Comprehensive Care,
From Anywhere
Psychiatric Evaluation · Telehealth · Ongoing Follow-Up
Everything you need to know about how care works at MedStart Psychiatry — from the moment you book your first appointment through your ongoing follow-up visits. Simple, secure, and designed around your life.
How care works — step by step
From the first click to your ongoing follow-up visits, here is exactly what to expect at every stage. No guesswork, no uncertainty — just a clear path forward.
Book Online — Takes About 2 Minutes
Use the secure online booking portal to select your appointment type and choose a time that works for you. New patients are typically offered an appointment within 1 to 3 days.
You can book for yourself directly — no referral required. If you are unsure which appointment type to select, choose the Initial Psychiatric Evaluation and we can discuss the rest at your visit.
📅 Available appointment types at booking: Initial Psychiatric Evaluation · ADHD Evaluation with QbCheck · QbCheck Test Only · Follow-Up Visit · Free 10-Minute Consultation
You Receive a Confirmation Email with Your Telehealth Link
Within minutes of booking, you will receive a confirmation email containing your secure telehealth video link for your appointment. Save this — it is how you will join your visit.
The email also includes any intake paperwork to complete before your appointment. Completing this in advance helps your clinician make the most of your appointment time.
📧 Check your spam folder if you do not see the confirmation. Contact us at (480) 420-8204 if you have any trouble accessing your link or paperwork.
Prepare for Your Telehealth Appointment
A few minutes of preparation makes a significant difference. Before your visit, find a private, quiet location where you feel comfortable speaking openly. You do not need a dedicated office — a parked car, a bedroom with the door closed, or any space where you won't be interrupted works perfectly.
Helpful to have ready: A list of current medications and dosages · Names of past medications that didn't work or caused side effects · Any prior diagnoses or evaluations · A few notes on your main concerns — you don't need to have everything organized, just bring what you have
Join Your Visit — Click the Link, That's It
At your appointment time, click the secure video link from your confirmation email. No app download is required for most devices — the visit opens directly in your browser. A smartphone, tablet, or laptop with a camera and microphone is all you need.
Your clinician will join within a few minutes of the scheduled start time. If you experience any technical difficulty connecting, call (480) 420-8204 immediately and we will assist you or switch to a phone call.
⏱ Initial evaluations are typically 60–75 minutes. Follow-up visits are typically 20–30 minutes. Please be in a private space and ready at your scheduled time.
Your Care Plan Is Discussed Before You Leave
Before your appointment ends, your clinician will walk you through their assessment, explain any diagnosis or clinical impressions, and discuss a clear, individualized plan — including whether and what medication may be recommended, any referrals to therapy, and when to schedule your follow-up.
If a prescription is appropriate, it is sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy — typically on the same day as your appointment.
💊 Prescriptions are sent electronically to your pharmacy of choice. Controlled substances require specific regulations — your clinician will explain any relevant requirements at the time of prescribing.
Follow-Up Visits Keep Your Care on Track
Ongoing psychiatric care requires regular check-ins — especially in the early stages of treatment when medications may need adjustment or when life circumstances change. Follow-up visits are focused, efficient, and unhurried.
At each follow-up, your clinician will review how you have been feeling since your last appointment, assess medication effectiveness and tolerability, make any adjustments needed, and discuss any new concerns. You will leave with a clear understanding of next steps.
📆 Typical follow-up frequency: Every 2–4 weeks when starting or adjusting medication · Every 4–8 weeks once stable · Flexible scheduling based on your clinical needs and availability
Why telehealth works — and works well
Telehealth psychiatry is not a compromise. It is a clinically equivalent, research-supported model of care that removes the most common barriers to accessing mental health support — distance, scheduling, transportation, and the discomfort of an unfamiliar waiting room.
See Your Clinician From Home
Your visit takes place in a space you choose — your home, your car, your office, anywhere private. No commute, no parking, no waiting room. Many patients find the familiar environment makes it easier to speak openly.
No App Download Required
Your secure video link opens directly in your phone, tablet, or computer browser. No account creation, no app installation. Click the link in your confirmation email and you are in.
Fully HIPAA-Compliant and Private
All video visits are conducted through an encrypted, HIPAA-compliant platform. Your conversation is completely private — the same legal protections that apply in an in-person office apply to your telehealth visit.
Serving All of Arizona
Telehealth removes geographic barriers entirely. Whether you are in Phoenix, Tucson, a rural community, or anywhere else in Arizona, you have access to the same quality of psychiatric care.
What you need for your telehealth visit
A note on text messaging
Standard text messages and regular email are not HIPAA-secure and should not be used to share personal health information. All clinical communication takes place through the secure patient portal. If you need to reach the practice for a non-urgent matter, please use the portal or call (480) 420-8204.
What a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation actually covers
A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation is not a checklist or a questionnaire. It is a structured, in-depth clinical conversation designed to understand your full experience — not just your current symptoms, but the full context of who you are, what you have been through, and what you are hoping for.
Your History
A full review of your personal and family mental health history, including any prior diagnoses, hospitalizations, therapy, and how previous treatments worked or didn't work.
Current Symptoms
A thorough exploration of what you are experiencing now — mood, sleep, energy, concentration, anxiety, relationships, and daily functioning — and how long and how severely these symptoms have been affecting you.
Medications & Medical History
Current and past medications, supplements, medical conditions, and any substances — all of which can directly affect mental health and influence treatment decisions.
Your Life Context
Relationships, stressors, work, living situation, and life history — because mental health does not exist in a vacuum. Understanding your context shapes every clinical decision.
Your Goals
What matters most to you — what you want to feel like, what you want to be able to do, what "better" means in your own words. Treatment planning is built around your goals, not generic outcomes.
A Clear Plan Before You Leave
Your clinician will share their clinical impressions, explain any diagnosis in plain language, and outline a specific next steps plan — before the appointment ends. No waiting for a follow-up letter.
You don't need to arrive with answers — just a willingness to talk
Many patients arrive at their first appointment feeling unsure about what to say, worried they won't be able to describe what they're going through, or concerned that their symptoms "aren't serious enough." None of that is necessary. You do not need a prepared speech, a formal diagnosis, or certainty about what is wrong. The evaluation is designed to help figure that out together. Bring yourself, be honest, and the rest will follow.
Questions patients often ask before booking
Ready to take the first step?
Booking takes two minutes. Your first appointment is a conversation — no pressure, no judgment, and no need to have everything figured out before you arrive. New patients are typically seen within 1 to 3 days.
Insurance: Currently accepting Tricare West. Cash-pay welcome — superbill provided on request. Additional plans coming soon.
Telehealth · Arizona · English & Polish · (480) 420-8204