How to Ensure You Have a Great Appointment
We understand your telepsychiatry appointment might feel intimidating, but there is no need to worry! With some preparation, you can be sure to have a great visit and finish the session satisfied, and not feeling like the technology was at all a hindrance to connecting with your provider.
1. Complete this Checklist a week prior to your first appointment
- Create your Patient Portal account via the invitation link sent to you from our scheduling team.
- Complete any questionnaires sent to you for your first appointment. This will include consent forms, financial acknowledgement, privacy information, and clinical intake forms.
- Complete the BrainCheck assessment sent to you via email. This test typically takes 10-15 minutes of your uninterrupted time and the link is good for a single use.
Please do not complete on your cell phone.
Note: If you have not received links via email to any of the above tasks please call our office at 406-200-8471, ext #1
2. Choose an appropriate setting
You will want to plan ahead to make sure that you have privacy for the entire duration of the appointment. For most individuals, this is a private room in their home or apartment, but some individuals may need to leave their home, go out to their vehicle or to a nearby park to ensure they have that privacy. Please do not attempt to drive during the appointment. If you want to incorporate some family in the appointment for part of the visit, keep in mind they could also join the session remotely (you would need to share the link with them). If you are going to be at work, you may want to schedule the appointment during your lunch break so that you can easily step away without a distraction.
Note: you must be physically located in Montana for us to see you for your appointment. Please schedule appointments around any times you will be out-of-state.
Note: you must be physically located in Montana for us to see you for your appointment. Please schedule appointments around any times you will be out-of-state.
3. Choosing the appropriate technology
You will need:
Please ensure you are using either a Google Chrome or Safari browser.
- Either a computer or a smartphone with a camera
- Headphones (optional but can help reduce echo and mic cutout when the other individual speaks)
- A stable internet connection
Please ensure you are using either a Google Chrome or Safari browser.
4. Test Your Call Quality
Having fast, reliable internet is crucial to having a good visit. If your bandwidth/speed is slow, the video will lag and cut out causing a frustrating experience. For some people in poor cellular coverage areas, this means getting on a Wi-Fi network. If you have good cellular signal strength, you can most likely use your cell service but keep in mind that if you use your cellular network, the data transferred will be deducted from your monthly limit.
You should also test your device to make sure the settings are correct for both the microphone and video to work properly.
Select the button below to test your internet connection, microphone, and camera. The page will also give you troubleshooting tips and tricks to improve your camera and microphone quality.
Note: you will need to give the website permission to access your camera and microphone in order to run the test.
You should also test your device to make sure the settings are correct for both the microphone and video to work properly.
Select the button below to test your internet connection, microphone, and camera. The page will also give you troubleshooting tips and tricks to improve your camera and microphone quality.
Note: you will need to give the website permission to access your camera and microphone in order to run the test.
5. Video Tips
If your provider can’t see you well, it will make it more difficult for them to pick up on certain non-verbal cues. We depend on these visual cues to communicate and to help us understand your emotions. By ensuring we can see you, we will be able to understand you better, leaving you more satisfied that you delivered your point to us.
- Try to maximize front-facing lighting, and minimize lighting behind you.
- Try to have most of your upper torso visible, from about your abdomen and up including your arms.
- If using a phone, prop it up on a stable surface to make it more steady (refrain from holding it). A stable image would be very much appreciated by your provider, and will help you take your mind off having to hold your phone.
6. Joining Your Appointment
- Ensure you are on the device that you would like to join your appointment from.
- Click the link in either the text or email confirmation to join your appointment.
- If it's your first appointment with us, you will be asked to agree to our patient policies prior to your appointment. If you'd like to review them in advance, they can be found here.
- Your provider will join the appointment when they are ready.
- Have a great visit!
Please note we cannot guarantee insurance coverage, you are responsible for all bills not paid by your insurance. We recommend reaching out to your insurance carrier to verify coverage prior to your appointment.
