UHS offers outpatient psychiatric care focused on evaluation and medication management. Our psychiatric providers take an integrated clinical approach, including a review of previous treatment, a thorough diagnostic evaluation, and the proposal of a treatment plan.
We recognize that people are unique, with varied beliefs, cultural backgrounds, gender identities, and sexual orientations, and we provide competent care while addressing individual needs.
The Psychiatric Services team includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners and registered nurses, who work together to provide care focused on evaluation and medication management. We have generalist providers and providers with specializations in substance use.
UHS Psychiatric Service appointments are covered by student segregated fees. Students are responsible for charges for prescription medications at the pharmacy of their choice.
Psychiatric Providers
Crisis Support
UHS 24/7 Crisis Line
608-265-5600 (option 9)
Prospective patient information
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Accessing services
If you have a current psychiatric provider, please see the Transferring psychiatric care while attending UW Madison section.
The first step to connect with psychiatric services is to schedule an Access Appointment. This appointment can be scheduled by phone at 608-265-5600 (option 2) or online through the MyUHS portal.
During the Access Appointment, you will meet with an Access Specialist who will listen, ask questions about your symptoms, experiences, and resources, and connect you to the best campus and/or community resources to meet your needs.
Transferring psychiatric care while attending UW Madison
If you are currently prescribed psychiatric medications, please check with your current provider to see if you can continue with them while you are at UW-Madison.
If you are unable to continue with your current provider and need to transfer your care, please be aware that this process can take time. During the transfer process, you will need to continue to contact your community provider regarding any medication questions/concerns and for refills.
Psychiatric appointments for transfer of care cannot be scheduled until UHS has received and reviewed your health records. Please complete releases of information so UHS can request records from your current/ previous providers.
UHS Psychiatric Services will not provide prescriptions/refills before you are seen for psychiatric consultation at UHS.
Health records
If you are referred to Psychiatric Services at UHS, you will be asked to complete release(s) of information so we can request records from your current/past providers. For information on records requests and releases of information, please refer to the Health Information Management webpage.
What to expect at your first visit
The initial one-hour appointment is a consultation provided by a psychiatrist or a psychiatric nurse practitioner. During the appointment, the provider will review your concerns about your mental health and your history. You and the provider will discuss treatment options, including medication if appropriate. Talk therapy combined with medications is often very helpful for students. Referrals to primary care or other services may also be offered.
Medications might not be prescribed at the first appointment. Students need to work with their previous prescriber during this initial process to ensure an adequate supply of medication.
ADHD treatment
There are many things which can make paying attention difficult and not all require medication management. For this and other reasons, at UHS, our providers proceed with psychiatric evaluation and may refer for neuropsychiatric testing.
Stimulant medications are among the options used to treat ADHD. If a student is prescribed stimulant medications by a UHS psychiatric provider, the student will be required to sign a controlled substance medication agreement, which includes urine drug screening.
Please review the ADHD fact sheet for further details of ADHD treatment at UHS. The ADHD Skills Training Group provides excellent resources that can improve ADHD treatment.
Psychiatric services off campus
UHS Mental Health Services Care Managers are available to support students to connect to psychiatric services on and off campus. To connect to Care Management services, please schedule an Access Appointment.
Current patient information
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Medication refills
Contact your pharmacy to request refills of medications prescribed by UHS providers. The pharmacy will contact UHS if refill authorizations are needed.
If the pharmacy is unable to assist you, call UHS at 608- 265-5600, option 2.
Make sure to contact your pharmacy and/or provider before you run out of your medication(s). Providers may take two business days to respond to refill requests and up to four days for controlled medication refill requests (e.g., stimulant medications).
When you make a refill request, you may be contacted to schedule a follow-up appointment with your Psychiatric Services provider.
Transferring to a different UHS Psychiatric Services provider
If you think that your UHS Psychiatric Services provider is not a good fit for you, we encourage you to discuss your concerns directly with your provider or call UHS at 608- 265-5600, option 2 to further discuss your needs.
If you have questions about this or any other Psychiatric Services policy, we can connect you with the Associate Director of Psychiatric Services.
Referral to higher levels of care
Based on your symptoms and specific situation, we may refer you to psychiatric providers in the Madison area for specialized treatment.
Crisis support
UHS 24/7 Crisis Line
608-265-5600 (option 9)
Not sure what you're looking for?
We can help.
Call 608-265-5600 (option 2).