Medication Information
Access to Psychiatric Services
The UM Student Counseling Center provides psychiatric evaluation and medication evaluation and management. You are required to meet with a counselor for a complete evaluation before you are permitted to make an appointment with a psychiatrist. The counselor determines the level of care that best fits your needs. If your counselor determines that your needs exceed what the Counseling Center is intended to provide, you will be referred to an outside provider and given assistance with the process.
If your counselor determines that the Counseling Center is an appropriate setting for your treatment, you would be eligible for psychiatric services. There is no limit to the number of medication evaluation and management sessions and they are not counted against the 12 session/year limit of counseling sessions.
Running Out of Medication
It is your responsibility to monitor any supply of medication which has been prescribed for you. You must meet with your psychiatrist at least one week in advance of using your last dose of medication. Keep close track of your medications so that you do not run out.
Most psychiatrists on staff are here only one day a week. If you call stating that you have run out of medication and your psychiatrist is not available, the covering psychiatrist will be asked to review your request. He/she may be reluctant to prescribe a 30 day phone refill and may choose to only prescribe enough medication until you able to communicate or meet with your psychiatrist.
This often results in your using up your co-pay and having to pay out of pocket for the rest of the month’s medicine. This can be very expensive. Some medications cannot be called in for a refill. In those cases you are required by law to see a physician before receiving more medicine. The wisest practice is to make and keep appointments as directed.
Refills for medication prescriptions that you have not kept track of out are not considered to be emergencies. It is your responsibility to plan in advance to make sure that your medication supplies are adequately taken care of.
Limitations to Psychiatric Services
Sometimes your doctor will recommend ongoing contact with a counselor as an essential or required element of your treatment. In these cases, your continued treatment by the psychiatrist is conditional upon your receiving concurrent counseling. If you chose not to follow your psychiatrist’s treatment recommendation, your medication management services will be discontinued, and you would be provided with referrals to an outside psychiatrist.
Missed Appointments
If you miss your appointment, reschedule immediately. Frequent late cancellations or no-shows may negatively impact your treatment plan. If this becomes a pattern, your psychiatrist may discontinue services to you, and you would be provided with referrals to an outside psychiatrist.
Frequency of Visits
Your treating doctor usually will put together a treatment plan that includes frequency of visits, and will ask you to make an appointment to see her/him within a certain amount of time (always three months or less). Your prescription will last only until that visit. It works best for everyone if you make your appointment before you leave the office. You will usually receive a reminder call the day before your appointment. However it is your responsibility to make and keep your appointments, whether or not you receive a reminder call.
Missed Appointments
If you miss your appointment, reschedule immediately. Frequent late cancellations or no-shows may negatively impact your treatment plan and may lead to discontinuation of services and a referral to an outside provider.
Transferring to a Another Psychiatrist Requests
If you wish to transfer your care to another psychiatrist, you are required to first speak with your current psychiatrist to discuss the reasons for your request. If your psychiatrist is not in the office when you call, please leave a message for her/him to return your call. If you cannot wait to speak to your psychiatrist, you must speak with your primary counselor (if you are receiving counseling services at SCC). If your counselor is unavailable, you must speak with the Director. Depending on the situation, you may or may not be permitted to transfer to a different psychiatrist.
Returning after Discontinuing Services
If you have not met with your psychiatrist for a period of 6 months or more, you will not be permitted to schedule another appointment until you have met with your primary counselor for another full evaluation. After you meet with your counselor, there may be a period of 3-6 weeks before your psychiatrist is able to meet with you.
Use of Alcohol and Recreational Drugs
Use of alcohol or recreational drugs interferes with the action of the medication that your psychiatrist prescribes. In addition, with certain medications, the effects of any amount of alcohol or recreational druge use can be dangerous. If you are prescribed medication, you will be expected to refrain from use of these substances. Also, please let us know if you are taking any new medications. Sometimes there are interactions.
Abruptly Stopping Medication
Abruptly stopping most medication results in unpleasant physical sensations, such as nausea, dizziness, flulike symptoms, as well as edginess and possibly depression. It will be far easier on you if you come in and discuss a way to taper your meds with your doctor.
Refusal to Take Medication
If your psychiatrist prescribes you medication and you do not take it (or do not take it as prescribed) your psychiatrist may refer you to another provider outside the University and discontinue services to you.
