Philosophy of Practice
My goal is to help you get feeling better utilizing my knowledge, training, and experience to teach you about your mental health and suggest treatments that research has shown to be effective. I believe the best doctor/patient relationships include developing a partnership between the physician and the patient/family. This includes a thorough discussion of symptoms, severity, timing, background, history, and prior treatments utilized. Also a discussion of the likely diagnosis and implications. The discussion of treatment options includes a discussion of the risks, benefits, side effects, alternatives and duration of treatment, including what type of therapy(ies) would be most appropriate and beneficial for the patient and a discussion of recommended provider options for therapy. Then a decision would be made together as to which option will be utilized. I feel strongly and research shows that therapy is an important and crucial part of the long term solution of many mental health issues. When used in conjunction with appropriate medication it is an essential part of most mental health treatment plans. Therefore, this partnership includes an obligation or commitment to the treatment on the part of the patient and family including utilizing strategies that include good sleep hygiene, exercise, good nutrition, building skills for relationships and emotional regulation, participation in recommended therapy and regular office visits.
My philosophy on medication: medications are often an important part of mental health treatment. It is important that they be utilized judiciously. I feel it best for a patient to be on the least amount of medication possible to help their condition while minimizing any negative side effects. The right medication used appropriately can make a huge difference in a patient's mental health. However side effects must be appropriately monitored and taken into consideration when deciding dosages and which medications to employ. There are times when non- medication approaches may be appropriate.
Policies
Setting Up Appointments: Dr. George is taking all new patients for TMS services at Brighter Day Psychiatry and limited general psychiatry patients (first priority given to child and adolescents) in Fort Collins, CO. Please see the Brighterdaytms.com website for information on setting up an appointment.
Currently Dr. George is completing paneling applications for Anthem BCBS, Aetna, and Cigna for general psychiatry insurance coverage including TMS in Colorado and Tricare and Medicare for TMS services only. At the present time the paneling applications are still in process and she will only be accepting cash pay. You can go to the forms tab and once you have completed the patient prescreening form (one page), reviewed the information on the website, and returned this form to this practice either via mail, or fax, the information you provide will be reviewed and a member of her team will then call you to let you know if she can accommodate you with her current patient load. If so you will then need to complete the new patient information packet prior to scheduling your first appointment. Once Dr. George receives the new patient information packet she will call you to schedule your initial appointment. The first appointment usually lasts from 1 hour; subsequent visits are typically 30 minutes. Dr. George may provide medication management, psychotherapy, and consultations when requested by other physicians. If you request Dr. George to complete paperwork or other documents you will be asked to schedule an appointment for this to be completed. Please note that Dr. George does not perform custody evaluations, or complete paperwork for workmen’s compensation or disability. She also at this time is not billing through medicaid or medicare.
Fees and Services
A credit card will be required (or HSA card) to be on file for your session fees, and any missed appointment fees.
The full payment for service is due at check-in for each visit.
Upon your request we can supply you with a detailed receipt, which has all the necessary information that can be submitted to medical insurance companies for reimbursement through their out of network coverage if any exists. Check with your insurance to verify this type of coverage and the details for reimbursement. Dr. George will NOT complete insurance forms or call insurance companies for authorization of visits. It is the patient’s or the patient’s guardian’s responsibility to ascertain insurance coverage for a visit, prior authorizations are a frequent requirement for coverage, please call your insurance provider and obtain the necessary prior authorization before an office visit.
My goal is to help you get feeling better utilizing my knowledge, training, and experience to teach you about your mental health and suggest treatments that research has shown to be effective. I believe the best doctor/patient relationships include developing a partnership between the physician and the patient/family. This includes a thorough discussion of symptoms, severity, timing, background, history, and prior treatments utilized. Also a discussion of the likely diagnosis and implications. The discussion of treatment options includes a discussion of the risks, benefits, side effects, alternatives and duration of treatment, including what type of therapy(ies) would be most appropriate and beneficial for the patient and a discussion of recommended provider options for therapy. Then a decision would be made together as to which option will be utilized. I feel strongly and research shows that therapy is an important and crucial part of the long term solution of many mental health issues. When used in conjunction with appropriate medication it is an essential part of most mental health treatment plans. Therefore, this partnership includes an obligation or commitment to the treatment on the part of the patient and family including utilizing strategies that include good sleep hygiene, exercise, good nutrition, building skills for relationships and emotional regulation, participation in recommended therapy and regular office visits.
My philosophy on medication: medications are often an important part of mental health treatment. It is important that they be utilized judiciously. I feel it best for a patient to be on the least amount of medication possible to help their condition while minimizing any negative side effects. The right medication used appropriately can make a huge difference in a patient's mental health. However side effects must be appropriately monitored and taken into consideration when deciding dosages and which medications to employ. There are times when non- medication approaches may be appropriate.
Policies
Setting Up Appointments: Dr. George is taking all new patients for TMS services at Brighter Day Psychiatry and limited general psychiatry patients (first priority given to child and adolescents) in Fort Collins, CO. Please see the Brighterdaytms.com website for information on setting up an appointment.
Currently Dr. George is completing paneling applications for Anthem BCBS, Aetna, and Cigna for general psychiatry insurance coverage including TMS in Colorado and Tricare and Medicare for TMS services only. At the present time the paneling applications are still in process and she will only be accepting cash pay. You can go to the forms tab and once you have completed the patient prescreening form (one page), reviewed the information on the website, and returned this form to this practice either via mail, or fax, the information you provide will be reviewed and a member of her team will then call you to let you know if she can accommodate you with her current patient load. If so you will then need to complete the new patient information packet prior to scheduling your first appointment. Once Dr. George receives the new patient information packet she will call you to schedule your initial appointment. The first appointment usually lasts from 1 hour; subsequent visits are typically 30 minutes. Dr. George may provide medication management, psychotherapy, and consultations when requested by other physicians. If you request Dr. George to complete paperwork or other documents you will be asked to schedule an appointment for this to be completed. Please note that Dr. George does not perform custody evaluations, or complete paperwork for workmen’s compensation or disability. She also at this time is not billing through medicaid or medicare.
Fees and Services
A credit card will be required (or HSA card) to be on file for your session fees, and any missed appointment fees.
The full payment for service is due at check-in for each visit.
Upon your request we can supply you with a detailed receipt, which has all the necessary information that can be submitted to medical insurance companies for reimbursement through their out of network coverage if any exists. Check with your insurance to verify this type of coverage and the details for reimbursement. Dr. George will NOT complete insurance forms or call insurance companies for authorization of visits. It is the patient’s or the patient’s guardian’s responsibility to ascertain insurance coverage for a visit, prior authorizations are a frequent requirement for coverage, please call your insurance provider and obtain the necessary prior authorization before an office visit.
Missed Appointments
For each visit including the initial evaluation, you are responsible to remember your appointment times. A reminder email may be sent to you with the scheduled date and time out of courtesy but it is still your responsibility to write these down at the time of scheduling and be there as agreed. Missed appointments or appointments not cancelled prior to 48 hours before the scheduled time will be charged the full amount. This fee will automatically be charged by Dr. George if a “no show” occurs. We understand that there are special circumstances that cannot be avoided (emergency, severe weather, etc.) and such events will be taken into account if a courtesy phone call is made and the circumstances are appropriate (emergency, severe weather, ect.).
Lateness
If a patient is more than 10 minutes late to an appointment a late fee may be charged to make up for the physician’s time or the appointment may have to be rescheduled and a late cancellation fee charged ($100 or up to the entire session fee depending on circumstances).
Release of Information
If you would like our staff to communicate with anyone regarding patient care, you must complete a Release of Medical Information form. This can be obtained by clicking on the forms tab on this website and then downloading the appropriate form. The signature on this form must be witnessed.
If the patient has received previous treatment with another provider or facility, we encourage you to contact them and request that they send us a copy of past medical records. These medical records are an essential part in obtaining an accurate history of your treatment. Most physicians and treatment facilities are more than willing to provide these records. We recommend calling the physician or treatment facility to request a release of information. In addition, we have found it helpful if you contact the physician or treatment facility approximately a week before the appointment to verify that the records have been sent. In some cases, an initial appointment will not be scheduled until these records are received.
Information on the security of the patient’s medical record is contained in our Notice of Privacy Practices. This information is available to you upon request and will be offered before or at your first visit.
Prescription Requests
Dr. George requires that all refill requests are taken care of at the time of a scheduled appointment except in the case of an emergency (with no more than one of these occurring per patient over a two year period) and even then only during business hours . In order to practice appropriate prescribing practices the patient must be seen by the prescribing physician at regular intervals to ensure the medication is being utilized properly without undue side effects and is an effective treatment for the symptoms reported. Once a patient is stable on their medication regimen Dr. George will be happy to fill 90-day mail order prescriptions. However, by law, she cannot offer this service for any controlled substance (e.g. stimulants).
Phone Calls
If you are having a reaction to a medication and feel it is urgent, please call our after hours urgent number 970-430-5458 or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room or call the Statewide Crisis Hotline in CO 24/7 at (844)493-8255. If you feel it is not urgent, call and leave Dr. George a message (including the date, time, patient’s name, the name of the person calling, and an appropriate call back number and the times you can be reached there, and a brief message as to the nature of the patient’s problem) at 970-430-5458 and she will make every effort to return your call within 1-2 business days. If the matter is complex an appointment will likely be required to spend the appropriate time and attention on the issue. If phone calls become lengthy or frequent then you will be charged for the time spent at the regular appointment rate (insurance is not likely to cover such calls).
Communication
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment please feel free to call the office number 970-430-5458 IF this is less than 48 hours before your appointment a late cancellation fee will apply as described above except in special circumstances that cannot be avoided (emergencies, sickness, severe weather). If you are experiencing a medication side effect and feel it is urgent please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room, if non-urgent call the office or email and Dr. George will make every effort to contact you within 1-2 business days. Please leave the patient’s name, date of birth, medication, and the symptoms being experienced.
For each visit including the initial evaluation, you are responsible to remember your appointment times. A reminder email may be sent to you with the scheduled date and time out of courtesy but it is still your responsibility to write these down at the time of scheduling and be there as agreed. Missed appointments or appointments not cancelled prior to 48 hours before the scheduled time will be charged the full amount. This fee will automatically be charged by Dr. George if a “no show” occurs. We understand that there are special circumstances that cannot be avoided (emergency, severe weather, etc.) and such events will be taken into account if a courtesy phone call is made and the circumstances are appropriate (emergency, severe weather, ect.).
Lateness
If a patient is more than 10 minutes late to an appointment a late fee may be charged to make up for the physician’s time or the appointment may have to be rescheduled and a late cancellation fee charged ($100 or up to the entire session fee depending on circumstances).
Release of Information
If you would like our staff to communicate with anyone regarding patient care, you must complete a Release of Medical Information form. This can be obtained by clicking on the forms tab on this website and then downloading the appropriate form. The signature on this form must be witnessed.
If the patient has received previous treatment with another provider or facility, we encourage you to contact them and request that they send us a copy of past medical records. These medical records are an essential part in obtaining an accurate history of your treatment. Most physicians and treatment facilities are more than willing to provide these records. We recommend calling the physician or treatment facility to request a release of information. In addition, we have found it helpful if you contact the physician or treatment facility approximately a week before the appointment to verify that the records have been sent. In some cases, an initial appointment will not be scheduled until these records are received.
Information on the security of the patient’s medical record is contained in our Notice of Privacy Practices. This information is available to you upon request and will be offered before or at your first visit.
Prescription Requests
Dr. George requires that all refill requests are taken care of at the time of a scheduled appointment except in the case of an emergency (with no more than one of these occurring per patient over a two year period) and even then only during business hours . In order to practice appropriate prescribing practices the patient must be seen by the prescribing physician at regular intervals to ensure the medication is being utilized properly without undue side effects and is an effective treatment for the symptoms reported. Once a patient is stable on their medication regimen Dr. George will be happy to fill 90-day mail order prescriptions. However, by law, she cannot offer this service for any controlled substance (e.g. stimulants).
Phone Calls
If you are having a reaction to a medication and feel it is urgent, please call our after hours urgent number 970-430-5458 or call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room or call the Statewide Crisis Hotline in CO 24/7 at (844)493-8255. If you feel it is not urgent, call and leave Dr. George a message (including the date, time, patient’s name, the name of the person calling, and an appropriate call back number and the times you can be reached there, and a brief message as to the nature of the patient’s problem) at 970-430-5458 and she will make every effort to return your call within 1-2 business days. If the matter is complex an appointment will likely be required to spend the appropriate time and attention on the issue. If phone calls become lengthy or frequent then you will be charged for the time spent at the regular appointment rate (insurance is not likely to cover such calls).
Communication
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment please feel free to call the office number 970-430-5458 IF this is less than 48 hours before your appointment a late cancellation fee will apply as described above except in special circumstances that cannot be avoided (emergencies, sickness, severe weather). If you are experiencing a medication side effect and feel it is urgent please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room, if non-urgent call the office or email and Dr. George will make every effort to contact you within 1-2 business days. Please leave the patient’s name, date of birth, medication, and the symptoms being experienced.
