication during the initial consultation visit, but only in the follow-up appointments. That means waiting two weeks after the initial consultation to return and talk about medication.

How does this sound to you all? Does the fact that he only sees patients once every 2 weeks for 4 hours mean he is not as interested in helping patients and more interested in teaching? Like this is just a means getting additional income? Is it strange he insists on only seeing patients short-term? Does that also indicate he is not interested in helping?

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  #2  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 10:06 AM
Anonymous50005
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I wouldn't choose him simply because his practice isn't his primary career and I would want a pdoc who worked full-time in practice and had better availability.

I don't think it is all that unusual perhaps for some physicians who are serving as medical school instructors, but it just wouldn't work for me. He stays in practice to maintain his license and skills, but his focus is on education at this point which is fine but wouldn't be workable for most patients.
Thanks for this!
A18793715
  #3  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 10:14 AM
Anonymous37941
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Some people don't need long-term contact with a psychiatrist so I think it sounds like he is honest in admitting that he is only able to help those people. I would be very wary of a psychiatrist who prescribed medication at the first visit, so that is also a good sign for me. He may very well be more interested in teaching and/or research, but he will presumably be aware of the fact that a teacher in his field who loses touch with patient work is going to be a bad teacher, so that isn't a bad sign at all in my view.

Less positive are his steep prices, but you are the one who can compare his prices to those of other psychiatrists in your area. To me it sounds very exorbitant, but I'm not in the US so am not in a position to say, really. 30-minute appointments sound pretty short to me but I think it's probably normal for psychiatrist visits in the US, from what other people on these boards have said.
  #4  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 10:17 AM
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AllHeart AllHeart is offline
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One cannot know what his motives are or where his intentions lie with just this information. Sure, he might be doing this just for the money. He might also be loaded and is doing both jobs simply because he finds purpose in helping others.

What did the doctor who gave you his name say about him? Have you heard anything about his reputation?

As for the short-term concern, for me personally, I'd be happy to have my psychiatrist turn me over to my primary doc. It's basically just periodic visits for a med check-in. No reason my primary doc can't manage this for me. So maybe my psychiatrist makes me see her just for the money?? Who knows. Maybe you could straight up ask this guy what his reasons are.
  #5  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 10:18 AM
Anonymous50005
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$325 for an initial appointment is fairly standard in the U.S.

I agree with Crocus. He's being upfront about his availability. He might work well for some patients who just need to see someone occasionally for a med check and their symptoms are largely under control. I also agree not prescribing on the first appointment is a good sign for the most point unless you were transferring from another pdoc and already had established meds; that might not be ideal.
Thanks for this!
LonesomeTonight
  #6  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 10:41 AM
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Argonautomobile Argonautomobile is offline
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I don't think it's strange, but I wouldn't personally see this physician, either.
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  #7  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 10:57 AM
Anonymous37904
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lola5 View Post
Still on my journey to find a psychiatrist. I got a name from another doctor. Here was I found on this psychiatrist's website:
  • He only works 2 Wednesdays a month for 12pm to 4pm each day. I see that he is a professor at a medical school so I assume he spends the rest of his time there.
  • He states that he only sees patients short-term. He says his goal is to ultimately have you return to the care of a primary care physician.
  • His initial evaluation/consultation is $325 for one hour. Subsequent appointments are 30 minutes and are $170.
  • He says he doesn't prescribe medication during the initial consultation visit, but only in the follow-up appointments. That means waiting two weeks after the initial consultation to return and talk about medication.

How does this sound to you all? Does the fact that he only sees patients once every 2 weeks for 4 hours mean he is not as interested in helping patients and more interested in teaching? Like this is just a means getting additional income? Is it strange he insists on only seeing patients short-term? Does that also indicate he is not interested in helping?
He sounds very precise. He sounds like he could be a caring therapist and he wants to make clear when he is available, that therapy is aimed to be short-term, and his med/fee policies. I have some reservations:

Personally, I would inquire as to what he considers "short-term" and if cessation of therapy is a mutual decision between therapist and client.

He's expensive! I couldn't afford him and like my pdoc handling my meds.

The reference to returning to the care of primary physician seems odd. Wouldn't that be psychiatrist? My GP is great, but he scooted me off to a pdoc for psych-related health. I wonder if this T doesn't work with serious mental illness. Is he a "life coach"? He wouldn't be able to scoot me back to my GP. My GP feels my psych care requires a pdoc. Pdoc handles my psych meds and GP handles my physical ailments.

Part-time therapy work doesn't mean he doesn't care, IMO. Whether that is enough sessions per month should be closely considered...I don't see him being available for more sessions.

If this T presents well in that he answers all questions and he seems like he is qualified and empathetic....I would give him a shot, maybe? That's a lot of money (to me) for an initial consultation. I'm waffling here lol

Final answer: if the above works out AND you know someone that has met him, worked with him and recommends him, then I'd try. Bottom line, you need to trust him and feel he can help you. He wouldn't fit for me.

I don't know if that helped even a bit. I will press send just in case.

Last edited by Anonymous37904; Jul 06, 2016 at 11:10 AM.
  #8  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 11:01 AM
Anonymous50005
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rainyday107 View Post
The reference to returning to the care of primary physician seems odd. Wouldn't that be psychiatrist? My GP is great, but he scooted me off to a pdoc for psych-related health. I wonder if this T doesn't work with serious mental illness. Is he a "life coach"?

This is a psychiatrist being discussed, not a therapist.
  #9  
Old Jul 06, 2016, 06:08 PM
Lola5 Lola5 is offline
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Member Since: Jun 2016
Location: NY
Posts: 128
Thanks for the feedback, everyone! It's hard for me to trust others and I'm scared of being scammed (again) by someone who pretends to want to help, but really doesn't care and makes no effort.
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