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Practice Policies
Our aim is to use modern technology to efficiently deliver the best possible mental health care to patients. To that aim, this page describes the conditions of services provided by Apraku Psychiatry. Patients are required to confirm their consent to these conditions when booking an appointment and when starting a video session with a provider.
Consent to Services
Therapeutic Relationship
All new patients undergo an initial evaluation so that the provider may give advice, make a diagnostic assessment, and offer treatment recommendations where appropriate. After the evaluation, the provider will determine whether it would be appropriate to establish a therapeutic relationship, and the patient may decide whether to seek treatment. Either the provider or the patient may at any time cease treatment and terminate a therapeutic relationship. In certain cases, an Apraku Psychiatry provider may determine that telecommunication is not an appropriate mode of treatment. While the provider may offer advice on the alternative treatment to be sought, they are not responsible for the patient's decision on whether and how to seek such treatment. If a patient faces an emergency---including a threat of physical harm to themselves or others---they should seek help from the relevant emergency services.
Clinical Services
All services rendered by Apraku Psychiatry are provided on an outpatient basis via advance appointment using secure telecommunication software. To ensure continuity of care and appropriate treatment, patients with whom an Apraku Psychiatry provider has an established therapeutic relationship should have a follow-up appointment at least every three months. Federal law places restrictions on the prescription of controlled substances via tele-medicine. This includes stimulants (e.g. Adderall and Ritalin), benzodiazepenes (e.g. Xanax and Klonopin), and sleep medications (e.g. Ambien and Lunesta). If a controlled substance is medically indicated, an Apraku Psychiatry provider may be able to work with a patient's primary care provider.
Written Communication
Patients may use the online patient portal to securely message an Apraku Psychiatry provider. This option is provided as a complementary service to support patient care. While responses are usually prompt, there is no guarantee of immediacy. Messages should not be sent by patients experiencing an emergency; instead, the assistance of relevant emergency services should be sought. Moreover, secure messaging may not be appropriate in other contexts, including when patients seek to change or substantially alter their prescribed medication. In such cases, patients should schedule an appointment to discuss treatment options.
Payment
Apraku Psychiatry does not bill insurance companies directly. While patients will be provided with documentation with which they may seek reimbursement, Apraku Psychiatry does not bear responsibility for the success or otherwise of such insurance claims. To ensure efficiency of services, patients are requested to provide payment details when booking their first appointment. Payment details are securely vaulted by a third-party payment processor. By providing details, the patient consents for Apraku Psychiatry to pre-authorize the payment card in advance of each appointment and to subsequently bill for services at the prevailing fee schedule. In the event of a patient no-show or cancelation that occurs less than 48 hours before the appointment time, Apraku Psychiatry charges half the standard rate of services sought.
Patient Privacy
Confidentiality
The law requires that health care providers maintain the privacy and security of patients' protected health information. Unless instructed by the patient, Apraku Psychiatry will not disclose such information except in the conditions stated here. In compliance with relevant laws, Apraku Psychiatry is unable to guarantee the confidentiality of information when a provider believes that the patient is in imminent danger of harm to themselves or others or a vulnerable person is being abused or neglected or when the law otherwise requires certain information to be disclosed. To ensure effective patient care, limited information may be disclosed to pharmacies, laboratories and other providers of ancillary health care services. With the patient's consent, Apraku Psychiatry may also disclose information to a health care provider or other individual named by the patient. Due to the nature of billing, the name "Apraku Psychiatry" or similar may appear on a statement from the payment card issuer.
Use of Information
Apraku Psychiatry uses patient information to deliver the best possible patient care within the practice. To this aim, patient information may be available to providers within the practice in addition to any ancillary persons whose administrative services may be utilized by the practice. Patient information will not be disclosed outside of the practice except in the circumstances outlined previously.
Request for Medical Records
The patient may request to see a copy of their medical record held by Apraku Psychiatry. Records will be shared unless a provider determines that it would be emotionally damaging to the patient. In this case, the provider may provide a summary of the information that can be discussed at the patient's request. The patient may also request a correction of any information that they believe is incorrect.
Security of Records
To maintain patient records securely, Apraku Psychiatry may utilize the services of electronic medical records companies. Apraku Psychiatry may also utilize the services of telecommunications companies to facilitate virtual interactions between providers and patients. Where such services are employed, Apraku Psychiatry will maintain a signed HIPAA business associate agreement with the relevant vendors. In the unlikely event that a vendor experiences a security breach, Apraku Psychiatry will make a reasonable effort to notify patients insofar as it is informed by the vendor.
Complaints
At Apraku Psychiatry, patient satisfaction is the ultimate aim. If a patient feels that the practice has fallen short of that aim or that their rights have been violated, they may contact the practice to discuss the matter and seek remedy. Patients may also file a complaint with the Department for Health and Human Services or a state medical board (namely CA, GA, MA, PA or TX), in which case the practice will fully respect the due process.
