FAQS
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE FIRST VISIT?
During your first appointment Dr. Keenan will discuss your treatment goals and review your medical, psychiatric, and social history in depth. This will help to formulate an accurate assessment and provide provisional psychiatric diagnoses.
Please note that it is not a guarantee that medications will be started at the initial appointment. Sometimes it takes time to develop an accurate assessment, sometimes records need to be reviewed first, or collateral information obtained. In some cases, medications are not warranted.
WHAT DO I NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN MY TELEPSYCHIATRY APPOINTMENT?
A private space to discuss sensitive information
Access to reliable internet
An electronic device (cell phone, iPad, desktop, laptop, etc.) with video/audio capabilities
You must be physically in the state of Maine at the time of your appointment.
HOW LONG ARE APPOINTMENTS?
Initial psychiatric evaluations are 60 minutes
Follow up medication management appointments are typically 25 minutes
One time psychiatric consultations are 90 minutes
Upon request, or if deemed medically necessary due to complexity or high risk, medication management appointments may be scheduled for 45-50 minutes.
DO YOU TAKE INSURANCE?
No. Fern River Psychiatry is considered "out-of-network." If you have out-of-network benefits and plan to seek partial reimbursement from your insurance company, a document sometimes referred to as a "superbill" or receipt, will be provided. The document contains all of the information required by your insurance for you to submit a claim directly to them. Please check with your insurance carrier before your appointment to determine your "out-of-network" benefits.
DO YOU OFFER A SLIDING SCALE?
We hope to offer a sliding scale in the future, but at this time we do not.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PSYCHIATRIST, PSYCHOLOGIST, THERAPIST, AND COUNSELOR?
A psychiatrist attended medical school and is either an MD or DO. Some psychologists may be referred to as doctors, but are not medical doctors; they are doctors of philosophy (PhD) or doctors of psychology (PsyD). Psychologists cannot prescribe medications, whereas medical doctors (psychiatrists) can. While both psychiatrists and psychologists can help patients learn cognitive, social, and behavioral techniques to manage emotional distress and improve adaptive coping skills, psychologists are typically more specialized in this area. The terms therapist and counselor are often used interchangeably and typically have a masters degree (i.e. LCSW, LCPC, LADC). Psychologists, therapists, and counselors provide "therapy" or "counseling" that often occurs on a weekly or biweekly basis. Psychiatric medication management appointments tend to be less frequent (i.e. every month or every three months) depending on acuity.