New Patient Information
Pioneer Valley Psychiatry provides outpatient psychiatric care for children, adolescents, and young adults. The information below explains how to get started, what to expect before and during an initial psychiatric evaluation, and important practice policies for new patients and families.
Getting Started
To begin, prospective patients or parents may request an appointment through the website or contact Pioneer Valley Psychiatry by phone or email. The practice will then arrange a complimentary 15-minute introductory telephone call.
Complimentary 15-Minute Introductory Call
The introductory call provides an opportunity to briefly discuss what you are looking for and whether scheduling an initial psychiatric evaluation may be appropriate.
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The introductory call is not a psychiatric evaluation or treatment visit and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Diagnosis, medication recommendations, and individualized treatment advice are not provided during this call. The introductory call should not be used for urgent or emergency concerns.
If You Decide to Proceed
If, after the introductory call, you and Dr. Diggins decide to proceed, you will receive age-appropriate intake forms to complete before the initial psychiatric evaluation. Relevant records from previous clinicians, schools, or other sources may also be requested when they would be helpful.
Your Initial Appointment
Initial psychiatric evaluations are conducted in person at the Hadley office. The evaluation includes a detailed discussion of current concerns, psychiatric and medical history, development, family history, previous treatment, medications, relationships, school or work, and other aspects of the patient's life that may be important to understanding the concerns that brought them to treatment.
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For children and adolescents, parents or guardians are an important part of the evaluation. Depending on the patient's age and circumstances, portions of the appointment may take place together and portions separately.
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The goal is to develop a thoughtful understanding of the patient's strengths and challenges and determine what treatment, if any, is most likely to be helpful.
Insurance & Payment
Pioneer Valley Psychiatry currently participates with Aetna. We are working to expand participation with additional commercial insurance plans. Please check back for updates.
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Patients should contact their insurance plan to confirm their individual benefits and coverage.
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Self-pay patients are also welcome. Patients with commercial insurance for which Pioneer Valley Psychiatry is out of network may choose to pay for services directly and may request a superbill to submit to their insurance plan for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement vary by plan and are not guaranteed. Patients are encouraged to contact their insurance plan directly regarding out-of-network mental health benefits.
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Patients who are uninsured or who choose not to use insurance for their care have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining the expected cost of their care under applicable federal law.
In-Person & Telehealth Appointments
Initial psychiatric evaluations are conducted in person at the Hadley office. Follow-up appointments may be conducted either in person or by telehealth when clinically appropriate.
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Patients receiving ongoing care are generally seen at least every three months and in person at least annually. Additional in-person visits may be recommended when clinically indicated.
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Patients must be physically located in Massachusetts at the time of a telehealth appointment.
Prescription & Medication Refills
When medication is prescribed, Dr. Diggins generally provides enough medication to last until the next recommended follow-up appointment. Patients and families are encouraged to review medication needs during appointments and to request refills before medication runs out.
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Refill requests between appointments should be submitted through the practice's designated refill process and may require adequate time for review. Controlled medications may require additional monitoring or more frequent in-person appointments when clinically appropriate.
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Medication refill requests should not be used for urgent or emergency concerns.
Scheduling & Cancellations
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide at least 24 hours' notice whenever possible. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, as well as missed appointments, may be subject to a late cancellation or missed-appointment fee.
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Cancellation and missed-appointment fees are not billed to insurance.
Emergency & Urgent Concerns
Pioneer Valley Psychiatry is an outpatient psychiatric practice and does not provide walk-in or 24-hour emergency or crisis services. For a life-threatening emergency or an immediate concern about safety, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. For mental health crisis support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
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Established patients with non-emergency clinical concerns may contact the practice through the designated patient communication process. Messages are reviewed during regular business hours and should not be used for urgent or emergency situations.