ATL aviation-friendly psychiatrist

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OregonDucks609

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OregonDucks609
Hi all - reaching out to the forum to see if anyone has any recommendations for an aviation friendly/familiar psychiatrist in the ATL area (or within reasonable driving distance). I received a deferral letter that requests "a current history and clinical examination from a physician regarding your history of situational depression." This doesn't need to be a HIMS psych or anything I don't believe. I just simply need a psychiatrist that will be willing to produce the report requested, which seems like it should be pretty basic. Context: My original psychiatrist was incredibly unhelpful and refused to produce any sort of report like the one requested, so I need to find one that can review my history and current status and write it up. Thanks in advance for your help!
 
OregonDucks609 said:
Thank you! Good idea - coincidentally, he's actually my dad's eye doctor. I'll reach out to him and see what he has to say.
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Dr. K did my cornea transplant several years ago. Outstanding surgeon and great guy personally. At the time he flew his own MU-2.
 
Oregon Ducks, did you make an appointment to go back and see the orignial psychiatrist?
if not you offered him NOTHING and expected something. Think about that.

All of the foresic psychiatrists (and you will end up with one if can't make this relationship work) are over $2,500....you are all "risk" to them.....
 
"a current history and clinical examination from a physician regarding your history of situational depression."

a good family doctor could fulfill this request.
 
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Bascomb Bradshaw

kazorsky will likely recommend lynn, whom I would not use.
 
bbchien said:
Oregon Ducks, did you make an appointment to go back and see the orignial psychiatrist?
if not you offered him NOTHING and expected something. Think about that.

All of the foresic psychiatrists (and you will end up with one if can't make this relationship work) are over $2,500....you are all "risk" to them.....
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I reached out to schedule an appointment with my original psychiatrist for talking over the FAA request and conducting the clinical examination mentioned in the letter. His office refused to be bothered by it and told me they wouldn't be willing to help me because they are "busy", so I'm searching for someone who will be willing to do this. I did not offer him "NOTHING" as you say. I not only made it clear that I would pay them for the time to do it, but I would also be happy to write up a letter to get them started with what I think he would say based on my past records and they could edit as much as necessary from there.
 
lbfjrmd said:
"a current history and clinical examination from a physician regarding your history of situational depression."

a good family doctor could fulfill this request?
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That's what I thought until I got beat up on this forum about even suggesting that on another thread.
 
To @lbfjrmd and everyone else following - I called the FAA today and she confirmed (same extremely helpful lady I got once before named Karen) that it can be any physician. Great news! Onwards and upwards.
 
OregonDucks609 said:
To @lbfjrmd and everyone else following - I called the FAA today and she confirmed (same extremely helpful lady I got once before named Karen) that it can be any physician. Great news! Onwards and upwards.
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you, my dear airman, are a hard headed duck! And you pay me too!
 
lbfjrmd said:
are a hard headed duck
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(( remembers the Long Island duck joke ))

A woman walks into a butchers shop and orders a Long Island Duck.

The butcher hands her a duck.

She looks at it, parts its legs, sticks her head up its rear and then says this is a Florida Duck. I want a Long Island Duck.

The butcher goes and gets her another duck. Again she sticks her head up the Duck's rear. This is is a California Duck. I want a Long Island Duck.

The buther goes and gets her another duck. Again she sticks her head up the Duck's rear...This is a Canadian Duck. I want a Long Island Duck.

The Butcher says, Lady a Duck is Duck. Just buy one.

In disgust the lady says you are a TERRIBLE butcher. Just how long have you been doing this?

The butcher comes down from benind the counter, bends over, drops his drawers, lifts his rear in the air and says...You're the Expert. You tell me!
 
Circling back on this thread. Received another letter (as @lbfjrmd knows) after submitting the first packet where they want a psychiatric evaluation. Per my previous messages, my psychiatrist refuses to engage on this FAA process. As an FYI, I did submit that letter regarding the depression from my PCP and the FAA accepted it and came back with this request. I reached out to the FAA and they advised that, while not best case scenario, it will be OK if I submit a psychiatric evaluation from a different psychiatrist. I just spoke with Dr. Bradshaw and he wants $2800 to do the evaluation. I would like to avoid that cost even if I experience further delays in my application process as a result by just getting a new regular psych to perform it as it appears the evaluation format specified is very similar to what my previous psych had provided when I proactively requested records. With all that said, does anyone have a psychiatrist they've worked with (preferably in the Southeast) that has at least experienced the FAA process once? My hope is that I can get a regular ole psych to do this during a regular ole intake type appointment. Thanks in advance for the help!
 
OregonDucks609 said:
Circling back on this thread. Received another letter (as @lbfjrmd knows) after submitting the first packet where they want a psychiatric evaluation. Per my previous messages, my psychiatrist refuses to engage on this FAA process. As an FYI, I did submit that letter regarding the depression from my PCP and the FAA accepted it and came back with this request. I reached out to the FAA and they advised that, while not best case scenario, it will be OK if I submit a psychiatric evaluation from a different psychiatrist. I just spoke with Dr. Bradshaw and he wants $2800 to do the evaluation. I would like to avoid that cost even if I experience further delays in my application process as a result by just getting a new regular psych to perform it as it appears the evaluation format specified is very similar to what my previous psych had provided when I proactively requested records. With all that said, does anyone have a psychiatrist they've worked with (preferably in the Southeast) that has at least experienced the FAA process once? My hope is that I can get a regular ole psych to do this during a regular ole intake type appointment. Thanks in advance for the help!
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While I appreciate your tenacity, let me break this down for you. You are asking for:

1) a medical doctor ($$$)
2) who is a practicing specialist ($$$)
3) with specific experience in aviation ($$$$$)
4) to perform what is essentially a complete forensic psychiatric examination ($$$$.....)

What is your budget? If $2800 breaks the bank, are you sure that flying is the right hobby/career for you? Not trying to pass judgement on finances because I have been there, but that is a very reasonable rate for a full psych eval especially if you don't even have to travel.

Your best bet is to get a list of practicing psychiatrists in your area, draft a form letter, and start going down the list and emailing every office to see if someone will help you. I doubt you'll get a much better price from anyone with forensic or aviation experience, so your next best bet is to widen your search outside of the southeast and catch a Delta flight somewhere. Maybe though you'll get lucky and find someone willing to do a thorough eval as part of an intake.

Again, not passing judgement, and I'm sorry that this is the state of the medical certification and psychiatric medicine, but you're running into a strong case of reality here.
 
Ducks, $2,800 is relatively inexpensive. In CHI that's $3,500.
Red Baron is dead on.

Think about this: The PCP sez you're okay and low risk for recurrence (whcih is what the FAA needs to know). You have only had 5 weeks of psychiatry training in residency. then you go out and have a problem. Who is called to the stand? You're right, the doc.

So a Forensic psychiatrist who speaks part 67 (what the FAA understands) renders his opinion as to risk factors to recurrence. FAA makes the decision, and then you go out and have an issue. NOBODY is going to have much of a chance against a HIMS current Forensic psychiatrist.

$2,800 is inexpensive. Red Baron is dead on.
 
redbaron said:
While I appreciate your tenacity, let me break this down for you. You are asking for:

1) a medical doctor ($$$)
2) who is a practicing specialist ($$$)
3) with specific experience in aviation ($$$$$)
4) to perform what is essentially a complete forensic psychiatric examination ($$$$.....)

What is your budget? If $2800 breaks the bank, are you sure that flying is the right hobby/career for you? Not trying to pass judgement on finances because I have been there, but that is a very reasonable rate for a full psych eval especially if you don't even have to travel.

Your best bet is to get a list of practicing psychiatrists in your area, draft a form letter, and start going down the list and emailing every office to see if someone will help you. I doubt you'll get a much better price from anyone with forensic or aviation experience, so your next best bet is to widen your search outside of the southeast and catch a Delta flight somewhere. Maybe though you'll get lucky and find someone willing to do a thorough eval as part of an intake.

Again, not passing judgement, and I'm sorry that this is the state of the medical certification and psychiatric medicine, but you're running into a strong case of reality here.
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Perhaps I wasn't clear. I have already spent many thousands on this process (I have two conditions that have to be certified). I don't believe it's an unrealistic goal to try to reduce future expense if possible even though I am perfectly capable of affording it. I just try to not throw money away. I'm getting married next year, buying a house, etc. When I started the certification process, none of that was on my radar in a real way (think years ago). In order the meet the request, there is no requirement for the report to be a full forensic psychiatric evaluation. I was simply asking around to see if anyone had a psych in ATL that had worked with them on FAA related documentation. I don't believe it's unrealistic to assume that maybe perhaps in the entire Southeast there might be one psychiatrist that isn't a full blown specialist in aviation and forensic psychiatry but has at least once dealt with the FAA. I would then see if that person would be capable of becoming my psychiatrist and doing patient intake (covered by insurance) where we could use that time to produce the records that would satisfy the FAA request. Definitely agree that I'm running into reality. Certainly didn't expect just asking if anyone has a regular ole psych that has dealt with the FAA other than the $3k specialist that they didn't ask for would be such a hot button question. That being said, it seems you are genuinely interested in providing guidance, which I appreciate.

bbchien said:
Ducks, $2,800 is relatively inexpensive. In CHI that's $3,500.
Red Baron is dead on.

Think about this: The PCP sez you're okay and low risk for recurrence (whcih is what the FAA needs to know). You have only had 5 weeks of psychiatry training in residency. then you go out and have a problem. Who is called to the stand? You're right, the doc.

So a Forensic psychiatrist who speaks part 67 (what the FAA understands) renders his opinion as to risk factors to recurrence. FAA makes the decision, and then you go out and have an issue. NOBODY is going to have much of a chance against a HIMS current Forensic psychiatrist.

$2,800 is inexpensive. Red Baron is dead on.
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See above. I understand what you're saying and agree that that is certainly the best practice approach. Thanks for the input.
Michael T. Runyan said:

lbfjrmd is your HIMS AME, has made suggestions to you and you're coming here for input from this forum?​

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He told me to ask around. I believe this qualifies as asking around. Thanks for the value-added comments. Very helpful.
 
I have one in Galveston, Texas, if you don't find anyone around ATL. PM me and I'll be happy to share. The thread lead me to believe you weren't taking the advice of your AME. My apologies.
 
I am biased, since Dr. Fowler did my exam and Dr. Bradshaw did my psych eval, but I HIGHLY suggest coughing up the $2800. His report was thorough, accurate, and most importantly, the FAA listened to his recommendation and issued.
 
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