Frequently Asked Questions
Here you will find answers to our most commonly asked questions.
General Questions
Do you treat children?
Dr. Shalts treats children only in the format of homeopathic medicine providing help with various health and emotional issues in addition to conventional medical approaches. Each case should be discussed during the initial free 15 minutes appointment.
Do you treat children with severe mental health problems?
Dr. Shalts does not have Board Certification in Child psychiatry. He feels that children with serious and severe mental health issues should be treated by highly qualified child psychiatrists. Dr. Shalts will work with you and your child to provide ADDITIONAL holistic treatment should you and your child’s psychiatrist find it safe.
Do you prescribe medications?
Yes.
How do homeopathy and psychiatry work together?
In some cases homeopathic remedies help to address issues that conventional medications can’t. For example, homeopathy can be very helpful with grief and PTSD.
Can I schedule an in-office appointment?
Yes. The office is located in Sarasota, FL.
What conditions does Dr. Shalts not treat?
Persistant suicidal ideation, Drug and Alcohol Use issues, including Suboxone maintenance, Medical Marijuana, Ketamine treatment, treatment of eating disorders and treatment of unstable Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia are not provided by this practice.
While Dr. Shalts is a firm believer in providing high quality care for patients with various mental health problems including drug use issues, eating disorders and Schizophrenia, his telemedicine practice does not allow to provide comprehensive structured treatment that patients with these conditions require. Dr. Shalts also does not have hospital clinical privileges and does not admit and/or follow patients who require psychiatric hospitalizations.
New Patients
Do you accept new patients with insurance or self-pay only?
Dr. Shalts does not accept insurance.
How long does it take to get an appointment as a new patient?
It depends on how busy Dr. Shalts’ schedule is. IT is reasonable to expect a wait period between 2-4 weeks.
What should I bring to my first visit?
A list of medications and supplements you are currently taking or ever taken before and, if available recent labwork and neuropsychological testing reports.
Can I bring a family member or friend to my appointment?
Yes you can.
Scheduling & Appointments
How soon can I get an appointment?
It depends on how busy Dr. Shalts’ schedule is. It is reasonable to expect a wait period between 2-4 weeks.
How do I schedule an appointment?
The first step is fill out the online questionnaire provided on this website. If, after reviewing your responses, Dr. Shalts feels that he can be helpful, you’ll be invited to schedule a free 15-min introductory video appointment. At that appointment you and Dr. Shalts will decide how to proceed.
How long are appointments?
The initial Functional Psychiatry or homeopathic evaluation appointment lasts for 1.5 hours. Conventional psychopharmacology intake lasts for 1 hour. All follow up appointments are 30 min long. Should you request a longer appointment, Dr. Shalts will do his best to accommodate your request.
Do you offer same-day or emergency appointments?
No. Dr. Shalts is not equipped to deal with emergencies. You would need to call 911 or come to the nearest emergency room.
What should I bring to my first visit?
A list of medications and supplements you are currently taking or ever taken before and, if available recent labwork and neuropsychological testing reports.
Can I book, reschedule, or cancel my appointment online?
In our experience online booking and rescheduling creates multiple logistical issues. You can request scheduling changes by contacting us by phone, text or email.
What should I do if I can't make my scheduled appointment?
Please let us know as soon as you find out about your scheduling issues. We prefer to know about constellations at least 24 hours in advance.
Medications & Prescriptions
How do I request a medication refill?
Your medication schedule is always addressed at appointments. Requests for medication refills outside of the appointment should be discussed on a case by case approach.
How long does it take for my prescription refill request to be processed?
Once Dr. Shalts indicated to you that a medication prescription will be sent, it is done electronically in a course of 10-15 minutes, unless you hear from Dr. Shalts otherwise.
Can you prescribe controlled substances?
Yes.
What should I do if I experience side effects from my medication?
Please let us know right away by either texting or calling.
How do I transfer my prescriptions to a new pharmacy?
This should be done during your appointment with Dr. Shalts as at least monthly supply prescriptions are issued at the appointment.
Payments & Insurance
Do you offer self-pay rates?
All our services, except for lab work covered by insurance, are self-pay.
What insurance plans do you accept?
We do not accept insurance.
What forms of payment do you accept?
PayPal, credit cards, checks and cash.
Do you require payment at the time of service?
Yes.
Can I set up a payment plan for my treatment?
Payment in full is expected at the time of your scheduled appointment.
Can I use insurance to pay for lab work?
Yes. Provided your insurance covers labwork prescribed.
Patient Policies
What is your telemedicine policy?
Audio/video connection is provided via a HIPPA compliant system called Doxy.me
What is your policy on confidentiality and privacy?
No information will be released without you signing a release of information form that clearly indicates the addresses and particular types of information you authorize to be released.
Can you provide documentation for school or work?
We can provide a note indicating you visited Dr. Shalts with indication of time and date.
Can you provide documentation for disability claims?
No.
Do you offer psychiatric evaluations for legal or court-related purposes?
No.
What happens if I am late for my appointment?
We will do our best to accommodate you provided you are late for not more than 10 minutes for the follow up and not more than 20 min for the initial evaluation.
What happens if I forget about my appointment?
You will be charged a full fee. Our office sends multiple reminders, so the likelihood of you forgetting about the appointment is very low.
What is your policy on medical records, and how can I request them?
We release medical records upon receiving a signed release of information form. This for is available from our office.
Telemedicine
What is doxy.me and why are you using it?
Doxy.me is a HIPAA compliant platform that enables healthcare providers to remotely connect to their patients to conduct an appointment with videoconferencing, which means both audio and video. We are using this solution because it was the easiest for our patients to set up and use.
Do I need special software or equipment for a telehealth session?
No, you only need a device with a camera, microphone, and stable internet connection.
Can you prescribe medications through telemedicine?
Yes.
Is telemedicine covered by insurance?
Generally speaking, it is. But Dr. Shalts does not accept insurance as payment.
Can I do my first psychiatric evaluation virtually?
Yes.
What if I need or want an in-office appointment?
In person appointments are conducted at Sarasota, FL location.
What happens if I have technical issues during a telehealth appointment?
If technical issues arise, contact our office. We will attempt to help you or provide alternative options. In some cases, your appointment will need to be rescheduled if you are unable to connect.
Crisis & Emergency Situations
What should I do if I’m in a mental health crisis?
If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You can also call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Do you offer after-hours or emergency psychiatric care?
No, we do not provide after-hours emergency services. Please seek immediate help at an ER or crisis center.
Can I contact my provider outside of business hours?
For urgent matters, please call 911. Otherwise, leave a message, and we will respond during business hours.
Should I go to the ER if I have an urgent mental health concern?
Yes, if you are experiencing a crisis, including suicidal thoughts, severe distress, or hallucinations, seek emergency care.
Didn’t find the answer you were looking for?
Send us a message and our team will get back to you.
Healing Begins With a Conversation
Schedule a complimentary 15-minute introductory call to share your goals, learn about Dr. Shalts’ integrative approach, and see if this partnership feels right for you.