Welcome to Specialty Clinic of Austin. We look forward to meeting you! Our mission is to provide our patients with the highest quality psychiatric care and the best patient-care experience. We hope you will enjoy your experience with us!
What should I bring to my new patient appointment?
Please bring the following items to your new patient appointment:
- Your completed New Patient Paperwork. This paperwork must be completed prior to your first appointment. It can be submitted online or completed by hand and faxed to the office prior to your appointment. If you arrive without completed paperwork, the time required to complete it will be deducted from your appointment time.
- Your insurance card.
- A government-issued photo ID.
- Cash, check, or credit card to pay for any co-payments or deductibles.
- A list of your current medications and dosages (this includes non-psychiatric medications, over-the-counter medications, and all vitamins or supplements).
- A copy of your previous mental health records, including neuropsychological evaluations and evaluations for academic accommodations.
- If you have every had any treatment for your psychiatric condition, bring a list of every medication and product you have ever used and the dates used.
How long is a new patient appointment?
All new patients will spend approximately 60 minutes of face-to-face time with their Expert Care clinician. If insurance allows you will be offered the option to arrive 30 minutes prior to your appointment start time to complete scales and screeners. These assess the frequency and severity of your symptoms to provide your clinician with additional information.
Patients who will be completing TOVA testing for ADHD will be scheduled for 90 minutes. The first 30 minutes is dedicated to completion of TOVA testing and the final 60 minutes is dedicated to face-to-face time with your Expert Care clinician.
When should I arrive for my appointment?
All new patients are expected to arrive 10 minutes prior to their appointment start time in order to allow sufficient time to complete the check-in process. As a reminder, you must have your new patient paperwork completed prior to arrival.
What can I expect during my appointment?
Following completion of TOVA testing or scales and screeners (if appropriate) you will meet with your clinician in his or her office for up to 60 minutes. During this time your provider will ask questions about your current symptoms, your past psychiatric treatment, your physical health and social relationships, and your treatment goals. Why so many questions? This information helps your provider understand what is troubling you and develop appropriate treatment recommendations. Your clinician will discuss these treatment recommendations with you, including whether or not pharmacological intervention is warranted and the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of medication. If medication is prescribed the prescriptions will be sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy.
What can I expect after my appointment?
At the conclusion of the visit you will visit the checkout desk where you will schedule your follow up appointment. Once treatment is initiated you will be expected to attend regular follow-up visits. Your clinician will want to follow you closely until your condition is considered clinically stable; this often means more frequent follow up visits initially, but over time you may be eligible for an extended duration of time between appointments (not to exceed 3 months).