Friday, February 12, 2010

Melmed Center

A friend of mine suggested going to Melmed Center here in Scottsdale. We went there in the very beginning and this is where she was first diagnosed four years ago. We really liked it but left because our insurance changed. Well, now our insurance does not cover any mental health at all so it does not matter where we go as far as that is concerned. I don't know why I did not think of going back there, but I think it was because I thought that Kenzie was too complicated for them. However, I decided to call them to see if maybe it would be a fit. They told me that they could definitely give her a diagnosis and if it was "extreme bipolar" they would refer her out. However, they could handle all other issues-ADHD, anxiety, mood disorders, ODD. They are a team of specialists-developmental pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, etc. who work together to come up with a diagnosis and a care plan for them and they really seem to care about their patients. Anyway, the down side is they do not have a psychiatrist on staff. So I am asking for anyone who would like to give their opinion on this facility to do so. You can go to their website -www.melmedcenter.com and look and if you have an opinion, please share. We do have a two hour appointment on Feb. 24th-it was a cancellation and we are so blessed to get one this quickly as the first time I called they did not have one until April 20th. Our appointment will be with a psychiatric nurse practitioner-Laura Jensen. We can cancel up to 48 hours prior. So I am still researching and deciding that is why I am asking for anyone who is willing to give an opinion on the place.

11 comments:

  1. I have never heard of this place but I am glad that you found a stop gap measure. At this point you need a diagnosis that will stick. It will be so much easier to help McKenzie knowing exactly what her disorder is.

    I got the name and number of a pdoc from a friend on my online support group from CABF who loves this doc, and her child is definitely bipolar. Her name is Dr. Karen Kando of Phoenix Childrens Hosp, phone number is 602-546-1990. I hope this helps!

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  2. We are new to the phx area and were referred to the Melmed center. So far, I'm VERY impressed. They have a great reputation and are well known in the valley.

    We are taking three of our four children there.

    Good luck!

    The only "down" side is that they are a bit on the pricey side, and they do like to try to get you to sign up for even more services that they provide. However, when I explained that we simply could not afford them, they did offer a sliding scale at that point based on income. After I clairified that we make too much money for a sliding scale to help us out (we wouldn't qualify) but that our savings was totally tapped out right now, they dropped all pressure for these additional classes.

    The Melmed center is also well connected in the area and they have pointed the way to many community services as well.

    I trust them with my highly complex children.

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  3. Amy K.- If you are willing to share... would love to know more about you and your children. Really could use a friend here in the Phx. area that understands what I am going through. And thanks for the encouraging words about Melmed.

    Megan-thanks for the referral. However, this was our psy. doctor this summer who seemed very wish washy to me and asked us every time that we came, "How can I help you?" I wanted to reply with "Fix my kid!" or "If I knew that I wouldn't be here." It was like she did not know where to begin with Kenzie. She would never say she was bipolar but said she had some kind of mood disorder. She was also very hard to get hold of when you needed to talk to her and hard to get in to see her. I think it is this way with all of the doctors at Phx. Children's Hospital. It feels like your child is just another number to them and they do not take the time to really get to know them. She would never remember from one meeting to another what we had done already and really anything about Kenz. It felt like we had to start over every time we went there. We saw her from May to Oct. 2009. She did help us rule out lots of meds. but that was it. I guess some doctors are good matches for some but not for others. But thanks again for trying.

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    1. I am looking at Melmed for my 9 year old son who is already diagnosed. We are looking for a social skills group. We just started using the superflex curriculim and it is great however need a group setting using this .

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  4. Needed for a upcoming research trial for Bipolar and/or Depressed 11-17 year olds:

    Parents have you thought about joining a research trial. Free diagnosis by board certified child & adolescent psychiatrists. All labs, ECG, PE's are included if your kid qualifies for a the trial. Incredible care and time spent with each patient. Research is a great place to learn. Contact Research One, Inc. 480.941.8331 Scottsdale,AZ or e-mail volunteer@research1inc.com

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  5. We did have a great deal of luck for initial diagnosis at the Melmed Center. (My daughter has autism, but was very young for the diagnosis.) We have not yet had any follow up appointments with them. They seem to be very busy and it is difficult to get in. Our family has had experience with PCH that is similar. It seemed like more just a numbers game than an interest in the patient. I know that this is a generalization and that there are caring doctors there, we just didn't get to see them. My heart goes out to you with your trials. Keep trying until you find a fit that works for you and your daughter. You will always be the best judge of what is right for your family.

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  6. Hi, I know this was posted awhile ago, but I was curious if you had any updates or more recent reviews after some time? I'm currently waiting for a scheduled apt we have for my son and am trying to get some parents input on their experiences.. I've spent hours on the phone and internet trying to find a good place to go, covered with insurance, accepting kids his age etc etc.. and so far this is the only option. (I don't have a quote for the apt. but the other two were at $600 for an evaluation, and another place was almost 2k!) Maybe I'm being too sensitive but the receptionist/office staff lady made a comment that's really bothering me and making me not trust the idea of taking the appointment here (melted) But I don't have any other options right now :(
    Thanks for sharing your story!

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  7. I have to agree with several other reviewers on yelp about the office staff and their scheduling procedures. Like many of these parents we called 2 weeks in advance to get an appointment for counseling so we could learn how to better deal with our son's behavioral issues. We very eagerly awaited each day as the appointment got nearer feeling like we "will finally get some help." Sadly the day before our first intake appointment we were called by the Melmed Center and told our appt was being cancelled and could we come in that day (the very day they were calling -- as if we don't have lives and jobs). Our appointment was being cancelled because Dr. Pepinito "had an issue." For obvious reasons I was upset but felt somewhat relieved we made a 2nd appt the very next week which would include our son. I was told when I called to make the appointment I had to make TWO within one week of each other. Yesterday when I was at work I apparently received a voice mail stating my appt "needs to be confirmed by 8am the next day" or our appt on Monday would be cancelled. Being that I work 12 hour days and get home at 830pm I did not listen to this message until 11am on Friday. I called Melmed to find out the status of our appt and ....it had been CANCELLED. Two weeks of waiting. These appts were costing us OUT OF POCKET $175 each. I asked to speak to a manager who then gave me a lengthy explanation of why this happened, etc... etc... Like other reviewers noted it is disappointing when a person/patient is seeking care/help and we wait weeks to get that help only to have appointments cancelled without our knowledge. The manager tried to make it seem like this was an anomaly however clearly from the reviews this is the NORM. I plan on leaving my review on every and any website I can find that pertains to the Melmed Center. Their unprofessionalism and lack of concern for correcting these scheduling errors are unconscionable. I would not recommend this center. Unfortunately I don't know who to recommend....

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  8. Very curious about this place now. .been feeling hopeless as a parent

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