For children and teenagers under 18, documentation of symptoms before age 12 is needed. Testing is often performed through the school system or private psychologists.  Report cards, teacher comments, and special teachers forms can also be used to make the diagnosis.  For adults, the diagnosis can be much harder. If you don't have evidence of ADHD treatment from earlier years, observer forms are required. These are tailor made to be completed by current supervisors. Other helpful documentation incudes workplace performance reviews, personal improvement plans (PIP's), and disciplinary records showing problems with ADHD symptoms: concentration, inattention, or hyperactivity. If none of these can be produced, a referral can be made to a psychologist for ADHD testing, and working as a team, I can then provide the correct treatment.

Third-Party Informant Report Examples

• Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) — has a significant other/observer version specifically for this
• Brown ADD Rating Scales — also has observer forms
• Ask for a current supervisor or coworker report to prove impairment at work
• Workplace performance reviews, PIPs, disciplinary records — these are gold if they document inattention, disorganization, and/or missed deadlines

Yes, it is of utmost importance to maintain patient privacy and keep information secure. The technology used is via a private, secure, HIPAA-compliant platform allows you to safely and confidentially consult with me online. All forms submitted are HIPAA compliant. All credit card information is encrypted and 100% backed by a CyberInsurance policy. 

HIPAA Privacy Rule Link

A patient would see a psychiatrist for medication management and a psychologist for talk therapy. Sometimes the best form of treatment is a combination of both talk therapy and medication management. Psychiatrists and therapists are each able to evaluate a person to determine whether one or both treatments approaches are necessary, and can make recommendations based on their assessment.

Telemedicine software is the platform or technology infrastructure that allows private, secure, HIPAA-compliant, and high-quality medical consultations via videoconference. The software typically has algorithms that help dispatchers choose, notify, and confirm the most appropriate clinician for the patient based on specialty, sub-specialty, hospital privileges, and availability timeframe. Telemedicine software allows providers to connect with patients, share video and images, as well as collaborate with other clinicians in real-time. It can be integrated with electronic health records and scheduling systems.

Virtual medical consultations are not like typical videoconferences. They must be HIPAA-compliant which means they must be secure and private. They must also provide clear high-quality video and audio of both clinician and patient. High-speed internet is required to ensure no interruptions or degradation of quality.

Individual telepsychiatry visits are conducted through video conferencing. You need a webcam/video camera and microphone compatible with our software. You will also need a broadband internet connection (DSL, Cable, T1, or higher).

Special requests—such as letters for accommodations, disability, or legal matters—are reviewed and approved solely at Dr. Sachs’ discretion on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not guaranteed. Minimum requirements include being an established patient in good standing for at least six months, allowing Dr. Sachs sufficient time to get to know you. All financial obligations must also be settled in advance.

Yes, we have telepsychiatry guidelines in place which follow federal and state laws and regulations.

Please see the Pricing page for all pricing questions.

By charging cash, I really will just be charging your credit card after the appointment.  This allows me to cut through the red-tape of insurance, and I can schedule patients quickly, urgently, and as often as they need my help. 

The cash-first model is the standard in larger cities. It works and works well. It's a newer concept in this area. By not taking insurance directly, I don't have to wait to get on your specific insurance panel, a process that can take months and hundreds of dollars. I can see patients quickly, which is particularly helpful with children who may be under time-pressure from their school or parent to be seen by a child psychiatrist and get the necessary intervention.

https://www.choosingtherapy.com/superbill/

Yes. Electronic interactions with health care providers are subject to the same state and federal privacy and confidentiality laws as in-person interactions, including HIPAA. These. transmissions use security protocols that are HIPAA and HITECH compliant. Video conferences may not be recorded by either party without written consent. Your psychiatrist will keep a confidential medical record of your care and a complete privacy policy will be provided to you upon registration.

Some aspects of the remote interaction with your physician may not be confidential. These would all be the same privacy consent for in-person appointments, such as sharing notes with referring providers or other healthcare professionals involved in the patient’s care, but not psychotherapy notes unless deemed necessary for the health of the patient.

One in four Americans is affected by emotional distress at some time in life, but only one in eight seeks care. From chronic concerns such as depression and anxiety to recent stress caused by events such as grief, divorce, parenthood, or other major life changes, online psychiatry allows for reliable and convenient visits with licensed and highly trained physicians. I can schedule you, see you at a time a place of your choosing, reduce the number of hours spent driving to and from the appointment, eliminate the awkwardness and privacy issues of a waiting room, work to get you an appointment quickly and prescribe electronically. Psychiatry is one of the only specialties that allow for real-time synchronous telemedicine.

First, you will submit a screening form on my website: www.matthewsachsmd.com. Based on your initial answers, I can quickly decide if I can be helpful with your specific needs. I then open a “Patient Portal” called “My Medical Locker,” where you fill out additional paperwork, answer other historical questions, electronically sign consent forms, schedule appointments, and make payments.

Yes, Dr. Sachs is board-certified in psychiatry for children and adolescents and licensed in the states of North Carolina, Virginia, and DC for all types of mental health issues and the prescriptions that go with them. A parent or someone older than 18 MUST be at the appointment though since we are discussing medication.

Unfortunately, unless it’s an emergency, I can only see patients who are located in North Carolina, Virginia, or DC during the appointment. 

Video-based telepsychiatry sessions are affordable and readily accessible for almost any mental health condition. The following are the benefits of electronic mental health services.

• Improve access to mental health specialty care especially in rural areas
• Care comes to the patient’s location in the same state
• Reduce trips to the emergency room because appointments with me can be made quickly
• Reduce delays in care and long waits for appointments
• Improve continuity of care with primary care doctors or therapists 
• Eliminates driving, scheduling time off work, and/or childcare since the appointment comes “to you”
• Eliminate the awkwardness of a waiting room experience
• Reduce the stigma barrier of psychiatric appointments
• Allows for self-scheduling and control over your mental health care

Most people are comfortable and more relaxed talking to someone else on a screen. People feel safer in their homes and like the privacy that online psychiatry offers. There are many other conveniences, such as privacy since there are no waiting rooms filled with people you may or may not know. Appointments are more convenient and occupy a smaller portion of your day since traveling is not involved. There are substantial research articles and clinical evidence of the effectiveness of online psychiatry. Telepsychiatry is as accurate as an in-person visit for diagnostic correctness, treatment effectiveness, quality of care, and patient satisfaction. Patients of all ages report favorable impressions of telepsychiatry. People with severe anxiety or autism may benefit even more due to the privacy and less stressful environment of having an appointment from their own home. Medication is only prescribed with an actual prescription.