SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT
In order to schedule an initial appointment, please call (626)723-3099 or email at info@mhi-pas.com. We strive to be accessible and return all calls and emails as quickly as possible. Please download the new patient forms under the 'Forms' tab. You should complete them and bring them with you to the initial appointment. If you have any problems downloading or printing the forms, please contact us and we will figure out an alternative way to get them to you.
THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT
Please be on time for your initial appointment. Our staff will greet you at the front desk. In addition, our offices suite uses a call light system. In order to let your provider know that you have arrived, please push the call light next to your provider's nameplate. Your provider will then greet you in the lobby at your appointment time.
Although the initial session (i.e., 90 minutes for psychiatrists) is generally sufficient to complete the evaluation, it is sometimes necessary for an evaluation to take part over several weeks. This is determined on an individual basis and discussed during this initial session. It is important that our specialists complete the evaluation prior to beginning treatment. This helps to ensure safe practices and allows for collection of supplemental information (i.e., contacting previous mental health providers or collateral sources, obtaining labs, etc.) when necessary. If you have past medical or mental health records, including copies of previous laboratory results or other test results, please bring them to the first visit. It is also important to have contact information for your previous mental health providers and other physicians so that we can obtain collateral information, if needed.
CANCELLATION AND NO-SHOW POLICIES
Should you need to cancel an appointment, please do so at least 48 business hours (or 2 business days) in advance. Business hours are considered weekdays and exclude holidays. Both telephone and email are acceptable ways to alert your clinician of a cancellation. Cancellations made less than 48 business hours ahead of time and no shows are charged the full session fee.
PROFESSIONAL FEES
Please call our office at 626-723-3099 to obtain updated fees.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
Mind Health Institute, Pasadena accepts checks, cash and all major credit cards for all professional services.
INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
Our specialist are considered "out of network" providers for most PPO plans and do not participate in any insurance panels. Full payment of clinical services is required at every visit. If you have a health benefits policy that provides mental health coverage, you may be entitled to insurance reimbursement for any provided professional services. You can discuss this with your insurance company by contacting them directly. Our staff will provide you with a receipt (often referred to as a 'Super Bill') that you can submit directly to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
MEDICATION POLICY
When medications are used, prescriptions are generally written to last until the next scheduled appointment (this includes stimulant medications). Thus, over‑the‑phone refills are rarely necessary. This policy is important in order to minimize medications errors and to maximize patient safety. If an appointment must be rescheduled or canceled, we will make every effort to reschedule it in a timely manner and also provide enough medications to last until that next appointment. For any routine refills please contact the office during our office hours at lease 7 days prior to running out of your medication. We ask that you submit your requests to your provider directly and do not submit medication requests to your pharmacy.
MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS
Treatment records are kept in accordance with legal and professional standards. Mind Health Institute, Pasadena currently uses a medical record system called Practice Fusion. We will always keep your records private. However, as with all electronic systems, there are factors that are sometimes outside of our control. We will always strive to ensure your information is kept confidential and compliant with HIPPA regulations. As such, we reserve the right to change electronic health record systems, if necessary, based on these principals.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of appropriate mental health care, and is also protected by the law. Thus, we generally can only release information about our work with written permission. Several exceptions do exist. For example, insurance companies generally require some basic information if you choose to seek reimbursement. Electronic Health Records are also third parties that are subject to similar confidentiality standards. Additionally, there are several instances in which mental health professionals are required by law to report or take action: (a) Making provisions for your safety if there is a threat of imminent harm to yourself, (b) Taking protective actions (including notifying potential victims or police) if there is a threat of serious bodily harm to others, (c) Reporting potential child, elder, or dependent abuse, (d) Legal testimony if subpoenaed/ordered by a court, and (e) Assisting in accessing services if a patient is unable to meet their basic needs (including food, clothing, and/or shelter) due to a mental illness. Please note that these exceptions are rare and it is our goal to always maintain strict confidentiality.
E-MAIL POLICY
Email is not a confidential means of communication. As such, clinical information should not be sent via this form of communication. This includes any information pertaining to diagnosis, medications, therapy, etc. As a convenience to you, our specialists are willing to send basic information and the staff will provide you with schedule appointment reminder via text or email. We are careful not to compromise the confidentiality of your personal health information via email. This information should be addressed during scheduled appointments, and over the phone if urgent. By providing us your email address on the patient information form, you are agreeing that email is an acceptable form of communication for you despite its limitations with respect to confidentiality.
In order to schedule an initial appointment, please call (626)723-3099 or email at info@mhi-pas.com. We strive to be accessible and return all calls and emails as quickly as possible. Please download the new patient forms under the 'Forms' tab. You should complete them and bring them with you to the initial appointment. If you have any problems downloading or printing the forms, please contact us and we will figure out an alternative way to get them to you.
THE INITIAL APPOINTMENT
Please be on time for your initial appointment. Our staff will greet you at the front desk. In addition, our offices suite uses a call light system. In order to let your provider know that you have arrived, please push the call light next to your provider's nameplate. Your provider will then greet you in the lobby at your appointment time.
Although the initial session (i.e., 90 minutes for psychiatrists) is generally sufficient to complete the evaluation, it is sometimes necessary for an evaluation to take part over several weeks. This is determined on an individual basis and discussed during this initial session. It is important that our specialists complete the evaluation prior to beginning treatment. This helps to ensure safe practices and allows for collection of supplemental information (i.e., contacting previous mental health providers or collateral sources, obtaining labs, etc.) when necessary. If you have past medical or mental health records, including copies of previous laboratory results or other test results, please bring them to the first visit. It is also important to have contact information for your previous mental health providers and other physicians so that we can obtain collateral information, if needed.
CANCELLATION AND NO-SHOW POLICIES
Should you need to cancel an appointment, please do so at least 48 business hours (or 2 business days) in advance. Business hours are considered weekdays and exclude holidays. Both telephone and email are acceptable ways to alert your clinician of a cancellation. Cancellations made less than 48 business hours ahead of time and no shows are charged the full session fee.
PROFESSIONAL FEES
Please call our office at 626-723-3099 to obtain updated fees.
METHODS OF PAYMENT
Mind Health Institute, Pasadena accepts checks, cash and all major credit cards for all professional services.
INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
Our specialist are considered "out of network" providers for most PPO plans and do not participate in any insurance panels. Full payment of clinical services is required at every visit. If you have a health benefits policy that provides mental health coverage, you may be entitled to insurance reimbursement for any provided professional services. You can discuss this with your insurance company by contacting them directly. Our staff will provide you with a receipt (often referred to as a 'Super Bill') that you can submit directly to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.
MEDICATION POLICY
When medications are used, prescriptions are generally written to last until the next scheduled appointment (this includes stimulant medications). Thus, over‑the‑phone refills are rarely necessary. This policy is important in order to minimize medications errors and to maximize patient safety. If an appointment must be rescheduled or canceled, we will make every effort to reschedule it in a timely manner and also provide enough medications to last until that next appointment. For any routine refills please contact the office during our office hours at lease 7 days prior to running out of your medication. We ask that you submit your requests to your provider directly and do not submit medication requests to your pharmacy.
MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS
Treatment records are kept in accordance with legal and professional standards. Mind Health Institute, Pasadena currently uses a medical record system called Practice Fusion. We will always keep your records private. However, as with all electronic systems, there are factors that are sometimes outside of our control. We will always strive to ensure your information is kept confidential and compliant with HIPPA regulations. As such, we reserve the right to change electronic health record systems, if necessary, based on these principals.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of appropriate mental health care, and is also protected by the law. Thus, we generally can only release information about our work with written permission. Several exceptions do exist. For example, insurance companies generally require some basic information if you choose to seek reimbursement. Electronic Health Records are also third parties that are subject to similar confidentiality standards. Additionally, there are several instances in which mental health professionals are required by law to report or take action: (a) Making provisions for your safety if there is a threat of imminent harm to yourself, (b) Taking protective actions (including notifying potential victims or police) if there is a threat of serious bodily harm to others, (c) Reporting potential child, elder, or dependent abuse, (d) Legal testimony if subpoenaed/ordered by a court, and (e) Assisting in accessing services if a patient is unable to meet their basic needs (including food, clothing, and/or shelter) due to a mental illness. Please note that these exceptions are rare and it is our goal to always maintain strict confidentiality.
E-MAIL POLICY
Email is not a confidential means of communication. As such, clinical information should not be sent via this form of communication. This includes any information pertaining to diagnosis, medications, therapy, etc. As a convenience to you, our specialists are willing to send basic information and the staff will provide you with schedule appointment reminder via text or email. We are careful not to compromise the confidentiality of your personal health information via email. This information should be addressed during scheduled appointments, and over the phone if urgent. By providing us your email address on the patient information form, you are agreeing that email is an acceptable form of communication for you despite its limitations with respect to confidentiality.