Getting to specialist / getting a referal...

[prettyflwrs]

So I took my daughter (4 years old) in to the doctor because her teacher had brought to my attention some behaviors that she felt were unusual.  I told the doctor that we were worried about either aspergers or anxiety/ocd. 

He referred us to the regional center.  I met with them today.  My daughter does not even come into the ballpark of meeting the criteria for autism which is all that the regional center diagnosis. 

So I call the doctor back, they want me to go through the evaluation with the regional center and then once it is done they will refer us to a psychologist.  I want the referral now. 

So anyone got any suggestions on how to get the referral now? 

Suggestions of psycologists is the San Fransisco bay area and/or Sacramento area of California would also be appreciated.

[prettyflwrs]

I should add that the regional center is still going to evaluate her and it can take up to 120 days. 

But it is clear right now that she will not get a diagnosis or services through them.

Maybe I should cancel the evaluation...then the doctor can't tell me to wait until it is over for a private referral.

[Emmeline II]

Do you need a referral for insurance purposes?

I would tell the doctor that I am not going to wait 4 months to get my child help. If he wouldn't give the referral I would go to one who would. I am going to a center like that but for the behavioral clinic. While waiting for my Feb appt. ds has seen an OT, a psychiatrist, and a behavioral therapist--they all think going the center is a good idea.

[prettyflwrs]

I need a referral for two reasons. 

1. I don't know how to find a doctor that specializes in aspergers and I was hoping the doctor would help.

2. Most specialists don't see patients without a referral from the PCP.  This is from the web site of the mind institute for example. 

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/clinic/

Families interested in having their children seen in our clinic should ask their primary-care physicians (PCP) to submit a referral to the UC Davis Health System's Physician Referral Center at [phone].  Insurance and self-pay options are available.  Learn more about the referral process here.

[marge234]

Here are two therapists who might at least be able to help you navigate this.  They are in the same network as the OT with whom we are working for my son's SPD (Stanley Greenspan/floortime/DIR school of addressing SNs). I don't want to try to sell you on a particular model, just hoping you can talk to someone in the field who might be able to help you out.  GL.  Web site is icdl.com

Barbara Kalmanson, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Special Education

1044 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield, CA 94904 or 672 Second Ave., San Francisco, CA 94118    

Phone: [phone] or 415-456-0111

E-Mail: [e-mail]

Stephanie Pass, Ph.D., Clinical Psychology

672 Second Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94118  

Phone: [phone]

E-Mail: [e-mail]

[askew]

Everyone we see is through UCSF. The only person we needed a referral to see was the ENT. Which I thought was kind of interesting. I have an amazing ped though, you can just call her and ask her for almost anything and she will do it. I showed up unannounced once and asked her to write me a scrip that called for PT/ OT 5x a week. She did, and it really helped with insurance. Maybe you can try to get it at UCSF, or are you willing to look at a new Ped? We see Pediatric Alternatives in Mill Valley. I think they are the best thing that has happened, medically speaking, to my kids. 

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by prettyflwrs 

I need a referral for two reasons. 

1. I don't know how to find a doctor that specializes in aspergers and I was hoping the doctor would help.

2. Most specialists don't see patients without a referral from the PCP.  This is from the web site of the mind institute for example. 

http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/clinic/

Families interested in having their children seen in our clinic should ask their primary-care physicians (PCP) to submit a referral to the UC Davis Health System's Physician Referral Center at [phone].  Insurance and self-pay options are available.  Learn more about the referral process here.

The special clinic that ds has an appointment for in Feb needed a referral from a PCP; that isn't normally a requirement for a private practice psychologist, psychiatrist, or developmental ped.

When I was looking for a psychologist for ds I printed out all the insurance plan, checked them for specialty (usually listed on my insurance website), googled them, and finally called them. They all wanted to know why I wanted ds to be seen and told me whether or not they thought they could treat him. I found ds' psychiatrist on my own, though I am lucky that it was a good fit from the start, and asked her for a referral for a therapist since the last one we saw wasn't very helpful.

[prettyflwrs]

Thanks. 

I think mostly I am just frustrated.  When I took my daughter in a month ago the doctor talked about this doctor in Mill Valley that he was going to refer her to for evaluation.  He said the other doctors office would call me.  I waited and they never did so yesterday I called them (the peds office) and they told me that they don't refer to psychologists and I just need to find one on my own.  But the doctor said he was going to refer us to the special doctor for evaluation. There are like 5 psychologists in town but he wanted me to drive 4 hours to Mill Valley for this particular doctor for evaluation and now they are tell me to just pick any random doctor.  But I was/am under the impression that most psychologist are not willing to diagnose aspergers.

I just want to get her evaluated for aspergers and I don't really seem to be able to do it. 

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by prettyflwrs 

Thanks. 

I think mostly I am just frustrated.  When I took my daughter in a month ago the doctor talked about this doctor in Mill Valley that he was going to refer her to for evaluation.  He said the other doctors office would call me.  I waited and they never did so yesterday I called them (the peds office) and they told me that they don't refer to psychologists and I just need to find one on my own.  But the doctor said he was going to refer us to the special doctor for evaluation. There are like 5 psychologists in town but he wanted me to drive 4 hours to Mill Valley for this particular doctor for evaluation and now they are tell me to just pick any random doctor.  But I was/am under the impression that most psychologist are not willing to diagnose aspergers.

I just want to get her evaluated for aspergers and I don't really seem to be able to do it. 

I would leave a message a message for the doctor, asking him to call you about a personal matter. The only pschologists I've heard of not diagnosing are psychologists at schools.

Unless you have a HMO he is not the gate keeper of your child's medical care. If he is withholding information from you because he wants things done in a particular order I'd think about moving on.

Edited by Emmeline II - 12/17/10 at 11:23am