FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What happens if I can't make my consultation?

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If you are unable to make an appointment then you may reschedule it to a more convenient time or day.  We do however have a 24hr cancellation policy, as slots cannot be filled at short notice. Please give us a full working day’s notice, otherwise you will be held liable for the fee.

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How do I pay?

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We accept  cash, cards and medical aid.  If you are paying cash or with a card, you will need to pay on the day of the consultation.

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Will my medical aid cover this?

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This will depend on what type of medical cover you have and what your diagnosis is. Generally, specialists' fees come out of your savings/day-to-day fund. For certain diagnoses there are Prescribed Minimum Benefit Diagnosis-Treatment pairs which specify that the benefit for hospitalisation can be used to see a psychologist and/or psychiatrist on an outpatient basis instead. Some medical aids have specific “baskets of care” attached to specific mental health diagnoses.

As far as medication goes, medical aids are only required to pay for the full year’s worth of chronic medication for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Mood Disorder [Prescribed Minimum Benefit]. However, they will usually only pay in full for the medications listed in their formularies. Otherwise, psychiatric medication will come out of savings. If you have a better level of cover [i.e. a more expensive option], then you may also have an extra list of chronic conditions that will be paid for until you reach your limit. Usually medication for depression and anxiety disorders is covered in this extra list.

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What if I have an emergency after-hours?

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Dr Ragsdale is contactable on her cellphone after hours for serious emergencies.  Your GP or local emergency unit is also available to help in a crisis. When on leave, a contact number for another psychiatrist will be available to you. If Dr Ragsdale is on leave and you need a new prescription, either the covering psychiatrist or your GP may oblige.

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What happens if I need to be admitted to hospital?

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Patients are sometimes admitted for psychiatric inpatient treatment for various reasons, including: severe distress, suicidality, failure to respond to psychotherapy and medication on an outpatient basis, and psychosis. The private hospitals in Cape Town can only admit voluntary patients at present and this is usually the type of admission Dr Ragsdale does. On the very rare occasion that involuntary admission is required, the individual is referred to the relevant State Psychiatric Hospital.  If admission on a voluntary basis is indicated then Dr Ragsdale will organise the admission and find a bed – usually at Akeso Kenilworth and Crescent Clinics in Cape Town. However, if it is an emergency and there is no available space, then the patient may be admitted to Life St Vincent or Summit Clinic. If a patient has attempted suicide, then they will be stabilised in a general hospital emergency unit first and then transferred.

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How does patient-doctor confidentiality work?

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Doctors are required to maintain confidentiality about patient details, diagnosis etc. This means they don’t talk to people outside of the treatment setting about who they saw. Some information may be shared between professionals treating you, for example: in a psychiatric clinic you may have a team of healthcare professionals treating you, and communication between them is necessary to provide you with the best treatment possible. If a GP, psychologist or another doctor has referred you, then they will receive a feedback letter. We don’t share highly personal details, details you have requested not be shared or details that are unnecessary for other health professionals to know. No information will be shared with your family, spouse or employer without your explicit permission. There are certain instances where confidentiality may be broken, e.g. if you are a serious risk to others or yourself, or if the doctor is subpoenaed by a court of law. Where medical aids are involved,  diagnosis (and often more detailed information about symptoms, side effects, treatment, psychiatric history etc  for special motivations) are required, but highly personal details are never shared. Seeing a psychiatrist should be a safe space in which you can talk about anything.

 

Will my family be involved with my psychiatrist?

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This depends on the patient. With teenagers, the family is always involved to some degree, but the degree of involvement varies. It is important for all patients that seeing a psychiatrist is a private and safe space and therefore any involvement of family is always discussed with the patient and agreed upon first. Family can often provide helpful perspectives and information that contribute towards a better understanding of the patient's problems and therefore towards better treatment. As family are often a patient’s main support structure, it is usually helpful to educate and help them understand their loved one’s illness so that they can provide the best support possible.  However, there are certain circumstances where families or spouses will not be involved, as it is clearly not in the patient’s best interests.

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Can I change psychiatrists? What will happen to my records if I do? 

If I do not like or feel comfortable with the treatment I am receiving, can I ask for it to be changed?

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Patients always have the right to a second opinion, and the right to change doctors if they are unhappy with their treatment. However, staying with one psychiatrist is advantageous as it enables them to build up a comprehensive understanding of the patient, their problem(s) and their treatment over time, contributing towards good continuity of care and therefore the best and most appropriate treatment. Because of this, it is not a good idea to change psychiatrists too frequently. Ethically speaking, doctors should not supersede (i.e. take over) treatment of another doctor's patient without consulting the previous doctor. If you wish to change psychiatrists, it is important to inform your current psychiatrist first. Your new psychiatrist will then contact them in order to obtain the necessary details of your diagnosis and treatment, which may include a copy of your patient file or patient notes.

It is incredibly important to have a good and open working relationship with your psychiatrist so that when a problem arises, it can be fixed. Dr Ragsdale encourages all of her patients to be honest with her if they are unhappy or uncomfortable with any part of their treatment, and is willing to refer you to another doctor if the issue cannot be resolved.