Decker Student Health Services Center (DSHSC) provides evidence-based psychiatric consultation and treatment, which recognizes and promotes the importance of students being connected with counseling services. Clinical research has shown that the combination of counseling with psychiatric medication is more effective than either of the approaches by themselves. In most cases, students will be directed to counseling before a medication evaluation is scheduled unless they are already established with a therapist/counselor.
DSHSC does not provide emergent or walk-in appointments for new patients. If your concern is acute or emergent and you need to speak to someone right away, call the University Counseling Center at 607-777-2772 or the UHS Binghamton General Hospital CPEP (Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program) crisis line at 607-762-2302 or 911 to access emergency services.
DSHSC Psychiatric Services also offers eating disorder screening and education appointments.
For more information about ADHD continuity of care and the medical withdrawal process, see below.
Making new psychiatry appointments
In order to schedule an initial appointment, a patient must first complete our initial appointment request form. Go to the , sign in and click on FORMS on the left side of the screen. Scroll down to PSYCHIATRY and click on PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES INITIAL APPOINTMENT REQUEST FORM. Complete and submit the form.
Once you have completed the appointment request form, our providers will respond to you through the health portal with requests for any additional information or forms we may need. We might also schedule you for an appointment with our treatment coordination team to have a case manager review your on and off-campus treatment options. All initial appointment scheduling will be managed through secure messages on the patient portal. If you cannot access your health portal account, please call 607-777-3711 and leave a message under option #4.
Initial appointment expectations
Initial visits are IN PERSON ONLY and are 90 minutes in length. You may meet with our psychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner or a psychiatric trainee working with our psychiatrist. Students must complete their mandatory paperwork online in your health portal prior to your appointment. If you do not complete the paperwork online, you will be scheduled to arrive 30 minutes prior to the initial appointment with your provider.
If you miss your paperwork appointment or are more than 15 minutes late to the scheduled appointment, you may have to reschedule. If you miss or are late to two intake appointments, you will be referred off campus.
Follow-up appointments
You are expected to keep your scheduled follow-up appointments or reschedule with 24 hours' notice. Follow-up appointments will be 15 to 30 minutes in length and are not meant to replace therapy/counseling sessions. Follow-up visits can be in person or online (if you remain in NYS) depending on circumstances. Psychiatry appointments are focused on medication response, side effects and options/recommendations for treatment.
To reschedule an appointment, send us a message on the to PSYCHMSG or call 607-777-3711.
ADHD
We encourage students to continue with their current NYS Psychiatric Prescribers when at all possible. Our services are linked to being a current registered student and are not available when a student graduates or leaves the University. Most providers are available by telehealth or over academic breaks to continue your established care. If your home provider refuses to continue to prescribe to you, we will connect you with our treatment coordination team for assistance with finding an off-campus prescriber that participates with your insurance plan and are taking new patients.
If you suspect ADHD but have not been formally diagnosed, you can meet with our treatment coordination team to look at resources to obtain a diagnostic assessment.
Withdrawals
The Dean of Students (DOS) Office processes student withdrawals and re-enrollments. Students must have their medical/psychological providers complete and send in the withdrawal and re-enrollment forms. The forms are reviewed by DSHSC and/or the University Counseling Center (UCC). DSHSC and UCC send an opinion about the appeals to the DOS Office. The DOS Office finalizes the action.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
If your situation is urgent and cannot wait for a regular outpatient appointment, please utilize emergency services or Call or text 988 to speak with someone 24/7.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
to speak with someone 24/7.