"Our mission is to bring the world of Internet technology to the scattered expanse of the mental health providers in order to develop a cohesive, integrated, efficient and innovative system to enhance the relationship between professionals and mental health consumers."
The Dynamic Psychiatric Directory at Mental Health Referral was developed by
Charles R. Wang, MD and Eugene Lin, Ph.D.
Dr. Charles Wang completed his psychiatric training specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents at the University of Washington. He has been in practice in Seattle, Washington, since 1994. His practice spans the continuum of care from inpatient to that of outpatient psychiatric care including psychiatric day hospital as well as consultation work with the Friends of Youth, an organization of United Way.
Dr. Eugene Lin obtained his degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. His studies at the University of Washington involved the interface between basic medical research with that of computer technology. He heads the technical aspect of our team and brings with him the studied diligence of the academia.
Melinda Wang, a second grade student, developed the fish image used on our logo.
She continues to give us tireless encouragement for the work we are doing. In effect, she is our number one fan.
Dr. Wang and Dr. Lin founded Mental Health Referral in 1998 following some conversations about the possibilities of the Internet in 1997. Certainly, the Internet can become the ultimate source for information in the new Millennium but the Internet also offers even greater possibilities by allowing for a dynamic interaction between the user and the database. The ability for users to instantly influence a set of information or data at anytime is an aspect of technology that has not been available until the advent of the Internet. This would make any set of information much more alive and eminently more usable. It is through this exciting concept that the foundation to the MHReferral.com directory was developed. Our goal is to develop a database of providers that can be truly informative and up to date. Our work in progress is to evolve this database to include the continuum of healthcare.
We are very excited to be able to bring a unique and much needed new service to the healthcare arena. The Dynamic Psychiatric Directory at Mental Health Referral strives to provide a continually updated directory of clinical providers who are accepting new patients. We have designed this e-service to empower both the healthcare consumers as well as the providers. In line with our mission, our goal is to allow providers to gain increasing control over his or her clinical practice. This directory is open to psychiatrists, psychologists, master / other therapists and mental health nurse practitioners. This service is provided free of charge to mental health consumers and providers.
Disclaimer
If you are a mental healthcare provider in a complex metropolitan area, suburb or a rural community, you may already have wondered about how new patients managed to find you and how referral sources can be kept abreast of your availability. Referral sources ranging from primary care providers, medical specialists, state agencies, schools, businesses, hospitals, insurance companies and your colleagues have no efficient way of checking on how your clinical practice is evolving, your special interest at this time and most importantly, your availability to receive new patients. As a result, patients and their families are often frustrated with the system as well as its providers. Referral sources also face frequent frustrations when patients needing care could not be seen in a timely manner.
In a world in which telecommunication is reaching its zenith, information about provider profile and provider availability is surprisingly poor. The need for patients and referral sources to check with individual provider for availability is not only inefficient but may not yield an acceptable solution. An acutely ill patient who may be in need of inpatient psychiatric care or longer term residential treatment care would have to wait while concerned family search frantically for an appropriate facility. This same issue could be applied to the search for group psychotherapy, psychiatric day hospital programs and chemical dependency treatment programs.
Our solution is to offer clinical providers the opportunity to participate in the Dynamic Psychiatric Directory at Mental Health Referral. For individual providers, participation in the directory is free of charge. Providers can enroll in the directory through the MHReferral.com Internet website. Through this directory, one can quickly determine the availability of providers in a given location. This directory would also assist in better match of provider specialty to healthcare consumer.
Disclaimer
Provider participation in the Dynamic Psychiatric Directory at Mental Health Referral does not indicate an endorsement by this organization. Each provider is required to have credential in his or her area of practice and holds a current license to practice his or her profession in the state of practice. At time of enrollment, each provider declares that information provided is accurate to the best of his or her understanding. Mental Health Referral will not be responsible for validating the credentials of providers.
Disclaimer
Mental Health Referral maintains the right to accept or refuse applicants to this directory. Mental Health Referral maintains the right to utilize information collected through this website and directory. Provider appointment availability must reasonably reflect what is indicated in the directory. Provider availability to new patients may be contingent on payment / insurance agreement between provider and patient. Patients are responsible for checking on the financial and insurance policy acceptance of a given mental health provider.
Disclaimer
Patients are responsible for checking with insurance and managed care carriers for specific protocol about access of mental health care under its plan.
Disclaimer
Provider enrollment and updates may be made through
Provider Registration and Updates.
Please look for additional information about Mental Health Referral through Site Guide,
Provider's Questions about Joining, and Member Comments.
Provider Registration and Updates