TMS THERAPY
FDA-cleared, non-medication depression treatment
The Greenbrook TMS Difference
Mary El Grammer
Greenbrook TMS was established in 2011 and quickly grew to become a leading provider of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy in the United States. Our patient-focused customer service model makes TMS easily accessible to patients and allows us to provide the best possible care.
Today, Greenbrook provides TMS therapy for depression at 125 centers spread across 13 states. We have provided
more than 500,000 TMS treatments to more than 14,000 patients struggling with depression, and we remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a recent interview, our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Geoffrey Grammer, discussed the unique experience that Greenbrook TMS offers patients with treatment-resistant depression.
What makes Greenbrook TMS patient-centered?
Greenbrook was designed and created by people who build health care companies for a living, with the goal of improving the patient experience. That positive patient experience starts with the first phone call, extends into handling all aspects of approval and billing of your insurance company, and results in a best-in-class treatment delivery.
We've worked to train our staff and design our waiting rooms, facilities, and website to be patient-centered. While receiving TMS therapy for depression, you're surrounded by friendly, helpful staff and aesthetically pleasing environments, all geared toward assisting you in your recovery.
Greenbrook is a leading TMS therapy provider. What does that mean for patients?
We have some of the best psychiatrists in the field that advise the company on appropriate standards of care. That ensures that whether you get treated in Washington, D.C., or Charlotte, North Carolina, you're going to get the same excellent care.
The sheer amount of resources is a huge benefit in helping to advise care delivery. We have a relationship with the academic community, the vendors of the devices, insurance companies, and psychiatrists , which means we get to incorporate the latest and greatest technologies and techniques for our patients.
Psychiatrists who are more isolated can't read every study out there or dive into every research initiative. But at Greenbrook, we have our finger on that pulse very strongly. Because of our size, entities are interested in keeping us informed, which ultimately benefits our patients, who get the best and latest evidence-based care in their therapy.
How long will a prospective patient have to wait to get in for treatment?
We recognize that when people need help, they don't need help six months from now; they need help today. Unlike some other psychiatric practices, we have stringent standards to get you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible. We aim to see you for your first appointment within a week or two with insurance approval and treatment initiation following shortly after.
How are you able to get new patients in for treatment in a week? What if you're booked up?
If there is a space or device availability issue, we acquire more space or purchase more devices. If there is a physician availability bottleneck, we partner with more doctors and we leverage staff to help with the patient experience. That frees up our affiliated physicians to do the medical decision-making and not get bogged down in paperwork or insurance claims and appeals — meaning the physicians can focus on what they're trained for, which is deciding on the best treatment option for you and handling the device settings.
Will patients have to travel far to be treated?
We recognize that for people to get TMS therapy, it needs to be convenient, so we build centers near where it's easy for people to visit. We don't want someone driving hours to get TMS therapy for depression.
When we grow into a new area, we look at where people live and work and open centers in convenient locations that are safe, close to major roads and have easy parking to make those centers as convenient as possible for patients. We are constantly expanding to bring this therapy to people who need it. Patients can go to our website, which has a
location finder , so you can find the center nearest to your home.
What does Greenbrook TMS do to ease the burden of dealing with insurance companies?
We work with nearly every insurance provider, so you don't have to do much more than give us your insurance card to get coverage. Throughout the entire process, you will work with a Patient Consultant to find the status of your insurance requests. We have a well-trained team that files and processes claims, and we have a team that helps with appeals when needed.
How expensive is TMS therapy at Greenbrook TMS?
A lot of other providers will tack on miscellaneous fees, like a physician oversight fee, but we don't want any surprise billing out of Greenbrook.
We take most insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid at various center locations. We tell you the results of a benefits inquiry, so when you start, you know what it should cost. This allows you to make an informed choice if TMS therapy is right for you including consideration of the logistical and financial requirements.
What would you say to a patient considering TMS?
Of all the things I've done in medicine, the thing that has been most transformative has been TMS. It was clear very early on that TMS was a paradigm changer in the field of psychiatry. When people respond to TMS, they respond in ways that are far more dramatic than I've seen with other modalities. TMS is a safe, very well-tolerated treatment that works for the majority of patients who try it. Not treating depression is not only painful, but it can lead to actual medical damage, so the biggest risk in trying TMS often lies in not trying it at all.
Let's see if we might be a good fit
Take our 6 question quiz to see if TMS therapy could be right for you
Share this post
We're Better Together
Subscribe for mental health, self-care, and TMS therapy updates for those affected by treatment-resistant depression or OCD.
Contact Us
By providing your email address, you are consenting to receive blog updates from Greenbrook TMS Inc. You may unsubscribe from these alerts at any time by following the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of email alerts. At Greenbrook TMS Inc. we take the privacy and security of your personal information seriously. To learn more about how we protect your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
You might also like
You may feel isolated and alone when you have clinical depression, and depression also affects your relationships with family and friends. While the primary focus of your treatment is to improve your mental health, it’s also essential to understand your loved ones may experience their own issues as they try to support you. An understanding of how depression affects relationships can help everyone maintain healthy connections and navigate problems. Here are some of the ways depression may affect the people in your support network.
Our free mental health calendar for 2023 includes mental health awareness events, holidays, self-care activities, and a monthly 30 second mental health checkup!
We’ve all heard the common health-related misconceptions or myths-- chocolate causes acne, carrots will improve your night vision, and cracking your knuckles gives you arthritis. Subscribing to these particular myths is relatively harmless, but other health-related misconceptions can have far more serious consequences. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. This is the case for depression—the myths surrounding it can prevent people from getting the help they need. Because untreated depression can have a serious physical and psychological impact, it’s imperative to have the right information in order to make the best decisions for yourself and for your health. Here are 5 common misconceptions about depression, and the facts behind them:
Starting any medical treatment for the first time can leave you with questions, especially if you’re looking forward to the benefits it may bring. It’s no different when you’re preparing for your nasal esketamine treatment. Your previous mental health treatments may have consisted solely of taking antidepressants at home or visiting a therapist’s office for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), so nasal esketamine is probably a new treatment experience for you. If you're wondering what it's like to start nasal esketamine and get ready for your first session, keep reading. Getting Started with the Nasal Esketamine Treatment As with any new treatment, you’ll first talk to your primary care provider or psychiatrist about whether nasal esketamine is a good fit for you. Alternatively, you can schedule your esketamine nasal spray consultation with a treatment center (such as Greenbrook) that has certification by the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). At Greenbrook's REMS-certified nasal esketamine treatment centers, our Greenbrook-affiliated psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners will review your medical history and also conduct our own assessment to help determine whether nasal esketamine treatment is right for you. Certain conditions, including blood vessel disease and a history of psychosis, may make treatment a risk for you. Make sure you discuss all previous and present conditions with your doctor or nasal esketamine provider before beginning treatment. If the medication is deemed a good fit, you’ll receive your prescription from the Greenbrook-affiliated provider. Your Greenbrook Care Team will put together a personalized care plan for the weeks and months to follow. Keep in mind that you will need to take a standard (oral) antidepressant along with your nasal esketamine treatment. There are two important regulations to note when it comes to preparing for treatment: Each treatment is followed by a mandatory two-hour observation period. This means you will need to plan to stay at the center for at least two hours following your self-administration of the esketamine nasal spray. You cannot drive during the rest of the day after treatment and must arrange for transportation. These regulations are mandatory. It may be helpful to sit down and plan out several weeks’ worth of transportation once you know your treatment schedule. In addition, if you’re wondering what to bring for the treatment, we recommend entertainment such as an audiobook or playlist of favorite songs and a pair of headphones. You may want them during the two-hour observation period. What to Expect During Nasal Esketamine Treatment On the day of treatment, you’ll need to stop eating any food two hours before your appointment and stop drinking all fluids 30 minutes before you come in. Your Greenbrook Care Team will confirm that you are prepared for the two-hour observation period and that you have a ride home. You’ll get the opportunity to practice using a “trainer sprayer” that mimics the real nasal esketamine sprayer but does not release any medication. The Care Team will encourage you to use the restroom and set up your preferred environment in your private treatment bay or room. Some patients like reduced lighting, for example, while others don’t request light adjustments. You’ll complete a depression scale before each treatment session. Your Greenbrook provider will confirm that the dose kit is yours, show you how to administer it, and then hand it to you. Each sprayer contained 28mg of Spravato esketamine nasal spray. Patients usually start with two sprayers (56mg) and soon increase to 84mg (three sprayers) per treatment. But, your dosage maybe vary. Should you be left with a metallic taste by the spray, the Care Team will offer suckers to help make the flavor dissipate. After your dose, you’ll be encouraged to lie back in your comfortable recliner. While most patients enjoy a quiet setting, Greenbrook is prepared to accommodate patients with a more animated reaction to the medication. You may feel sleepy, dizzy, mildly dissociated, and/or nauseated during treatment. Greenbrook's Care Team is readily available if you need assistance. How to Prepare for after your Nasal Esketamine Treatment Most side effects begin to wane in the second hour of observation, but if you’re wondering, “Is it safe to drive immediately after nasal esketamine treatment?” the answer is a resounding no. In addition to the mandatory ride home, you will need to block off time to rest and let side effects fully dissipate. This extended rest period is especially important in the first weeks of treatment when you’ll have treatment twice a week. Do not drive or operate machinery of any kind until the day after treatment. Just take it easy, relax, and take care of yourself. If you’re unsure what activities you can do or should avoid during this time, talk to your Care Team for more information. While side effects tend to dissipate completely after a good night’s sleep, many nasal esketamine patients begin feeling relief from depression symptoms within hours of their treatment. Other Tips in Preparing for Your Nasal Esketamine Treatment At Greenbrook, we make every effort to schedule your treatment in the afternoons or whenever it is most convenient for you. We encourage you to see each treatment session as an opportunity to relax and take care of your mental health. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or the Greenbrook Care Team. At Greenbrook, we’ll help you feel at ease when preparing for each treatment session. Schedule A Free Consultation To get started with nasal esketamine, schedule your free consultation today.
Greenbrook TMS supports an accessible internet. If you have any questions about our accessibility features, please contact us at
866.928.6076 and/or info@greenbrooktms.com.
TMS THERAPY
RESOURCES
OUR COMPANY
