ROCKFISH GAP MENTAL HEALTH PLLC
A Telepsychiatry Practice in Virginia
Psychotherapy & Psychiatric Medication Management
Why Telepsychiatry?
ABOUT
Benjamin Pumphrey MD offers psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, and second-opinions to adults over 18. He provides psychiatric services to people throughout Virginia, including Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Crozet, Lexington, and Harrisonburg.
Dr. Pumphrey has been providing psychiatric care in Virginia since 2009. He received his medical degree from the University of Virginia and completed his psychiatry training through the University of Pennsylvania.
Memberships
American Psychiatric Association - Fellow
American Psychoanalytic Association
Board Certified through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Awards and Honors
Chief Resident - Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2008-2009
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Award - Awarded by the Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Steering Committee of the Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2009
Dr. Henry P. and M. Page Durkee Laughlin Foundation Award, 2009 - Awarded by the Department of Psychiatry, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 2009
Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia - Fellowship
American Psychoanalytic Association - Fellowship
Phi Beta Kappa
Getting Started
Thank you for considering working with Benjamin Pumphrey MD for your mental health care! Rockfish Gap Mental Health PLLC is a full telepsychiatry practice, which means that our visits will be virtual and internet-based, conducted with videoconferencing technology.All initial visits with Dr. Pumphrey are consultations, which gives each of us the opportunity to determine if working together seems like a good fit.Your consultation visit will last between one hour and one and one-half hours, which should be sufficient time for us to gather enough information to develop working diagnoses and possible treatment options for you. Treatment options may include psychotherapy, medication management, and/or discussion of outside resources. Many people who seek consultation with Dr. Pumphrey even simply want to learn more about their symptoms and learn more about treatments that may be available.Dr. Pumphrey utilizes the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program to review information about prescriptions of controlled substances (stimulants, opiates, benzodiazepines, etc) for patients and prospective patients.
Step 1
Note: If you are currently having an emergency, call 911, go to the closest Emergency Room, or call 988 (the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). Do not complete the Initial Contact Form.Familiarize yourself with the sort of work Dr. Pumphrey does and decide if what he offers might meet your needs.If you plan to use your insurance benefits for care, make sure that Dr. Pumphrey is in-network with your insurer. He is currently in-network with Anthem BCBS and Aetna, only. Dr. Pumphrey also works with people on a cash basis. He can also talk with you about how you might use any out-of-network insurance benefits you may have.Make sure you have a fast internet connection and reliable computer, smartphone, or tablet for telehealth visits.
Step 2
Please complete the Initial Contact Form (below) to send Dr. Pumphrey a brief note regarding your interest in a consultation. This form is provided through an encrypted connection and form responses are stored in an encrypted fashion. He will try to contact you within 1-2 business days after your submission.
Current Patients
Patient Portal
The patient portal provides access to many services, saving you time.Services available to you online and without an appointment include:
Appointment Information (dates/times)
Update Insurance Information
Update Contact Information
Forms and Documents
Billing and Payments
Videoconferencing Resources
Dr. Pumphrey generally uses Zoom for videoconferencing. There may be times when we need to use a backup service.
About Refills
Dr. Pumphrey makes an effort to ensure that you should not need any medication refills between scheduled appointments.Should you find that you need a refill before your scheduled appointment, give Dr. Pumphrey a call to discuss your need.Some pharmacies may use old or outdated medication information when forwarding medication requests, so it is best to call Dr. Pumphrey directly for medication requests instead of initiating refill requests through your pharmacy.Dr. Pumphrey does not accept medication refill requests directly from pharmacies.
Good Faith Estimate NoticeYou have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will costUnder the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or Service.If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call Dr. Pumphrey at 540-416-9800.
Why Telepsychiatry?
Simply put, telepsychiatry allows you have more flexibility, privacy, and convenience in your mental health care. Working together over video helps you avoid lengthy commutes to and from in-person appointments, saving valuable time and gas/car expenses.Telepsychiatry reduces the need to find childcare and eldercare, to attend appointments. Telepsychiatry reduces the need to take mornings or afternoons off from work, to attend appointments.The telepsychiatry experience is best when using a device with the largest possible screen, for comfort and clarity: Desktop Computer > Laptop > Tablet > Phone
The data about telepsychiatry effectiveness speaks for itself:
○ From: The effectiveness of telepsychiatry: thematic review (BJPsych Bulletin 2023 Apr):
"In conclusion, the literature captured in this thematic review suggests that telepsychiatry is effective. This is especially marked by high levels of patient satisfaction, diagnostic reliability and clinical outcomes, with the use of appropriate technology. It is clear from our results that the general public are both comfortable with and willing to use telepsychiatry."
○ From: Review of key telepsychiatry outcomes (World Journal of Psychiatry 2016 Jun):
"When non-inferiority designs were appropriately used, telepsychiatry performed as well as, if not better than face-to-face delivery of mental health services."
○ From: Telepsychiatry versus face-to-face treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (British Journal of Psychiatry Sept 2023):
"Telepsychiatry achieved a symptom improvement effect for various psychiatric disorders similar to that of face-to-face treatment"
RGMH Nondiscrimination Policy
RGMH complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity). RGMH does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, religion, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity).
Benjamin Pumphrey MD is a psychiatrist who offers psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management, and second-opinions to adults over 18. He provides psychiatric services to people throughout Virginia, including Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Crozet, Lexington, and Harrisonburg.
Due to a significant recent increase in consultation requests, Dr. Pumphrey has paused scheduling new consultations.Please check back in a couple of weeks to see if he has started scheduling consultations again.