Dr. Cheney’s Patient FAQs

Patient Pro-Tips

  1. Save your username and password for the TherapyPortal.

  2. Bookmark Dr. Cheney’s homepage on our website for quick access to the Patient Portal, this FAQs sheet, and other resources.

  3. At the end of your session with Dr. Cheney, ask her when she would like to see you again and put a reminder in your calendar for three weeks before that date. Once your reminder notifies you, reach out and schedule your follow-up.

  4. When you pick up your final prescription refill, go online and schedule a med management appointment (before you need a new refill).

  5. The further in advance you schedule your appointments, the more availability your provider will have.

Refills

  • For medication refills, please use the messaging function in the TherapyPortal.

  • Refill requests should be submitted to Dr. Cheney 5 business days before you run out of medication to ensure no lapse in coverage.

  • To facilitate the refill process, please provide the following information in your request:

    • Patient Name & DOB

    • Medication Name & Dosage

    • Pharmacy Name, Location & Email

  • For your safety, your psychiatrist will NOT call in medication refills over the weekend except in emergencies.

  • Your provider must call in all stimulant medications each month. No refills are allowed by law, and each month’s supply must be sent in as a separate prescription.

Communications

  • The TherapyPortal provides additional encryption and security and keeps all correspondence in a central location.  You will use the portal to:

    • Schedule and cancel appointments

    • Request medication refills

    • Correspond with Dr. Cheney regarding non-urgent* matters

    • Access the Telehealth portal.

  • The Patient Portal can be accessed through our website's Clients page or Dr. Cheney's Home Page.

  • Please reserve phone calls for urgent matters.

  • Dr. Cheney checks her messages regularly, but please allow 2 business days for a reply.

  • You will receive an email notification when a new message is posted for you on the Patient Portal.

  • Please note that anyone who can log into your TherapyPortal account has access to your correspondence.

Scheduling

  • Please schedule a medical management appointment to discuss a matter requiring more than a short call, messaging exchange, or a marked change in a patient’s presentation.

  • In your appointment request, include a brief summary of anything specific you hope to address during your appointment so your provider can make sure you are scheduled for the appropriate length of time.

  • 25-minute medication management appointments are maintenance appointments for established patients who need a simple check-in to review their current medication regimen.

  • 50-minute appointments are for psychotherapy patients, patients looking for extended patient education/discussion, or complex patients with complicating factors (such as underlying medical conditions or multiple medications) who need additional support.

  • If you are unsure how long of an appointment to schedule, you can message Dr. Cheney through the portal.

  • Dr. Cheney will message you if she feels you need a longer/shorter session.

Patient Responsibilities

  1. While we intend to avoid any lapse in medication(s) for our patients, your psychiatrist will not refill a prescription(s) if you have failed to make regular follow-up appointments.

  2. Patients prescribed medication by a physician at the Arete Center must meet with their provider every six(6) months (minimum) for ongoing medication management and/or follow the physician's recommendation.

  3. Failure to schedule and maintain regular visits with your provider can result in the termination of care.