POLICIES

• The initial appointment is a consultation only.  At the end of the initial consultation, Dr. Ganim will make a mutual decision on whether his practice fits your expectations and treatment needs.  This also means that Dr. Ganim may decide that his practice cannot meet your needs and will be unable to accept you as a patient.
• The frequency of our appointments will vary depending on the situation but can vary from once every two weeks to two months.
• No audio or video recording is permitted during visits. 
• As a small private practice Dr. Ganim does not offer disability assessments, emotional support letters, forensic evaluations, or court ordered treatment.
• Emails are not secure so please remember to not include sensitive information and be very brief. All clinical private information should only be shared with Dr. Ganim during visits and NOT on emails or voicemails.

Telepsychiatry/Telemedicine

• Telemedicine appointments are available and may not work for certain patients but Dr. Ganim will discuss with you if this is an appropriate fit and the frequency of appointments. Dr. Ganim requires at least one initial face-to-face evaluation, and at least one face-to-face visit each year depending on the situation.

Emergencies

• Emails are never appropriate for emergencies
• Should an emergency situation arise, call 911 or go to nearest emergency room

Prescription Refills for Medications as well as Controlled Medications

• Please notify the office one week in advance of a medication refill. 
• In general, all refill requests should be made during appointment times. Exceptions are made for changes to your medication between appointments or the unforeseen need for refills/rescheduling issues beyond your control.
• Stimulants (many medications for ADHD) and Benzodiazepines (certain medications for anxiety such as Klonopin) are controlled medications. The refills and prescriptions for these medications are very strictly monitored by the DEA and New York State Board, since they are very easily and commonly abused and even illegally traded. If you are prescribed one of these medications, it is critical that you follow the office controlled medication policy as follows:
• You MUST take these medications as directed.
• If you feel you need to adjust your dose to a higher dose of the medication, you must call the office and make an appointment to consult with Dr. Ganim prior to making any adjustments to your dose.
• You must be responsible with your medication and take measures to ensure that your medication is not lost or stolen.
• At times an unscheduled toxicology screen may be necessary during treatment, either to monitor for presence of any illicit substances or confirm compliance with a certain medication.
• If you require an early refill of your medication or your medication was lost/stolen, you may be in violation of the controlled medication policy, Dr. Ganim will have to discuss with you on a case by case basis, and he will not provide you with an early refill of controlled medications as it is against DEA/NY state policies.  Any violations of the policy will result in your termination as a patient with Dr. Ganim. 

Prior Authorizations

• There are office fees for these forms and phone calls. Sometimes your insurance require that medications require a prior authorization form as well as multiple phone calls which can take up to an hour or more. You would have to contact the office for the fees if this occurs. 

Cancellations and Missed Appointments

• You will not be charged for cancellations made at least 24 hours in advance.
• Cancellations made less than 24 hours are charged a fee of $50, no exceptions. 
• If you are very late for the appointment Dr. Ganim will not be able to extend the time of the appointment as it will interfere with the care of the next patient.