What to Look for in a TMS Provider

Do They Help You with Insurance?

Any time you get a procedure, you should consider the experience of the physician performing the procedure. You have a right to know if you're the third case or the 100th case. Since TMS has been around for just over a decade, you may find providers who are new to it. If this is the case, you can ask how the physician was trained to perform TMS and which devices they use, as not all devices are equal in efficacy.

At Greenbrook TMS, we use a variety of devices that are all cleared by the FDA, enabling us to offer several treatment options to our patients. We have more than 100 physicians in our company, including some of the nation's most experienced TMS providers, who undergo extensive TMS training. The most experienced physicians belong to our Clinical Advisory Committee to provide on-demand advice and resources to any of the physicians at Greenbrook TMS. No matter which Greenbrook TMS center you visit, you will receive the same standard of treatment with all the benefits of our best providers.

What about Location, Convenience, and Atmosphere?

Because TMS is not as commonly employed as other mental health treatments like antidepressants and talk therapy, finding a TMS center can be challenging. Availability is certainly better now than it was 10 years ago, and the Clinical TMS Society has an interactive map to help you find a nearby provider. Unfortunately, there are some providers who aren't as focused on the patient experience and may cut corners on their overhead by neglecting things like conveniently located centers, modern offices, or comfortable TMS chairs. First and foremost, Greenbrook TMS chooses centers based on geographic proximity to people's homes and workplaces. Next, we make sure our centers are appealing, soothing, and safe for our patients, making them feel more like spas than doctors' offices. We want to be sure that when you come into our centers, you're able to relax and focus on getting better.

When you decide to get TMS treatments, you will have 30 to 36 sessions over six to nine weeks. After your physician determines your device's settings, most of these treatments will be administered by a TMS technician. While you may have found a provider you are comfortable with, the physicians are just one part of the care team that's working with you throughout your treatment. Your TMS experience could be an unpleasant one if the technicians don't treat you the same way your physician does or, worse, aren't trained well and therefore mishandle your treatments.

Greenbrook TMS technicians are not administrative staff who also work as technicians—their full-time job is in the administration of the TMS therapy. Our technicians undergo training that far exceeds the industry standard, and we have a formalized internal training program and continuing education training opportunities to make sure they stay up to date. Besides their competency, our technicians are always pleasant and friendly. In fact, many of our patients that one of their very favorite parts of treatment is getting to see their techs every single day and talk with them.