First session
Your first session
Sixty minutes with one prescriber, in the office or by video, with a family member beside you if you like.
The first session is for listening. Your prescriber asks about your history, how you have been, what has helped and what has not, and every medicine you take now, including vitamins and anything from another doctor.
Dr. Sen and Arcelia Soto explain how Crest works and the limits of confidentiality, and you decide the next step together. Nothing is prescribed or changed until you have heard why and agreed.
This session is not
- A memory test. If memory is the worry, we help you find a neurologist or a memory clinic
- A decision made for you
- A crisis service. For a crisis, call or text 988, or call 911
- A way to get a prescription for someone who is not here
The hour
What the sixty minutes look like
A rough order, not a script. Your prescriber follows what matters to you.
- 01
Your story
The first fifteen minutes or so: what has been happening, in your words, and what a good day looks like for you.
- 02
Your medicines
Every bottle, one at a time: what it is for, who prescribed it, when you take it and how it sits with you.
- 03
Your health and your history
Sleep, appetite, pain, falls, hearing and vision, and what you have tried before.
- 04
The plan
What to try, if anything, what to watch for, and the date of the next visit. It is written down in large print.
Before you come
What to bring
Nothing needs to be filled in online first.
Every bottle, in a bag
Prescription and over-the-counter, vitamins and creams. Or ask your pharmacy to print a list.
Your cards
Medicare, and any plan you have.
Glasses and hearing aids
So the visit is easy to follow.
A name and number
Someone we can call, if you want us to have one. It is your choice.
Questions
Questions about the first session
How often will I come, and for how long?
A first session is 60 minutes and a medication review is 30. Your prescriber sets the pace with you: often every few weeks at first, and less often once things are steady.
Can a family member join my visit?
Yes, in the room, by video or by phone, if you say so. You choose who joins and can ask them to step out at any point. A written permission comes first, and your summary goes to them only if you say so.
What is your cancellation policy?
We ask for 24 hours' notice to change or cancel a visit, so the time can go to someone else. If you pay yourself, your estimate says what a late cancellation costs.
Start here
Ready to choose a time?
How the first session is paid for is on the fees page.