Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Ketamine
Answer for that question: It is important to have an initial consultation with a physician to determine if any interactions amongst your present daily prescribed and over the counter medications and nutritional supplements may occur. Instances are very rare, but we care to evaluate each patient’s unique situation individually with a board certified physician.
Often, close friends, loved ones and even coworkers might notice subtle improvements in mood prior to the patient’s awareness that the Ketamine infusions are beginning to work.
Finally, we communicate with the physicians, as well as any other mental health providers, who give us an independent subjective verification of the success of the treatment.
Other options may include:
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy, which uses magnets on the outside of your head to attempt to stimulate brain cells to improve your mood. The exact mechanism of action isn’t well understood. This course of treatment isn’t invasive, but requires treatment five days a week for up to six weeks. Each session lasts approximately 20-40 minutes.
- ElectroConvulsive Therapy (ECT) works by putting you to sleep and inducing a seizure in your brain. You are sedated using medications, so that your body does not shake. Many individuals who undergo an initial series of ECT have depression relapse and require additional sessions. The mechanism of ECT is not well understood, but one major side effect can be permanent memory loss.
Clinic Frequently Asked Questions & Policies
We understand sometimes missing an appointment due to an emergency is unavoidable. However, by not calling to cancel an appointment, you may be preventing another patient from getting much-needed treatment. If an appointment is not cancelled at least 24 hours in advance, you will be charged for the full cost of your appointment. If you are more than 15 minutes late for your scheduled appointment time, we will reschedule you and charge you for a no-show appointment. All patients are required to keep a valid credit card on file with the clinic. Please let us know of any changes in payment information.
MindPeace Clinics does not participate with insurance plans. Your payment is due in full at the time of service. We accept payments made by credit card, cash, or check.
We are considered an out-of-network provider. At the time of service, you will receive an itemized receipt (super-bill) that you can submit to your insurance company. Please contact your insurance company to learn more about your reimbursement options for an out-of-network provider. You are solely responsible for obtaining reimbursement from your insurance company.
This treatment is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association’s Consensus Statement published in 2017 to be tried by patients who have failed other treatments. Based on this, and a growing number of studies that have replicated the tremendous success, more insurance companies are starting to reimburse some, if not all, of the costs associated with ketamine therapeutics.
Not all insurance companies are so progressive, so please check with your insurance company to see how much they might reimburse you for this treatment. MindPeace Clinics have opted out of the Medicare and Medicaid system. We do not participate in any insurance plans. We do not guarantee any outside reimbursement for the services we provide.
We are happy to assist you with the documentation to obtain reimbursement from your insurance company.
Yes. We request that you continue your relationship with your primary care provider. Our physicians will communicate with them directly to coordinate medical care after providing the initial care for any non-infusion related issues.
We act as consultants for your psychiatrist, primary care physician, and other mental health providers. We ensure that the ketamine infusions are provided in a relaxing and safe environment, with experienced critical care and emergency registered nurses, and a board-certified physician.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1, and go to the nearest hospital emergency department prior to contacting MindPeace Clinics.
For extremely urgent matters, please call your clinic and leave a message. Extremely urgent matters may include:
- Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming others
- Unexpected medication reaction with moderate-to-severe symptoms
- Any unusual behavior or reaction that you fear could lead to physical harm
Once we receive your call or message, a doctor will call you back as soon as they can. If you are unable to wait for a response, dial 9-1-1, and go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
If you are prescribed a controlled medication, it is critical that you follow the controlled medication policy:
You MUST take these medications as directed.
If you feel you need to adjust your dose to a higher dose of the medication, you must call the office, and consult with your physician prior to making any adjustments to your dose.
You must be responsible with your medication, and take measures to ensure that your medication is not lost or stolen.
If you require an early refill of your medication because you increased your dose without consulting your doctor, or because your medication was lost/stolen, you are in violation of the controlled medication policy. We understand that circumstances outside of your control may result in you needing an early refill for your medication. We allow ONE violation of the controlled medication policy to allow for these circumstances. You will be charged a $100 fee for an early refill of your controlled medication. Any subsequent violations of the policy will result in your termination as a patient with MindPeace Clinics. Due to the nature of these medications, MindPeace Clinics must be able to manage these prescriptions responsibly and in a manner consistent with minimizing any potential abuse.
Appointment Hours in Richmond: Monday – Friday, 9am to 6pm
Appointment Hours in Arlington: Monday – Friday, 8am to 7pm
Appointment Hours in Norfolk: Monday – Friday, 9am to 7pm
We see patients by appointment only. Walk-ins are not accepted at any location.
Initial Medical Evaluations are one (1) hour. Mood Disorder Treatments are 90 minutes or two and a half (2.5) hours depending on the treatment. Migraine Treatments are two and a half (2.5) hours. Chronic Pain Treatments are five (5) hours.
WHAT CONDITIONS DOES KETAMINE TREAT?
IS KETAMINE ADDICTIVE?
WILL KETAMINE TREATMENT AFFECT MY CURRENT MEDICATIONS?
WHAT MEDICAL CONDITIONS WILL EXCLUDE ME FROM KETAMINE TREATMENT?
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF KETAMINE?
WHY AREN’T OTHER DOCTORS PERFORMING THIS TREATMENT?
IS THE NASAL APPLICATION OF KETAMINE JUST AS EFFECTIVE?
HOW DOES KETAMINE WORK?
HOW WILL I KNOW IF THE TREATMENT IS WORKING?
WHAT IS YOUR CANCELLATION POLICY?
DO I NEED TO FINISH ALL 6 INFUSIONS IN THE INITIAL SERIES IF I START TO FEEL BETTER?
HOW DOES KETAMINE COMPARE TO OTHER TREATMENT OPTIONS?
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy, which uses magnets outside of your head and attempts to stimulate the brain cells to improve your mood. The exact mechanism of action isn’t well understood. This course of treatment isn’t invasive, but requires treatment five days a week for up to six weeks. Each session lasts approximately 20-40 minutes per treatment.
- Electro Convulsive Therapy (ECT) works by putting you to sleep and inducing a seizure in your brain. You are sedated using medications, so that your body does not shake. Many inpiduals who undergo an initial series of ECT have depression relapse, and require additional sessions. The mechanism of ECT is not well understood, but one of the major side effects can be permanent memory loss.