FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment and Insurance
Dr. O’Rourke is considered to be in-network with the following major insurance carriers:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Humana
- Medicare
- Aetna
- United Health Care and other Optum Plans
Many patients with other insurance also choose to utilize their out-of-network benefits to cover an evaluation.
We may be able to assist with benefits verification, especially if we receive a physician referral.
Referrals from attorneys, workers’ compensation agencies, and insurance companies are also welcome.
Cash, checks, and major credit cards are accepted. Payment (co-pay or co-insurance) is due at the time of service.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Please call 1-800-291-1644 to schedule an appointment or have your physician send a referral to 1-210-855-3988.
How do I prepare an appointment?
Completing the forms below will save time during your appointment:
What is a Neuropsychologist?
Neuropsychologists are experts on the different parts of the brain resposible for your thinking abilities (i.e., cognition) and psychological functioning. Training to become a neuropsychologist includes obtaining a doctorate in psychology and completing additional training in neurocognitive assessment, including a 2-year specialty fellowship in neuropsychology after earning a doctoral degree.
What are Neuropsychological Tests like?
Neuropsychological tests are administered on computers, tablets, and paper. They are not invasive and do not involve attaching you to wires or using scanners.
Do I need to do anything before my appointment?
You do not need to do anything before your appointment except get a good night sleep, take your regular medications, and eat a good meal. If you use glasses, hearing aids, or other assistive devices, then be sure to bring those to your examination. To reduce the amount of time necessary to complete your evaluation, it would also be helpful if you completed the following forms.
What can a Neuropsychological Assessment tell me?
Neuropsychological assessments use scientific tests to measure how the different areas and networks in the brain are working. Certain diseases and injuries affect the brain in particular ways that can be seen on neuropsychological tests. Information gathered from tests is then used to make diagnoses and offer treatment recommendtions. Neuropsychological assessments are usually requested in the following situations:
– You or your care providers are concerned about a disease that may affect your thinking abilities. Such diseases include dementias (e.g., Alzheimer disease, frontotemporal dementia), movement disorders (e.g., Parkinson disease, Huntington disease), and epilepsy.
– Damage to the brain has occured and you or your care providers want to know how the damage is affecting your various thinking abilities, and what can be done to treat cognitive or psychological problems. Common causes of brain damage include traumatic brain injury, stroke, anoxic brain injury, or tumor resections.
How long does a Neuropsychologial Assessment take?
Assessments typically last 4 hours, but that time can change depending on the questions that you and your care providers ask. Unlike brain scans and blood work, Neuropsychological Tests take time to complete in order to get an accurate picture of your brain’s functioning with regard to thinking abilities. Your brain is a wonderful and complicated thing and it takes time to accurately assess its functioning.
What happens after my Neuropsychological Evaluation?
One the day of your evaluation, Dr. O’Rourke can frequently can provide you with initial conclusions based on the test results. After that, each individual test must be analyzed and interpreted based on your unique medical, personal, and social history. A report is then provided to the person or agency (frequently a physician or a hospital) who referred you for the neuropsychological evaluation. If you provide a written request, you will also receive a copy of the neuropsychological evaluation report. Often times, your referring physician will go over the results of the evaluation with you. Additionally, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. O’Rourke to obtain more deatiled feedback about your neuropsychological functioning, or to ask questions about your neuropsychological report.