Practice policies

Professional services

Dr. Torrijos is board certified in adult psychiatry and licensed in the State of Texas. This practice treats adults 18 years of age and older only. Services include comprehensive psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, medication treatment where warranted, and brief supportive and behavioral intervention as part of medication follow-up. Care is provided in person and by secure video telehealth to patients located anywhere in Texas at the time of the appointment.

Services this practice does not provide

• Treatment of children or adolescents under 18.
• Forensic services of any kind, including custody evaluations, competency, fitness for duty, disability determinations and expert testimony.
• Primary treatment of eating disorders.
• Primary treatment of substance use disorders, including medication-assisted treatment.
• Chronic pain management.
• Emergency, crisis or after-hours services.

Confidentiality

Communication between a patient and physician is held in confidence and is not released without your written consent, except where required or permitted by law — suspected abuse or neglect of a child, an elderly person or a person with a disability; an imminent threat of danger to yourself or another identifiable person; or a valid court order.

Audio or video recording of any appointment is not permitted by either party without prior written agreement. An unauthorised recording is grounds for termination of the treatment relationship.

Telehealth

You must be physically located in Texas at the time of a telehealth appointment, in a private setting, and you must provide your exact location and an emergency contact at the start of each appointment. Prescribing of controlled substances by telehealth is subject to state and federal requirements that may require at least one in-person appointment.

Appointments and cancellations

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, and appointments not kept, are charged the full appointment fee. These charges are not reimbursable by insurance carriers. Reminders are sent as a courtesy, but you remain responsible for tracking your appointments. Repeated missed appointments without notice may result in the treatment relationship being ended, with referrals provided.

Communication

Messages are checked during business hours, [OFFICE HOURS]. Brief calls are not charged; longer calls are charged as published. Voicemail is not monitored after hours, on weekends or on holidays, and this practice does not operate an on-call service. In an emergency, call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call or text 988. Email and text are not secure and should be limited to scheduling.

Prescriptions and refills

Allow two full business days for prescriptions to be sent electronically to your pharmacy. Paper prescriptions are not used. Refills for controlled substances are issued only in connection with a scheduled appointment during regular office hours, and those patients sign a separate Controlled Substance Agreement. Do not stop or change a psychiatric medication without discussing it first.

Fees, payment and insurance

Payment is due at the time of service. This practice is not contracted with any insurance panel, does not file claims and does not accept payment from insurance companies. A superbill is provided on request. Major credit cards, HSA and FSA are accepted; cash and personal checks are not. A card is kept on file. Full fees are published on the fees page.

Discontinuation of treatment

Ending treatment is normally a mutual decision. If you discontinue without notice, the treatment relationship is considered ended [XXX] days after your last appointment unless a future appointment is scheduled, beyond which this practice carries no further responsibility for your care, including prescriptions.