PATIENT PORTAL

A Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse who has received specialized psychiatric training through a master's or doctoral degree. They are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and families with psychiatric disorders or the potential for such disorders using their full scope of therapeutic skills, including the prescription of medication and administration of psychotherapy.

Each provider accepts a variety of different insurances, but most do accept BCBS, Regence, Premera, LifeWise, Cigna and First Choice Health plans. Having said that, it is best for you to check with your insurance plan, prior to your visit, to ensure your provider is in-network and what your financial responsibility will be.

Your provider will determine this based on your mental symptoms at the appointment, but can range from weekly to every 1 to 3 months.

As a first step, we collect some necessary information about you and your psychiatric history, including past and current medications, in order to help match you with a provider/s that are best suited to your needs. We will then have you register for the Patient Portal and fill out the necessary intake paperwork (all done online). We will then contact you to schedule an appointment.

Teleheath appointments are conducted virtually, so a good reliable internet connection and a computer (with a microphone and speakers) or a mobile phone is required. A computer is better than a mobile phone, but a mobile phone is an acceptable alternative and is also a good backup should you have computer issues. Make sure your chosen device is fully charged or plugged in. Having access to a blood pressure cuff and a bathroom scale is helpful. If possible, take a reading from each of these devices prior to your telehealth visit and record the reading. Find a quite place for your appointment, where you will not be interrupted or distracted, and use headphones if possible. Having a location with good lighting so your provider can see you clearly is helpful. Download any required app or software program utilized by the medical provider in advance of the appointment, and set up your account or login information. (The telehealth provider will give you instructions beforehand.) Make sure the lighting is good in the location you want to use for the virtual appointment so the provider can see you clearly.

We recommend calling the 24-hour Crisis line at 988, or reporting to the nearest Emergency Room. However, if this is a life threatening emergency please call 911.

We ask for as much notice as possible, but 24 hours in advance at minimum to avoid being charged a cancellation/missed appointment fee. Each provider has a very tight schedule and often a wait list for open appointments. We value your time, and in return, we ask that you value our time.

Spruce does not provide the healthcare services. The heath care services are provided by the independent Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners. Spruce has been contracted by these independent Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners to help provide administrative practice management services.