What is a Nurse Practitioner?

An Advanced Practice Psychiatric/Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner, PMHNP, provides a wide range of services to adults, children, adolescents, and their families in a primary care facility, outpatient mental health clinic, psychiatric emergency services, private practice, or in a hospital or community health center. PMHNPs diagnose, conduct therapy, and prescribe medications for patients who have psychiatric disorders, medical mental conditions or substance abuse problems. They are licensed to provide emergency psychiatric services, psychosocial and physical assessment of their patients, treatment plans, and manage patient care. They may also serve as consultants or as educators for families and staff. The PMHNP has a focus on psychiatric diagnosis, including the differential diagnosis of medical disorders with psychiatric symptoms, and on medication treatment for psychiatric disorders.

A PMHNP can practice autonomously in a wide variety of settings. In at least 20 states in the United States, a PMHNP may own his or her own practice. In other states, PMHNPs have a collaborative agreement with physicians, and practice independently to diagnose disorders, provide therapy and prescribe medications.

Ms. Whiddon has a collaborative agreement with a psychiatrist in the state of Georgia, but works autonomously in the state of Florida.

What is telepsychiatry?

Telepsychiatry, or telemedicine, is a specifically defined form of video conferencing that can provide psychiatric services to patients living in remote locations or otherwise underserved areas. It can connect patients, psychiatrists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals through the use of television cameras and microphones. Telemedicine currently provides an array of services, including but not limited to diagnosis and assessment; medication management; and individual and group therapy. It also provides an opportunity for consultative services between psychiatrists, primary care physicians and other healthcare providers. Telepsychiatry is also being used to provide patients with second opinions in areas where only one psychiatrist is available.

Telepsychiatry has been shown to improve collaborative services between professionals. Studies indicate that healthcare professionals feel telepsychiatry has given them an opportunity to work more effectively as a team. Patients surveyed say they felt that the communication between their physicians had improved their outcomes. There are a few barriers to providing telepsychiatry services. Reimbursement is still difficult to receive, especially through third-party payers, and licensure can be difficult to obtain.

Overall, telepsychiatry provides increased access to services and has helped enhance the provision of services to families with children and other patients who are homebound. Patients participating in telepsychiatry say they are satisfied with the care they are receiving and that they feel telepsychiatry is a reliable form of practice.

Do you treat everyone with traditional psychiatric medication?

Most of Ms. Whiddon’s patients are on traditional psychiatric medication. Her integrative approach includes diet, exercise, and supplements, but not in lieu of traditional medication.

What is holistic/integrative psychiatry?

Holisitic/integrative psychiatry uses both traditional and complementary methods for assessment of the individual and in the development of a treatment plan, When treating a patient holistically a clinician will evaluate a person’s physical, emotional, interpersonal, behavioral, nutritional, environmental and spiritual history.

What is trauma informed care?

After the initial consultation Ms. Whiddon will create a treatment plan that is specific and unique to each individual. The treatment plan may include any combination of the following:

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an approach in the human service field that assumes that an individual is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care recognizes the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma may play in an individual’s life-

What is concierge healthcare?

Concierge medicine, also known as retainer medicine, is a relationship between a patient and a physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer to have around the clock access. This may or may not be in addition to other charges. Although Ms. Whiddon offers concierge level are, she does not charge an additional retainer or annual fee,