Communication & Messaging Policy
Rising Song Behavioral Health, PLLC
Last Updated: 03/05/2026
Rising Song Behavioral Health values clear, responsive communication and encourages patients to reach out with questions, updates, or concerns between appointments. This policy outlines how communication works within the practice and what patients can expect.
Direct Communication
Patients in active treatment may communicate directly with Alicia Baird through secure messaging or phone communication as appropriate.
Unlike many practices that route messages through front desk staff or administrative systems, Rising Song Behavioral Health prioritizes direct provider communication whenever possible.
This allows for more thoughtful and responsive care.
Appropriate Uses of Messaging
Patients are encouraged to reach out between appointments for:
Medication questions
Side effects or medication concerns
Updates about symptom changes
Questions about treatment plans
Non-urgent clinical concerns
Early communication often allows issues to be addressed quickly and may prevent unnecessary discomfort or delays in treatment.
Response Times
Messages are typically reviewed and responded to within 1–2 business days, though many responses occur sooner.
Response times may vary during evenings, weekends, holidays, or periods when the provider is out of the office.
When Messaging Is Not Appropriate
Messaging should not be used for emergencies or urgent safety concerns.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please:
Call 911
Go to the nearest emergency room
Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Messaging systems are not monitored continuously and should not be relied upon for urgent care.
Medication Changes
Some medication concerns can be addressed through messaging. However, in many cases, medication changes require a scheduled appointment so that concerns can be discussed thoroughly.
If an issue cannot be safely addressed via messaging, you may be asked to schedule a follow-up visit.
Boundaries Around Communication
While communication between visits is encouraged, messaging is intended to supplement — not replace — scheduled appointments.
Extended clinical discussions, complex treatment decisions, or detailed evaluations typically require an appointment.
Respectful Communication
All communication with the practice should remain respectful and professional. Harassment, abusive language, or inappropriate use of messaging systems may result in changes to communication privileges or termination of services.
Privacy
Patients should avoid sharing sensitive medical or personal information through unsecured channels such as standard email or text messaging.
Secure patient portals or approved communication platforms should be used whenever possible.
Questions
If you have questions about communication policies or how to reach the practice, please contact us.
Practice Policies & Expectations
Rising Song Behavioral Health, PLLC
Last Updated: 03/05/2026
The following policies are designed to help ensure that care at Rising Song Behavioral Health remains thoughtful, consistent, and accessible to all patients. Clear expectations allow our work together to run smoothly and support the highest quality of care.
If you have questions about any of these policies, please feel free to ask.
Appointments
Appointments are scheduled in advance and are reserved specifically for you.
Initial psychiatric evaluations are longer visits designed to allow for a comprehensive understanding of your history, symptoms, and treatment needs. Follow-up visits are typically shorter and focus on monitoring progress, medication adjustments, and ongoing care.
Please arrive on time for your appointment. If you arrive significantly late, the appointment may need to be shortened or rescheduled.
Cancellations & Missed Appointments
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide at least 24 business hours notice.
Late cancellations or missed appointments may be subject to a cancellation fee.
These policies help ensure appointment availability for other patients who may be waiting for care.
Medication Management & Refills
Medication refills are typically addressed during scheduled appointments.
Patients are encouraged to request refills before medications run out.
In many cases, refills require an active treatment relationship and appropriate follow-up visits. If it has been a significant period of time since your last appointment, a follow-up visit may be required before refills can be provided.
Controlled Medications
Certain medications — including stimulants and benzodiazepines — require careful monitoring and responsible prescribing practices.
If these medications are part of your treatment plan, prescribing may involve:
Regular follow-up appointments
Ongoing review of effectiveness and side effects
Monitoring for safety and appropriate use
Periodic in-person appointments, even if many visits are conducted via telehealth
These requirements reflect current medical standards and regulatory expectations designed to support safe and responsible prescribing.
In accordance with state and federal regulations, prescribing of certain medications may also involve:
Review of the North Carolina Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to monitor controlled substance prescriptions
Urine drug screening when clinically indicated, as part of safe prescribing practices
These measures are standard across many psychiatric and medical practices and are intended to support patient safety and responsible medication management.
My goal is to ensure that these medications — when used — are prescribed thoughtfully, safely, and in a way that supports long-term stability and wellbeing.
Early Refills, Lost, or Stolen Medications
Controlled medications must be taken exactly as prescribed.
Requests for early refills are generally not approved, except in rare circumstances where there is a clear clinical justification.
Similarly, prescriptions for lost, misplaced, damaged, or stolen medications typically cannot be replaced. Patients are responsible for safeguarding their medications.
If medications are lost or stolen, documentation such as a police report may be required before any consideration of replacement, though replacement prescriptions cannot be guaranteed.
Taking medication in a manner different from what was prescribed (such as taking higher doses, running out early, or sharing medications) may require reassessment of the treatment plan and could affect whether controlled medications can continue to be prescribed.
These policies are consistent with responsible prescribing practices and are intended to protect patient safety and comply with state and federal regulations.
Communication Between Visits
Rising Song Behavioral Health encourages communication between appointments when appropriate.
Patients may reach out with questions, medication concerns, symptom updates, or other non-urgent issues. Messages are typically reviewed and responded to within 1–2 business days, though responses may occur sooner.
Messaging is intended to support care between visits but does not replace scheduled appointments when more in-depth discussion is needed.
Emergencies
This practice is not an emergency service.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or medical emergency, please call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Messages sent through the website or patient portal are not monitored continuously and should not be used for urgent concerns.
Treatment Collaboration
Effective psychiatric care works best when both provider and patient are actively engaged in the process.
Patients are encouraged to:
Ask questions
Share updates about symptoms or side effects
Participate in treatment decisions
Attend scheduled appointments
Communicate openly about concerns
Treatment plans are most effective when approached collaboratively.
Scope of Practice
Rising Song Behavioral Health provides psychiatric evaluation and medication management services for adults.
In many cases, psychiatric care works best when combined with psychotherapy. When appropriate, coordination with therapists or referrals for therapy may be recommended.
Practice Fit
My practice emphasizes thoughtful evaluation, collaborative decision-making, and careful prescribing.
It may not be the best fit for individuals seeking rapid medication changes without discussion, stimulant or benzodiazepine prescriptions without appropriate evaluation and follow-up, or a purely medication-driven model without broader context.
My goal is long-term stability and thoughtful care.
Respectful Communication
Mutual respect is essential for a healthy therapeutic relationship.
Patients and staff are expected to communicate respectfully at all times. Harassment, threatening behavior, or abusive communication may result in termination of services.
Policy Updates
Practice policies may be updated periodically to reflect changes in practice operations, legal requirements, or clinical standards.
Questions
If you have questions about any policies or expectations, please feel free to ask. Transparency and clarity are important parts of the care process.
What You Can Expect From Me
You can expect thoughtful, careful evaluation, clear explanations about treatment options, transparency around risks and benefits, and responsive communication when questions arise.
My goal is to provide psychiatric care that is collaborative, steady, and grounded in both science and respect.