Refer a Patient
Refer a Patient for Virtual Psychiatry
Rapid access psychiatric care for your patients across multiple states. shrinkMD provides board certified telepsychiatry with timely evaluations, responsible non controlled prescribing, and structured follow up. The referral form is right here, and it's short.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy
Refer a patient securely
Short by design. We follow up quickly.
Who can refer
Who can refer to shrinkMD
Any licensed provider or organization seeking timely psychiatric support for adult patients.
Primary care and urgent care
Refer patients who need timely psychiatric evaluation and ongoing management.
Therapists and counselors
Coordinate medication management alongside the therapy you provide.
Colleges and employers
College health services and employee assistance programs seeking timely access care.
Specialists and practices
Medical practices and specialists needing psychiatric support for adult patients.
What for
What patients can be referred for
Psychiatric evaluation
A comprehensive diagnostic assessment, as clinician availability allows.
Medication management
Responsible, non controlled prescribing with structured follow up.
Ongoing psychiatry
Continuity of care with the same clinician over time.
Therapy coordination
Integrated care that pairs psychiatry with evidence based therapy.
The process
How the referral process works
Submit the form
Complete the short, secure referral form above. It takes a minute.
We reach out
Our team contacts the patient to complete intake and schedule, as clinician availability allows.
Evaluation and plan
The patient receives a comprehensive evaluation and a personalized plan.
You stay informed
With patient consent, we coordinate and keep you in the loop as appropriate.
Why providers choose shrinkMD
Referrals you can trust
shrinkMD is built on standards, which makes us a reliable partner for your patients.
- Rapid access, often as soon as availability allows.
- Responsible, non controlled prescribing only.
- Board certified, physician led care.
- Structured follow up and continuity across multiple states.
Every referral is held to the Digital Psychiatry Index standards of safety and continuity.
States served
Where your patients can be seen
shrinkMD serves Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, New York, Virginia, Nebraska, Indiana, Hawaii, and Maine. Patients must be physically located in a state where the clinician is licensed at the time of the visit.
Questions about a specific referral? Reach us through the Contact page.
Appropriate referrals
Who to refer, and who not to
We are a good match for adults 18 and older who need outpatient psychiatric evaluation, diagnostic clarification, or medication management for anxiety, depression, bipolar spectrum disorders, OCD, insomnia, PMDD, perinatal mood disorders, and stable psychotic disorders.
We are not the right setting for:
- Patients under 18
- Active suicidal crisis or anyone needing emergency or inpatient care; please direct to 911, 988, or the nearest ED first
- Patients who require controlled substances, including stimulants and benzodiazepines, which we do not prescribe
- Severe substance withdrawal needing medical detox
- Court ordered or forensic evaluations
After you refer
What happens next, and what you receive back
We contact your patient promptly and typically complete the initial evaluation as soon as availability allows. If records are available, prior medication trials with doses, duration, and response are the most valuable history you can send. With the patient's written authorization, you receive a consult summary with our diagnostic impression and treatment plan, and meaningful updates as treatment changes.
Your patient stays your patient. We handle the psychiatric layer, you keep the whole clinical picture, and the communication loop stays open in both directions.
Co-management
How we work alongside your practice
When treatment requires monitoring, such as lithium levels, metabolic panels on atypical antipsychotics, or thyroid checks, we coordinate orders through your office or a local laboratory and share results review. Medication changes that touch your prescribing, including interactions and deprescribing opportunities, come with direct communication rather than surprises in a refill request.
If a patient ever needs a higher level of care, we say so early and help route them appropriately, with you in the loop.
Keep exploring
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
How quickly will my patient be seen?
Most patients complete intake and schedule as soon as availability allows of a referral, depending on availability.
Do you accept referrals from any provider?
Yes. Any licensed provider or organization can refer an adult patient seeking timely psychiatric support.
Do you prescribe controlled substances?
No. We use non controlled medications and coordinated therapy, with responsible prescribing standards.
Which states do you serve?
Florida, Georgia, Texas, California, New York, Virginia, Nebraska, Indiana, Hawaii, and Maine.
Will I receive a consult note back?
Yes, with the patient's written authorization: an initial summary with diagnostic impression and plan, then updates at meaningful changes in treatment. Tell us your preferred format and fax or secure email on the referral.
My patient has Medicare or Medicaid. Can they be seen?
Not at this time. shrinkMD does not accept, bill, or provide services to Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, or other government-program beneficiaries, even on a private-pay basis. Please confirm a patient is not enrolled in a government health program before referring.
What should I do if my patient is in crisis right now?
Treat it as the emergency it is: 911, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or the nearest emergency department. We are an outpatient practice, and the right time to refer is after stabilization, when we can take over follow up quickly.
How do labs and monitoring work with a telehealth practice?
We coordinate. When a medication needs monitoring, such as lithium levels or metabolic labs, we arrange orders through the patient's primary care office or a local lab, review results, and share them back. Telehealth changes the visit, not the standard of care.
Refer a patient today
Rapid access psychiatric care for the people you serve. Complete the short referral form above to get started.
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