PSychiatric Services

These are multidisciplinary clinics that provide psychiatric, psychological and rehabilitation services. Clinic staff members include psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and may also include occupational therapists, art therapists and dietitians. Within the clinics there is potential for consultation between the different caregivers. Centers may offer a wider range of services, including group therapy sessions. There is no fee for services in these centers, beyond the fees required for Kupa membership.

Independent psychiatrists are affiliated with the Kupot and are located either within the Kupat Holim, or in their own private clinics. Some clients find it more discreet to meet a psychiatrist at a private clinic rather than at a multidisciplinary Mirpa’at Briut HaNefesh ( מרפאת בריאות הנפש) Mental Health Clinic. There is generally no fee for psychiatric services in this setting, beyond the fee for consulting a specialist through your Kupa. 
(Similarly, most Kupot employ Independent Psychologists who provide psychological services in private clinics. Consultation with Independent Psychologists often entails a subsidized fee.)

Most major hospitals in Israel and all of the mental health care hospitals provide psychiatric services through their outpatient clinics. Since the implementation of the reform, in some cases it is possible to receive a referral as well as a financial commitment to subsidize treatment (‘Tofes 17”) from your Kupa to receive service in an outpatient setting. Your Kupa may restrict the number of sessions that you receive in such a setting. Reasons for being referred to an outpatient clinic might include long waiting times for Kupa services, or specialty services at the Outpatient Clinics are not available through the Kupa.

Emergency psychiatric services are provided in every emergency room in Israel, including the ERs of psychiatric as well as general hospitals. It is important to remember that there is a psychiatrist on site or on call at all hospitals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends, holidays etc. Emergency services are free of charge in cases of suicidal ideation, drug poisoning/ intoxication, or psychosis. There may be a fee for services in other cases.

There are several advantages to public psychiatry. The following are points to consider:

• Psychiatrists in the Kupat Cholim have access to your medical records, including diagnoses, medications, and medical evaluations. This might be advantageous in cases in which there are additional medical conditions or an extensive or prolonged psychiatric history.
• Your psychiatric record in the Kupat Cholim is confidential and can be seen only by other mental health care professionals within the Kupa; however, medications purchased using a Kupat Cholim prescription can be seen by additional specialists in the Kupa. It is generally advantageous for the medical team to know what psychiatric medications you are taking in order to avoid drug interactions.
• There are cases in which there is an advantage to being cared for by different therapists who work together and are able to communicate with each other, as available through the Kupa, particularly in their Mirpa’ot Briut HaNefesh clinics.
• Some specialty psychiatric services are provided only through Hospital Outpatient Clinics. This might be the case for the treatment of eating disorders and autistic spectrum disorders, for example. Your Kupat Cholim psychiatrist has information regarding these services and can refer you to them.
• Waiting times may vary between the different services. You may be referred to a Hospital Outpatient Clinic for therapy due to there being a long wait for psychotherapy, for example, within the Kupa.