Vent: I dont know if I can keep searching for a psychiatrist...but I have to

[Anonymous]

Not much more to say than that. No, we can't afford out of network.

The latest kick in the shins is the fact that the office of this psychiatrist CANT DO ANYTHING promptly. THey never answer their phones EVER. They do not respond to messages left on voicemail.

I needed a form filled out by him, and even presented it at an appointment last week, and it's STILL NOT DONE, and the school needed it Monday. He is only there Wednesdays. So now, despite how many emails and calls from me AND the school, the form was not sent and we are now SOL for another week.

I have done so much searching for psychiatrists that even had openings. Now I have to go back to searching again and I just am done. And no its not because of this one thing. Its the whole assortment of weirdnesses that I am too tired to even get into. At least he gets the scripts in on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not much more to say than that. No, we can't afford out of network.

The latest kick in the shins is the fact that the office of this psychiatrist CANT DO ANYTHING promptly. THey never answer their phones EVER. They do not respond to messages left on voicemail.

I needed a form filled out by him, and even presented it at an appointment last week, and it's STILL NOT DONE, and the school needed it Monday. He is only there Wednesdays. So now, despite how many emails and calls from me AND the school, the form was not sent and we are now SOL for another week.

I have done so much searching for psychiatrists that even had openings. Now I have to go back to searching again and I just am done. And no its not because of this one thing. Its the whole assortment of weirdnesses that I am too tired to even get into. At least he gets the scripts in on time.

I should add that the form was short, that there was no reason it wasnt sent in, that he filled in one page of a two page form and that one page was filled out LAST WEEK and only sent in today after persistent calls and messages. Just ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Look for a psychiatric nurse practioner. I have found that, by and large, they are more even-keeled and practical than psychiatrists, who can be odd, and they can do all the same things.

[Anonymous]

All these private practice psychiatrists are a mess. They’re not hiring the staff they need to stay organized.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All these private practice psychiatrists are a mess. They’re not hiring the staff they need to stay organized.

Agreed, I'm appalled at the choices my kid's psychiatrist (really, their entire practice) has made during the pandemic. They gave up their offices, only see patients online, and what little support staff they have is remote and clearly not dedicated to just their practice. So when I call to do anything it's clear the person I'm talking to has no idea who the doctor really is or any investment in the process, like getting prescriptions filled or forms taken care of. My kid doesn't do well on a screen but it's clear that this is the only way this practice is going to work from now on, which means I either start from scratch (with all the challenges OP has pointed to related to finding someone) or we just soldier on every time my kid needs to check in about meds and other things their therapist can't handle.

[Anonymous]

It’s a world of voicemail and filling out those “contact us” forms. The front desks are clearly staffed by at-home virtual workers who are based hundreds of miles away. I don’t think the staff have any knowledge of psychiatry.

[Anonymous]

My child's psychiatrist keeps all his appointment information in a paper binder. He lost it once and had to call us and ask when our next appointment was. He also charges extra if he has to send a bill (which looks like a printed Word document)--instead, we have to slip the check (of course, no credit cards) into a mailbox on his office door.
It all feels so sketchy and unprofessional.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the virtual options? Dr. on Demand has virtual. Our insurance covers the appointment and they've been pretty decent depending on the person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried the virtual options? Dr. on Demand has virtual. Our insurance covers the appointment and they've been pretty decent depending on the person.

We have used MD Live for psychiatry also, but you have to be over 10 and they don’t prescribe stimulants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried the virtual options? Dr. on Demand has virtual. Our insurance covers the appointment and they've been pretty decent depending on the person.

We have used MD Live for psychiatry also, but you have to be over 10 and they don’t prescribe stimulants.

Could the universe be trying to tell you to try something new other than amphetamines or "stimulants" on a child younger than 10? Like changing schools, changing therapists (PhD not M.D.), something

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried the virtual options? Dr. on Demand has virtual. Our insurance covers the appointment and they've been pretty decent depending on the person.

We have used MD Live for psychiatry also, but you have to be over 10 and they don’t prescribe stimulants.

Could the universe be trying to tell you to try something new other than amphetamines or "stimulants" on a child younger than 10? Like changing schools, changing therapists (PhD not M.D.), something

Don’t be a judgmental ass. Some kids under 10 need stimulants. And after 20 years dealing with various family member’s mental illness episodes, I can tell you that, while therapy is usually a good thing, if is often inappropriate to expect it to substitute it for medication. IME, we waited far too long to put our kid on stimulants and our failure to do so compounded his problems.