At a glance
- Who it's for
- People ages 5 to 65. A parent or guardian joins visits for patients under 18.
- Where
- In person at our Sugar Land, TX office, or by secure video for people located in Texas, Idaho, Arizona or Maryland.
- Provider
- Victor Onodjacha, MSN, PMHNP-BC: a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner, not a physician.
- First step
- A psychiatric evaluation. Send a one-minute request or call.
- Cost
- Many major plans, checked before your first visit, or self-pay. Insurance and fees
- Not for emergencies
- Call or text 988, or call 911.
By secure video
Telehealth in Texas, Idaho, Arizona and Maryland
For patients who are located in Texas, Idaho, Arizona or Maryland at the time of the visit.
Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday telehealth appointments by request: call or email.
| State | Licence | Number | Current through | Check it yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | APRN-CNP | #60121 | 08/31/2027 | Idaho DOPL public license search |
Is there a DanShalom office in Idaho?
No. All of our care for Idaho patients is by video. The clinic's only office is in Sugar Land, Texas, and you are not expected to travel there.
The one requirement is location: you must be physically in Idaho at the time of each visit. A visit works the same way whether you are in a city such as Boise, Meridian, Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Pocatello or Coeur d'Alene, or in a small town a long drive from any of them.
Who provides the care?
Your visits are with Victor Onodjacha, MSN, PMHNP-BC, who is licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse in Idaho. You see the same provider at every visit. You can read more about Victor.
A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner is an advanced practice registered nurse with a graduate degree and national certification in psychiatric care. Nurse practitioners in this specialty assess, diagnose and treat mental health conditions, and their work can include both medication treatment and psychotherapy. See how a psychiatric nurse practitioner compares with a physician specialist.
Can video visits work if I live in a rural part of Idaho?
Often, yes. For people who live far from a psychiatric provider, video can reduce the need to travel, take time off work or arrange child care for a long drive. It can also make it easier to keep seeing the same provider over time.
Video has real limits, and it is better to know them up front. A visit needs two things that are not a given everywhere in the state: a connection strong enough to carry video, and a place where you can speak freely.
If your connection or privacy at home is limited
- Test your device and connection before the day of your visit, at the spot where you plan to sit.
- A parked car in a quiet place can serve as a private room. Do not join while driving.
- A quiet room at a trusted friend's or relative's home is another option.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi when you are sharing health information, and use your own device if you can.
- Tell us about any limits when you request a visit, so we can talk through whether video is realistic for you.
What does psychiatric care by video include?
Care starts with a psychiatric evaluation: a conversation about your symptoms, health history, medications, family history, daily life and goals. We share our impressions and discuss options with you.
After that, follow-up visits look at how you are doing and whether the plan needs to change. Brief psychotherapy, which is short-term and focused, can be part of your visits. With your permission, we can coordinate with your primary care provider or therapist in Idaho.
If medication is discussed, the decision is made with you after the evaluation. Not every medication can be prescribed at every kind of visit, and some may require an in-person visit. Because we have no office in Idaho, we tell you plainly what applies to you before you count on a plan. Our medication management page explains how follow-up works.
Video is not the right setting for every situation. If what you need goes beyond what an outpatient video visit can offer, we will say so and talk with you about care closer to home.
What should I know about insurance and cost?
The clinic accepts many major insurance plans and offers self-pay. Coverage differs from plan to plan and from state to state, so do not assume a plan is covered until we have checked it. We review your benefits before the first visit. Start with our insurance page, then send a request for an appointment and mention that you are in Idaho.
Where can people in Idaho get crisis support?
DanShalom Behavioral Clinic is not an emergency service, and we are not able to send help to your location. If you or someone with you is in crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 if you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe.
- Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline: call or text 988, or use online chat. It is the statewide crisis hotline, a member of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, and offers free, confidential support at all hours for people of any age.
- Mobile Response Teams: by contacting 988, you can ask about a team of behavioral health professionals who may provide in-person support in Idaho.
- Community crisis centers: the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare lists regional behavioral health crisis centers for adults, with current phone numbers, on its Behavioral Health Crisis Resources page.
- Emergency care: the Department's guidance is to go to the nearest emergency department or call 911 if you feel you cannot keep yourself safe.
Questions patients ask
Will I ever need to travel to Texas for care?
Visits for Idaho patients take place by video, and travel to Texas is not part of the usual plan. If something about your care would call for an in-person visit, we explain that before you make any decisions, so you can weigh your options, including care from a provider near you.
My cell phone has an out-of-state area code. Will 988 still work in Idaho?
Yes, 988 works anywhere in the country. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare notes that calls are routed by area code, so a phone with an out-of-state number will likely reach that state's crisis center instead of Idaho's. The counselor can still help. If there is immediate danger, call 911, which goes to local responders.
I split my time between Idaho and another state. Can I still be a patient?
You can have a video visit with us on days when you are physically in Idaho, Texas, Arizona or Maryland. We are not able to see you while you are located in any other state. Tell us about your schedule when you request care so that appointments can be planned around where you will be.
What equipment do I need for a visit?
A smartphone, tablet or computer with a working camera, microphone and speaker is enough, along with an internet or cellular connection that can carry video. Set the device on a steady surface, sit facing a light source, and close other apps so the connection has less to handle.
Can a teenager in Idaho be seen by video?
The clinic sees patients ages 5 to 65. When the patient is a minor, a parent or guardian must be present at appointments. Both the young person and the adult need to be in Idaho during the appointment, and it helps to plan for a private space.
References
- Can I use telehealth if I live in a rural community? (Telehealth.HHS.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
- How do I protect my data and privacy? (Telehealth.HHS.gov, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
- Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline, Idaho 988 (Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline)
- Behavioral Health Crisis Resources (Idaho Department of Health and Welfare)
- Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing (American Psychiatric Nurses Association)
Published by DanShalom Behavioral Clinic. Last updated .