A clear answer changes what comes next.

Before your appointment

• Confirm the scheduled date, time, and type of appointment.
• Arrive approximately 15 minutes early to complete check-in.
• Complete all requested consent forms, questionnaires, and other forms in advance.
• Bring a photo ID and any insurance, payment, or scholarship documents requested by the clinic.
• Prepare an up-to-date medication list, including dosages, vitamins, and supplements.
• Bring previous evaluations, medical reports, laboratory results, and relevant school documents such as an IEP, teacher reports, or educational testing.
• Prepare a list of your main questions, symptoms, and concerns.
• Tell us in advance if you need an interpreter or an accommodation for mobility, communication, sensory sensitivity, or disability.
• Do not stop or change any medication before the appointment unless your clinician has given you specific instructions.
• If you have a fever, contagious symptoms, or another condition that could affect the safety of others, contact the clinic before coming in.

Appointments for adult patients

The patient should answer questions in their own words and based on their own experience.

Family members, companions, and others must not answer, suggest responses, gesture, correct, cue, or otherwise influence the interview. If the patient wants a companion to participate, they should tell the clinician, who will decide when and how that person may contribute.

The clinician may also ask to speak privately with the patient during part of the appointment.

When a child or adolescent will be present

During the evaluation, allow the child to answer and complete activities independently. Do not answer for the child, finish sentences, repeat or explain questions, point to answers, gesture, correct, or tell the child what to say or do.

You may reassure the child, but wait for the clinician’s instructions before helping. Observing natural responses and behavior is an important part of the evaluation.

The clinician will decide whether the parent or guardian should remain in the office, wait outside the room, or participate only during selected portions of the appointment.

• The child must attend with a parent or legal guardian.
• The responsible adult must be available to authorize the evaluation and provide information about the child.
• The child should be rested, fed, and have used the restroom before the appointment begins.
• Explain simply and honestly that they will meet a professional who wants to learn how they think, feel, learn, and behave.
• Do not rehearse questions or prepare answers with the child before the appointment.
• Do not stop the child’s usual medications unless the clinician specifically instructs you to do so.
• You may bring a snack, water, and one simple comfort item for the child while waiting.
• Avoid bringing siblings or other children who are not participating. If that is not possible, contact the clinic before the appointment.
• Tell us in advance about sensory sensitivities, special needs, communication difficulties, or circumstances that may affect participation.

Parent or caregiver interview without the child

Some appointments are scheduled only to speak with parents or caregivers. The child does not need to attend only when the clinical team has confirmed this in advance.

• Make sure the child cannot hear the conversation.
• Bring school reports, previous evaluations, a medication list, and specific examples of the behaviors that concern you.
• Tell the team in advance if both parents, guardians, or other caregivers will participate.
• Avoid bringing the child or other children if another responsible adult will not be available to supervise them outside the interview area.
• If the appointment requires the child and the child is unavailable, the appointment may need to be rescheduled.

Privacy and independent responses

Everyone present must identify themselves. No outside person should listen, interrupt, or influence the patient’s responses.

Silence phones and avoid calls, conversations, and other distractions during the appointment. Do not record, photograph, or share the appointment without prior authorization.

Possible interruption or rescheduling

The clinician may pause, end, or reschedule the appointment when circumstances prevent a reliable and clinically appropriate evaluation.

• Interference or influence from other people.
• Lack of privacy.
• Absence of a parent or legal guardian when one is required.
• Missing required documents or consent forms.
• Safety or behavioral concerns.
• The need to complete the evaluation through another appointment or method of care.
• The length and format of each evaluation may vary according to the patient’s clinical needs.

Emergencies

Scheduled appointments are not a substitute for emergency services. If the patient or another person is in immediate danger, call 911. For emotional or mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.

Location

On Forever Health Services · 2700 NW 62nd Street, Suite A107 · Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

General requirements

The clinician will determine whether telehealth is appropriate. Some evaluations, tests, or clinical situations may require an in-person appointment.

• Choose a private, quiet, well-lit place with few interruptions. For pediatric appointments, the home or another place where the child feels comfortable is generally recommended.
• Do not participate while driving or from a moving vehicle, store, school, workplace, or other public place.
• Use a phone, tablet, or computer with a camera, microphone, and stable internet connection.
• Keep the device charged and place it on a stable surface, with the camera approximately at eye level.
• Connect 10 to 15 minutes early to check the audio, video, and access link.
• Complete all requested consent forms, questionnaires, and other forms in advance.
• Have a photo ID, medication list, pharmacy information, medical history, and relevant clinical or school documents available.
• At the start of the appointment, you must confirm your name, telephone number, and the physical address where you are located. The appointment can take place only if the clinician is authorized to treat patients in that location.
• Tell the clinician who is in the room. No other person should listen or participate without the clinical team’s knowledge.
• Do not record, photograph, or share the appointment without prior authorization.

Independent responses

During the interview, responses must come directly from the person being interviewed. No outside person, whether visible on camera or not, should answer, suggest responses, gesture, correct, cue, or otherwise influence the interview unless the clinician specifically asks that person to participate.

This applies to adult patients as well as interviews with children and adolescents. Outside intervention may affect the reliability of the information and evaluation results.

When a child or adolescent will be present

These instructions are not meant to evaluate parents. They allow the clinician to observe the child’s natural abilities and responses and obtain reliable information.

• A parent or legal guardian must be available at the start of the appointment and remain nearby throughout, unless the clinician says otherwise.
• The child should be awake, dressed, and ready to participate. Make sure the child has eaten, used the restroom, and rested before the appointment.
• Turn off the television and remove phones, video games, pets, siblings, and other distractions, except for items requested by the clinician.
• Position the camera so the clinician can clearly see the child’s face, hands, and activities. You may be asked to move the camera during the evaluation.
• Allow the child to answer and act independently. Do not answer for the child, finish sentences, or tell the child what to say or do.
• Do not repeat or explain questions, point to answers, gesture, correct, or give cues. Do not tell the child whether an answer is “right” or “wrong.”
• Do not prepare or rehearse answers with the child before the appointment.
• You may offer reassurance, but wait for the clinician’s instructions before helping. Observing spontaneous behavior is an important part of the evaluation.
• For adolescent appointments, the clinician may ask to speak privately with the adolescent during part of the session. The parent or guardian must remain available and reachable.

Parent or caregiver interview without the child

Some appointments are scheduled exclusively to speak with parents or caregivers.

• The child does not need to be present only when the clinical team has confirmed that the appointment is an adult interview.
• Attend from a place where the child and others cannot hear. This allows an open discussion of development, behavior, emotions, and family history.
• Avoid caring for or supervising other children at the same time.
• Have school reports, previous evaluations, test results, a medication list, and specific examples of concerning behavior ready.
• If two parents, guardians, or other caregivers will participate, tell the clinical team in advance. Each participant should connect from a private place with a stable internet connection.
• If the appointment requires the child and the child is unavailable, the appointment may need to be rescheduled.

Possible change to an in-person appointment

The clinician may pause or end the virtual appointment and reschedule it in person when privacy concerns, interruptions, third-party interference, technical problems, or other circumstances prevent a safe, reliable, and clinically appropriate evaluation.

Privacy and connection problems

Use only the link sent by the clinic and, when possible, a private internet network. Headphones may help protect privacy when the clinician considers them appropriate.

If the video call is interrupted, remain available by phone. The team will try to reconnect and decide whether the appointment can continue, should switch to another method, or needs to be rescheduled.

Emergencies

Telehealth is not a substitute for emergency services. If the patient or another person is in immediate danger, call 911. For emotional or mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.