Genesight – Genetic Testing to Predict Medication Response

Peter ForsterGPS Update, Psychobiology, Testing

We have been using the Genecept Assay from Genomind for several years to help guide treatment selection in patients with either unusually high rates of side effects from medications or those who have failed multiple trials of medications. Although the test can be expensive, costing anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to five hundred dollars or more, it is our experience …

Doxy.me Telepsychiatry

Peter ForsterAbout GPS, GPS Update

This blog post provides information about Doxy.me a HIPAA compliant tele-psychiatry platform that we use at Gateway Psychiatric. Doxy.me is a simple and secure Web-based video solution designed for telemedicine. Doxy.me automatically works with popular internet browsers, such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, without requiring additional downloads or plug-ins to install. Doxy.me does not work with Safari or Internet Explorer. …

New Scheduling Page

Peter ForsterGPS Update

This morning one of my patients pointed out that the scheduling page that we have had on this site under the online office section for the last year was not working properly. We submitted a help ticket to Google which provides us with this under a HIPAA business associates agreement but it got us thinking that we’ve never much cared for …

Congratulations Dr. Kelsey Schraufnagel

Peter ForsterAbout GPS, GPS Update

We were so excited to learn that Doctor Schraufnagel, who’s been working here at the clinic for two years as a psychological assistant, finally received her California license has a psychologist. The outcome was never in question except for host of bureaucratic snafus including an analyst at the California Board of Psychology who mysteriously disappeared part way through completing her …

Fee Increase 2016

Peter ForsterAbout GPS, GPS Update

It is time once again for our yearly fee revision. This blog post is intended to provide the details of how we went about determining the revised fees. Warning: This may have far more information than you want or need, and if you have specific questions it is best to talk to your clinician. First, we reviewed information that is …

Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy

Peter ForsterBest Practices, GPS Update, Major Depression, Treatments of Depression

I have just posted another page on the site devoted to orienting patients to types of psychotherapy that we may recommend for them. This most recent page talks about Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy, an approach to the treatment of patients with chronic depression that many people have benefitted from during the course of their treatment at Gateway Psychiatric. …

Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Job

Peter ForsterGPS Update

We are excited to be hiring a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) to join our team!  A successful candidate for this position is licensed as a CA Registered Nurse and is certified by the CA Board of Registered Nursing as a Nurse Practitioner; ideal candidates carry an ANCC certification. The position is best suited for someone who is self- …

Ketamine for Depression Update

Peter ForsterGPS Update, Major Depression, Treatments of Depression

Probably the most exciting development in psychopharmacology in years is the discovery of the dramatic effects of ketamine on depression. However, a recent report from the American Psychiatric Association (APA) Task Force on Novel Biomarkers and Treatments highlights not only the reason for the excitement about ketamine but also the significant areas of uncertainty that make it not yet ready to …

Medicare at GPS – Update 2022

Peter ForsterAbout GPS, Costs of Treatment, GPS Update

This is a fourth post to update our Medicare status. It is an update of the post from 2017. Provider Status and Volunteer Teaching at UCSF As of October 2015, Dr. Forster is no longer “opted out” from Medicare. This change was necessary for him to continue to serve as a volunteer clinical faculty member supervising residents in the Bipolar …

When is my appointment?

Peter ForsterAbout GPS, General, GPS Update

A fair number of emails we get have to do with an urgent request to be reminded when someone’s appointment is to take place. Sometimes the email gets sent only a few minutes before the start of the appointment. Since we don’t interrupt sessions to answer emails, and often don’t have time to answer emails between sessions, this can be an exercise …