Desert Mountain Psychiatric Associates, P.C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Email & Online Consultations

DMPA E-MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

1. GO TO THE WEBSITE: www.dmpa.medem.com
2. Go to the "Log in" box to register.
3. Although you are required to enter in your credit card information, the maximum e-mail charge you may be billed is $35.00. This is cheaper than a 10-15 minute phone consultation which is billed at minimum of $65.00.

FOLLOW THESE RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES LISTED BELOW. THANK YOU.

Please follow these instructions to improve communication.

1. Use alternative forms of communication for:
*Emergencies and other time sensitive issues.
*Sensitive information. (Do not assume all email is confidential).
*Situations in which a response may be delayed (if the doctor is out of town).

2. For all emergencies call the office first to find the correct doctor to page, or call 911.

3. Call your pharmacy first for all refills, and have them fax refill authorizations to us.

4. Do not use email for a refill request. Call and leave a voicemail (480)-551-8004 if your pharmacist is unable to assist you.

5. Be concise.

6. Keep copies of email you receive.

7. Your emails are saved in your record.

8. Your messages will be handled by the office staff, or may be shared with consultants (if necessary).

9. When writing emails with medication questions always list:
A) the patient's full name.
B) the name of your medication(s)
C) dosage
D) exact times you take your medication

10. When your medication regimen is stabilized, each patient is expected to have an appointment every three to four months for monitoring.

11. DO NOT send any email that has attachments, downloads, or email unrelated to your medical care (due to embedded internet viruses). All such email that is improperly identified in the subject section will be unopened and deleted from the system.

Your First Appointment with a Psychiatrist

Your Intitial Appointment

During your first appointment with your Psychiatrist you will be meeting directly with them for an hour and a half. The first sixty minutes will be spent reviewing the history of your presenting problem, your medical history, past psychiatric history, family history, developmental history (development from prenatal to birth, up through age 18), and time to cover your social history. The latter (social history) covers areas that include your life time history of living situations, school & academic history, drug & alcohol history, religious background, legal history, and environmental factors affecting your mental health.

Review of questionnaires and screens filled out by the patient and their family will also be a part of your initial assessment, and be a factor in arriving at a diagnosis and development of a treatment plan.

During the final thirty minutes of your appointment your Doctor will cover their assessment and give you a diagnostic impression. They will go over treatment options and recommendations. If medication is prescribed, the next scheduled appointment will be approximately 10-14 days from you initial appointment.

Your Follow-up Appointment

During your second appointment a review of your response to medication including both side effects, and positive effects will be conducted. As all medications have their limitations, your Doctor will assess whether maximum results have been achieved, or whether an increase in your dosage, or even a switch to another medication will be indicated. As your mental health improves, your appointments will be spaced out to a greater span between appointments such that when a stable dosing of medication is achieved, your follow up appointments will occur every three to four months, and at a minimum, need to be once every six months.

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