New counseling/mental health client – adult

What is the purpose of Psychiatric Services?
You have been referred to see an FCS prescriber for psychotropic medication services. This referral usually comes from your therapist, a hospital, or someone in FCS’s intake department. You are being referred for a psychiatric evaluation to determine if you might benefit from psychotropic medication. It is the sole discretion of the FCS APN to decide if they will continue medications that were started by other prescribers.

Why do I need to bring when I see the prescriber?
Please bring a list of medications you’re currently taking (whether they’re psychiatric medications or others like over-the-counter). If you have been seen in the hospital (emergency room, inpatient psychiatric, etc.) recently, please bring the discharge paperwork you were given. If applicable, please also bring any recent laboratory blood work results or past medical records from previous psychiatric providers.

How often do I see the prescriber?
That’s up to you and your prescriber. All people who are prescribed medications at FCS must be seen at least every 3 months – it’s our belief that going any longer than that is not best practice. You and your prescriber may decide to have you come in more frequently.

Will I have to wait long to see the prescriber on the days I have an appointment with him/her?
We hope not, but like any doctor’s office, it can sometimes get backed up when we have to deal with emergencies or other unexpected issues that come up when clients are seeing the prescriber.

What happens if I am late for an appointment or miss an appointment with the prescriber?
If you arrive more than 5 minutes late for an appointment, you will be required to reschedule. If you miss an appointment, come late or do not cancel before 24 hours you will have to pay a fee of $20.

You also will not be able to receive a medication refill until you see the prescriber. Please note: Our appointments are very full. If you mibss an appointment it may take several weeks before you can receive a new appointment.

If I have questions about my medications (side effects, getting refills, etc.), who do I contact?
Start by contacting the support staff in the Psychiatric Services Department, phone number is 630-844-2662.

If I need a refill in between appointments, what should I do?
If you attend all your appointments, this shouldn’t happen. If it does, though, you have 2 options:

1. Request a refill online. Go to www.aurorafcs.org, click on “Connect” at the top of the page, then click “Medication Refill Request.” Provide your information and we’ll process your request.
2. Have your pharmacy fax us a refill request at (630) 844-3084.

PLEASE NOTE: It will usually take us up to 48 business hours to process any refill request. Our prescribers are not on call.

What is FCS’s policy when it comes to controlled substances?
FCS prescribers are of the belief that benzodiazepine medications are not a long term solution to persistent anxiety. We will sometimes prescribe controlled substances to treat certain mental health symptoms. This includes medications that fall under the following classifications: narcotics, tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and barbiturates. These medications have a high potential for being misused/abused, and are therefore closely monitored and controlled by local, state, and federal authorities. When it comes to prescribing controlled substances, we take our responsibility for your safety and the safety of others very seriously.

For your prescriber to provide a controlled substance to help manage your/your child’s/etc. symptoms, you must agree to the following:

• I am responsible for the controlled substance medications prescribed to me/my child/etc. If the prescription is lost, misplaced, stolen or I run out of the medication before another refill is available, I understand it CANNOT be replaced.
• I give permission for my provider to discuss my diagnostic and treatment details with other providers providing my medical care and with my pharmacists for the purpose of maintaining accountability. I will provide a signed consent for release of information for that to happen.
• I will use ONLY ONE pharmacy for all my Scheduled I, II, III and IV medication refills.
• I understand that driving a motor vehicle may not be allowed while taking a controlled substance medication and that it is my responsibility to comply with the laws of the state while taking the prescribed medications.
• I may be asked to participate in RANDOM URINE DRUG testing at the discretion of the psychiatric services provider. The test will show the presence of my prescribed medication but will also show any mood-altering substances that may be in my system. I understand that mood-altering substances can have negative outcomes on my treatment. The absence of my prescribed medications may lead to FCS stopping the prescribing of certain medications.
• I will not request or accept controlled substance medication from other medical providers or individuals without informing psychiatric services. I will not give, share or sell my medications to any other person.
• I understand that if I violate any of the above conditions, my treatment with controlled substance medications at FCS will be terminated immediately.

How long can I receive psychiatric services at FCS?
FCS does not provide a stand-alone psychiatric clinic. Psychiatric Services are designed to serve as an ancillary support to the therapy process. Persons served may utilize Psychiatric Services for psychotropic medication evaluation and management while they are actively engaged in therapy.

Individuals who have been determined by the treating therapist to have completed therapy goals, and those who have self-elected to discontinue or disengage from therapy services, will be subject to the following transition plan:

• Persons served who have completed their therapy goals will be provided with 90 days of continued psychiatric treatment and medication prescription. During the 90-day transition period, the individual can look to continue their psychotropic medication prescriptions through their primary care physician or another psychiatric provider. If the individual requires any assistance with linkage and referral to their primary care physician or other psychiatric provider, they should contact the Manager of Care Coordination Services at 630-844-2662 ext. 254. FCS psychiatric services will cease at the end of the 90-day transition period.
• Persons served who have self-elected to disengage or discontinue therapy services will be provided with 90 days of continued psychiatric treatment and medication prescription. During the 90-day transition period, the individual can look to continue their psychotropic medication prescriptions through their primary care physician or another psychiatric provider. If the individual requires any assistance with linkage and referral to their primary care physician or other psychiatric provider, they should inform the Psychiatric Case Manager. FCS psychiatric services will cease at the end of the 90-day transition period. Individuals who indicate to that they would like to re-engage with therapy services at FCS will be directed to the Intake Department for assessment and treatment planning.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Anyone receiving psychiatric (medication) services at FCS must also be actively participating in therapy or other forms of treatment with FCS. Clients who stop participating in therapy or other services will not be able to continue seeing a doctor/nurse practitioner at FCS.
• For all clinical appointments, clients under the age of 18 must have an adult or guardian present during the assessment with the registered nurse and psychiatric nurse. Any client under 18 years present without an adult or guardian will not be seen on the day of and the appointment will be
  rescheduled.
• Certain psychiatric services and appointments are now being offered through video conferencing, please ask your clinician or the support staff more about this service.