Psychologist-Patient Agreement
When beginning therapy, people often have many questions. Office Procedures, the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) notice, Covid/Telehealth information and Patient Rights are outlined below. Please read this thoroughly and ask any questions you may have. The law requires that your signature be obtained acknowledging that you have been provided with the HIPAA notice. Your signature also indicates that you accept the terms of this agreement.
Office Procedures and Therapy Basics
This is a small practice and does not have full time office help. Upon arrival for in-person appointments, please make yourself comfortable in the waiting room and your psychologist should be with you within 15 minutes of your scheduled appointment time. Phrase refrain from cell phone use and smoking/vaping inside. Firearms are prohibited on site.
Length of Session: Providers and insurance companies refer to the 45-55 minute hour or 45-55 minute session. This is a standard length of time for a therapy session.
Length of Treatment: While it is usually not possible to predict exactly how long therapy will last, some estimate can be discussed with you. Frequency of meetings and goals will be discussed with you. It may be necessary to change this plan, but the process will be discussed along the way and decisions made together. A Good Faith Estimate of cost will be provided for those not using health insurance coverage.
Risks and Benefits: Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, and the particular problems you are experiencing. Psychotherapy calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home. Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have many benefits. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. However, there are no guarantees of what you will experience.
New patient appointments require consent forms prior to the first session (See Intake Packet on this website). Forms can be brought to initial in person sessions or mailed, faxed or dropped in the mailbox at the office for telehealth appointments. Initial appointments typically are scheduled after receipt of consent forms. When a physician sends a referral, the patient must also contact the office to schedule an appointment.
Calls and Emergencies: Confidential voicemail messages can be left anytime. Routine calls are usually returned within 24 hours (one business day) or on the first business day following a weekend. For calls which cannot wait, please call the emergency number noted on the voicemail and leave your message, including full name and phone number, with the answering service. Please do tell them it is an emergency. They will attempt to locate your therapist. If the primary therapist cannot be reached, the answering service will attempt to call an office colleague. (Note: if you have a “Block” on your phone preventing calls from private numbers, it will need to be removed for your call to be returned). You may wish to contact your local hospital emergency room, Bradley Hospital at 401-434-3400 for emergencies involving children, or Butler Hospital at 401-456-3700 for emergencies involving adults.
This office is a private practice. Cases involving the likelihood of frequent emergencies may be more appropriately served by a clinic, which provides 24-hour emergency staffing from a multi-disciplinary team (i.e., including physicians and nursing staff). Local clinics include Newport County Mental Health Center (401-846-1213) and Corrigan Mental Health (508-235-7277).
Payment: Your insurance company will be billed directly, and copayments are due at each appointment session. Please inform your psychologist of any changes in insurance coverage. Although insurance benefits may be discussed, this is a contract between you and your insurance company. You are responsible for knowing the limits of your insurance coverage and have financial responsibility for services rendered. Insurance companies do not pay for missed appointments. If you are not using your insurance, a Good Faith Estimate of the cost of treatment will be provided by your psychologist.
Cancellations: Schedules are made in advance. If you change an appointment, please give as much notice as possible and at least 24 hours notice. In the event a scheduled appointment is missed without adequate notice, there will be a $50.00 fee. It is expected that this will be paid at the next session – or – that a payment plan will be worked out prior to the next session. Multiple cancelled or missed appointments without good cause may result in termination of treatment. If you feel there is a valid reason for short notice, please do discuss this with your therapist. We do recognize New England weather is not always predictable, illness and family emergencies can arise. If there is a lapse of treatment for 3 months, your case will be considered closed.
The preferred method of communication is by telephone (401-624-9972). If your provider shares an email address with you, please be aware of privacy limitations. Email is not encrypted, thus confidential information may not be private. Email should never be used for emergencies and is not recommended for clinical information.
Records, HIPPA Notice & Confidentiality
Professional records include demographic information, dates of service, diagnosis, billing information as well as reasons for seeking treatment, ways problems impact your life, treatment goals, progress towards goals, medical, social and treatment history, records obtained from other providers, billing records and reports sent to anyone. This is your Protected Health Information (PHI). All treatment records are kept in locked files. Information shared in this office is confidential; it is not released verbally or in written form without consent except as discussed below.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) is a federal law that provides privacy protections and patient rights (**below) with regard to the use and disclosure of your PHI as it is used for the purpose of treatment, payment and health care operations.
HIPAA requires that you be provided Notice of Privacy Practices (this is The Notice) for use and disclosure of PHI. This notice explains HIPAA and its application to your PHI. Your psychologist and office staff have access to your PHI. We do not use or disclose PHI in ways that would be in violation of the Privacy Rule or state law. In using or disclosing PHI, we generally do so only with your consent and we meet the Privacy Rule’s “minimum necessary requirement” (i.e. for billing purposes, name, address, date of birth, gender, insurance information, dates of service, diagnosis and type of service are released). We do not use, or request an entire medical record from others; we request what is reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose of treatment. If you desire written or verbal communication with other parties, a written release is required. With an appropriate release, we communicate with other providers or requested parties (i.e. school or work personnel) and may send a treatment summary or a written consultation (session notes if specifically requested and authorized). We give the minimum necessary information in routine requests from third parties. Insurance companies typically require demographic information, diagnosis, and date of service. Insurance plans may require the release of an entire record for auditing purposes. Consultation with other psychologists in this office is done anonymously unless we have obtained a release from you.
Family Matters: Minors and Parents: Patients under 16 years of age who are not emancipated and their parents should be aware that the law may allow parents to examine their child’s treatment records. Because privacy in psychotherapy is often crucial to successful progress, particularly with teenagers, any communication will require the child’s authorization, unless we feel that the child is in danger or is a danger to someone else, in which case, we will notify the parents of our concerns. Before giving parents any information, we will discuss the matter with the child, if possible, and do our best to handle any objections he/she may have.
Divorce: When parents are divorced and have shared legal custody, it is necessary that both parents consent to treatment.
Uses and Disclosures Not Requiring Authorization
We may use or disclose PHI without your consent or authorizations in the following circumstances:
Child Abuse: If we have reasonable cause to know or suspect that any child has been abused or neglected, as defined below, or is a victim of sexual abuse by another child, we must, within 24 hours, transfer that information to the Rhode Island Department of Child, Youth and Families or the Massachusetts Department of Social Services. Child abuse and/or neglect is defined as a child whose physical or mental health or welfare is harmed, or threatened with harm when his or her parent or other person responsible for his or her welfare:
Inflicts, or allows to be inflicted physical or mental injury;
Creates or allows to be created a substantial risk of physical or mental injury;
Commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual abuse, sexual assault against, or exploitation of the child;
Fails to supply the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter or medical care;
Fails to provide the child with a minimum degree of care or proper supervision or guardianship because of his or her unwillingness or inability to do so; and abandons or desserts the child.
Elder Abuse: If we have reasonable cause to know or suspect that any person sixty years old or older has been abused or neglected, as defined below, they must report that information within 48 hours to: The Rhode Island Department of Elder Affairs or the Massachusetts Elder Abuse Hotline or Protective Services at Bristol (MA) Elder Services. Elder abuse can be:
Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Financial Exploitation
Caretaker Neglect
Self-Abuse/Neglect, when a senior living alone doesn’t properly care for him/herself.
Serious Threat to Health or Safety: If a client presents a clear and present danger to self or others and refuses to accept appropriate treatment, information may need to be released to protect the client or other parties.
Judicial or Administrative Proceeding: If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information about the professional services provided to you and the records thereof, such information is privileged under state law, and will not be released without:
Written authorization by you or your legal representative; or
A subpoena of which you have received official notification and you have failed to inform me that you are opposing the subpoena; or
A court order. This privilege does not apply when you are being evaluated for a third party (i.e. DCYF) or where the evaluation is court ordered. You will be informed in advance if this is the case.
COVID-19
The COVID emergency has ended effective May 11, 2023 per CDC and WHO. Services are being provided both in person and via telehealth. This office will continue to follow guidelines for medical settings based on local and federal health guidelines as well as APA recommendations. In the event COVID safety restrictions are reinstated, previous protocols described below will be reinstated. If so, movement between telehealth and in person services will be discussed as the need may arise (hopefully this is not the case).
Telehealth Services: There are potential risks and benefits of video conferencing/telephone sessions that differ from face-to-face sessions. The primary benefit is that we can engage in services without being in the same physical location. Risks of telehealth include connectivity issues as well as loss of nonverbal cues unavailable via telehealth. Patients need to be physically present in RI or MA where we are licensed. If you plan to be elsewhere, please notify your provider prior to the appointment to ensure licensing guidelines are followed.
Confidentiality still applies to telehealth. No one will record the session without permission of others in the session. The psychologist will explain the video conferencing platform and how to use it. The platform I use is HIPPA compliant.
It is important to be in a quiet, private place free from distractions, including other devices, during our session. A private secure network (not public) should be used. Cell phones may not have the same level of security as landlines. If there are connection problems, your psychologist will contact you by telephone.
A HIPAA compliant platform is used for videoconferencing. Your provider’s “waiting room” can be assessed by typing the following into either Safari or Google Chrome browser.
Anne Davidge, Ph.D. https://doxy.me/drdavidge
In Person Treatment During Covid-19: The following protocols must be followed by patients and psychologists for in-person services during Covid:
Social distancing requirements must be met, meaning people must remain six feet from one another while in any part of our offices.
Face coverings will be required while in the office. One will be provided if you do not have one. There will be no physical contact with others in the office.
Hand sanitizer will be provided and must be used entering the office.
You may be asked to wait in your vehicle or outside the office until you are contacted to come in.
You agree not to present for in-person services if you have a fever, shortness of breath, coughing, other symptoms associated with Covid – Or – if you have been exposed to another person showing signs of Covid-19 or diagnosed with Covid-19. Typical cancellation charges will not be applied in these cases and we hopefully can have our session via telehealth.
If you are bringing a child or other dependent for services, you agree that you and your child/dependent will follow these protocols.
Your provider has had vaccines and boosters as recommended.
Patient Rights
This office is committed to providing psychological services in a manner which respects the values, uniqueness, and dignity of each. You are expected to be an active participant in your treatment. You are encouraged to ask questions and to communicate openly and to participate in treatment decisions so as to help make your treatment here as effective as possible.
You have the right:
To choose your therapist.
To consent to or refuse treatment.
To be well informed about your treatment here and to discuss this information with your therapist.
To considerate and respectful care.
To a prompt response to reasonable requests.
To privacy.
To confidentiality of your records.
**According to federal guidelines (HIPPA) in addition to the above noted rights, we are required to notify you of the following:
To review your records, to make additions to your records, and to receive a copy of your records in accordance with relevant regulations at cost.
To request an amendment of your health information in your record. Though it is possible your request could be denied, your request will be documented in the record.
To a copy of a bill submitted to any third party for your treatment.
To request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your health information. However, we are not required to necessarily agree to a specific restriction that you may request. Your request will be documented in the record.
To request and receive confidential information by alternative means and at alternate locations (For example, you may not want a family member to know that you are being seen in this office. Upon your request, bills will be sent to another address.)
To receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information.
The law requires that your signature be obtained acknowledging that you have been provided with this information. It is important that you read this document carefully and ask any questions you may have. Your signature on the Intake Card indicates you have read and agree to the terms of this Agreement and that you have received the HIPAA notice.