Psychiatric Evaluations
Meet with an Experienced “Psych Evaluator” in the Philadelphia Area
Understanding mental health conditions—as well as the wide variety of patients and customized treatments available—necessitates an integrated approach, encompassing therapy, lifestyle changes, and psychiatric evaluations. The Philadelphia area’s Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz understands that each person responds to treatment differently, making an initial psychiatric evaluation a vital component of any care strategy. These evaluations can help him to ascertain the specific mental health disorder to be treated, facilitate a targeted plan, and guide long-term care.
At Buckingham Psychiatry, Dr. Buinewicz is known for being well-versed in the intricacies of psychiatric evaluations, understanding the significance of correct diagnosis, and providing personalized treatment. For complete psychiatric evaluation services in the Philadelphia area, contact Buckingham Psychiatry.
Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz works with patients from Doylestown, Philadelphia, Allentown, Bethlehem, Cherry Hill, Princeton, surrounding areas in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and beyond. Buckingham Psychiatry invites you to reach out at 484.466.5560 to discuss your psychiatric evaluation needs.
What Is a Psychiatric Evaluation?
A psychiatric evaluation is comprised of a thorough examination of a person’s mental state to diagnose any existing psychiatric disorder. This comprehensive strategy allows Dr. Buinewicz to gain a better understanding of the patient and issue, ultimately informing an effective personalized treatment plan.
Understanding the Components of a Psychiatric Evaluation
A psychiatric or “mental health” evaluation commonly includes a number of elements, each with unique attributes and purpose.
Clinical Interview
Clinical interviews are a critical starting point in the evaluation process. These allow for an understanding of the individual’s mental health symptoms, personal and family medical history, and any relevant psychosocial factors.
Mental Status Examination
Mental status examinations assess the individual’s mental capacity and functioning areas. Evaluations may include exploration of an individual’s appearance, mood, thought processes, memory, judgment, and insight.
Diagnostic Testing
Diagnostic testing can include both basic vital signs and laboratory evaluations.
Evidence-Based Symptom Screening
Evidence-based symptom screening makes use of research-driven screening tools to accurately assess psychiatric diagnoses. This involves Dr. Buinewicz taking a thorough history that can include physical signs and symptoms, unique patient characteristics, and other observable details.
Meet Dr. Buinewicz
Jacob D. Buinewicz, MD is a board certified general psychiatrist. He graduated from Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.
Trained in the combined use of psychotherapy and medication, he offers evidence based treatment for a variety of psychiatric disorders. He has specific expertise in mood and bipolar disorders, ADHD, anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD. He also offers care for common sources of stress including life transitions, decreased productivity at work, relationship issues, and grief.
Dr. Buinewicz believes all treatment should begin with a patient-centered comprehensive and holistic evaluation. Patients are involved in creating a treatment plan that may include medications, therapy, or a combination of both. He believes that therapy is often a critical component of care as evidence shows that it provides benefit over medication alone. His therapeutic approach is tailored to the individual patient and contains elements of psychodynamic psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
Contact Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz, MD for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and personalized treatment plan at 484-466-5560.
Psychiatric Evaluations in the Philadelphia Area
Dr. Buinewicz approaches psychiatric evaluations at Buckingham Psychiatry by first seeking to understand the intricate needs and specific conditions of each individual. This extensive assessment facilitates a uniquely tailored treatment plan for optimal mental health care.
Thorough Evaluation
Initial evaluations encapsulate understanding a patient’s medical history, current condition, symptoms, daily functioning, lifestyle patterns, and more. This complete assessment lays the foundation for a personalized treatment plan.
Diagnostic Criteria Matching
Diagnostic criteria matching involves assessing the individual’s symptoms and condition against recognized psychiatric diagnoses. This allows for an accurate diagnosis and a more comprehensive understanding of the mental health condition.
Personalized Treatment Recommendations
Dr. Buinewicz closely collaborates with each patient to establish a personalized treatment plan based on the evaluation’s findings.
Family Interviews
Family interviews might be crucial in some cases, supplementing the evaluation based on increased understanding and different perspectives of the individual’s condition.
Continuous Reevaluation
Regularly revisiting various evaluation tools allows Dr. Buinewicz to monitor the patient’s response to treatment, measure progress, and adjust the plan as necessary for optimal mental health care.
Key Takeaways of OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder)
Conducting psychiatric evaluations is a complex but vital part of any comprehensive mental health treatment. It involves a profound understanding of the patient’s state, individualized approaches, continuous evaluation, and collaboration with healthcare professionals for the best patient outcomes.
If you or a loved one require a psychiatric evaluation to understand and manage your mental health needs better in the Philadelphia area, reach out to Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz at Buckingham Psychiatry. Based in Doylestown, PA, Dr. Buinewicz is committed to thorough psychiatric evaluation services designed to optimize treatment outcomes and enhance your quality of life. Schedule a consultation by reaching out online or calling 484.466.5560.
Initial Evaluation – 90 minutes
Evaluations consist of an extensive medical and psychiatric history followed by a case formulation. Laboratory studies and a brief neurological examination are often involved for thoroughness. With your permission, collateral information may be requested from medical providers, family or significant others, to aid in case formulation and diagnosis.
The goal is to collaborate to develop a treatment plan that fits your individual needs, which may include therapy, medication management or both. If you have a therapist that you would like to continue working with, they can be included in treatment planning, provided that Dr. Buinewicz can have open communication with them.
The initial evaluation is considered a consultation and not an agreement for ongoing care; it is an opportunity for provider and patient to discuss likely diagnosis, treatment plan and to decide whether they are a good fit for ongoing care (individuals are responsible for the consultation fee regardless).
Medication Management – 20 minutes
This is a follow-up appointment with a primary focus on monitoring and adjusting medications. To ensure quality care, appointments are scheduled at a minimum every 3 months.
Therapy – 45 minutes
This is a follow-up appointment for therapy only. Scheduled at a minimum of every month for individuals engaging in therapy.
Combined Therapy and Medication Management – 45 minutes
This is a follow-up appointment that combines both psychopharmacological and psychotherapy care. Scheduled at a minimum every 3 months.
Telehealth and In Person Appointments
For diagnostic thoroughness initial evaluations are performed in person. Telehealth initial evaluations can be requested and are considered on a case-by-case basis. Follow-up appointments are available in-person or via Telehealth (Patient’s must be located in Pennsylvania or New Jersey for the duration of their appointment). In-person follow-up appointments may be required if indicated by the treatment plan.
Emergency Services
This practice is currently not available for emergency services and does not have an emergency hotline that is answered after hours. Email and phone communication is not appropriate for urgent matters. If you should have a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you are in a mental health crisis please call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
To learn more about our psychiatric services or to schedule your initial evaluation, contact us today. Buckingham Psychiatry is led by Dr. Jacob D. Buinewicz, and is located in Doylestown, PA. Dr. Buinewicz welcomes patients from Bethlehem, Allentown, Princeton, Cherry Hill, Philadelphia and the nearby areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.