If you’ve been considering MeRT® treatment for yourself or a loved one, the unknowns can feel like the biggest barrier. What actually happens at the first appointment? How long does it take? Will you have to commit to anything right away?
This guide walks through exactly what you can expect when you visit BrainCare Rancho Mirage for an initial MeRT consultation, from the phone call that gets you scheduled to the diagnostic testing to the conversation about whether MeRT is the right fit for you.
Before You Visit: The Conversation with Our New Patient Coordinator
Most patients start with a phone call. When you reach BrainCare Rancho Mirage at 760-388-7781, you’ll speak with our New Patient Coordinator. Her role is to listen, answer your questions, and help you understand whether MeRT might be appropriate for your situation, with no pressure and no obligation.
She’ll typically ask about:
- The condition or symptoms you’re hoping to address
- Treatments you’ve already tried
- Any current medications
- Your goals and what’s prompted you to look into MeRT now
This call is also a chance for you to ask anything that’s on your mind, including questions about cost, time commitment, and what daily life looks like during treatment. Many patients find that this initial conversation answers most of their early questions before they ever step into the clinic.
If you decide to move forward, the next step is to schedule an in-person consultation, along with a qEEG (brain mapping) and an EKG. This combined visit is the foundation of every MeRT treatment plan.
What Happens at Your Initial Consultation
Your first in-clinic visit takes place at our office at 72301 Country Club Drive, Suite 105, in Rancho Mirage. Plan to spend about an hour and a half to two hours total, enough time for the consultation, the diagnostic testing, and any follow-up questions.
When you arrive, you’ll be greeted by our clinical team. The visit typically includes three parts.
Meeting with Dr. Brossfield
You’ll sit down with Dr. Jeralyn Brossfield, our medical director, to talk through your health history in depth. Dr. Brossfield’s approach is rooted in integrative medicine. She takes the time to understand your symptoms as well as the broader context of your health, lifestyle, and goals. This conversation helps her determine whether MeRT is likely to be a good fit and, if so, what aspects of brain function the treatment should focus on.
Bring any relevant records you have access to: prior imaging reports, neurological evaluations, lists of current medications and supplements, and notes about what’s worked and what hasn’t in previous treatment attempts. You don’t need to have everything perfectly organized—just bring what you have.
The qEEG (Brain Mapping)
After your conversation with Dr. Brossfield, you’ll have a qEEG performed. This is a non-invasive test that records your brain’s electrical activity through small sensors placed on the scalp. There are no needles, no radiation, and no discomfort. The sensors simply listen to the patterns of communication happening between different regions of your brain.
The qEEG appointment takes about 45 minutes to an hour, but the qEEG reading itself is about 10-15 minutes. You’ll be asked to sit quietly with your eyes closed for part of the test, and then with your eyes open. That’s it. The data is then analyzed to identify regions where brain activity appears out of balance—too active, too quiet, or out of sync with surrounding areas.
The EKG
A short EKG is performed alongside the qEEG to gather information about your heart rhythm. This isn’t a cardiac screening in the traditional sense; it’s used as part of the MeRT diagnostic process to help inform treatment customization.
Understanding Your Results
The data gathered during your visit doesn’t just sit on a chart. It’s analyzed in detail, and the results form the basis of a personalized treatment plan. This is what distinguishes MeRT from standard TMS protocols: rather than applying the same parameters to every patient, MeRT uses your unique brain patterns to determine exactly where, when, and how to stimulate.
Once your results are ready, you’ll have a follow-up conversation to review the findings. Dr. Brossfield and her team will walk through:
- What the qEEG revealed about your brain activity patterns
- Which areas the proposed treatment would target
- The expected length of your treatment, typically six to eight weeks
- What’s involved day to day if you choose to proceed
You’re Not Committed Until You Decide
One of the most important things to understand about the consultation process is this: you are under no obligation to begin treatment after your initial visit. Many patients use the consultation and qEEG as a way to gather information—to learn whether MeRT is worth pursuing without making a binding commitment.
If, after reviewing your results, you decide MeRT isn’t right for you, that’s a valid outcome. If you decide to move forward, our team will work with you to schedule your treatment course in a way that fits your life.
Practical Information for Coachella Valley Patients
BrainCare Rancho Mirage serves patients from across the Coachella Valley, including Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, La Quinta, Indian Wells, and surrounding communities. A few practical notes:
Location and parking. Our clinic is located at 72301 Country Club Drive, Suite 105, in Rancho Mirage. Parking is available on-site at no charge.
Timing. Treatment courses generally run about six to eight weeks, with sessions scheduled five days per week. Sessions are typically 45 minutes long, and many patients drive themselves to and from appointments.
For patients traveling further. We also see patients who travel to the Coachella Valley for treatment. If you’re considering MeRT but live outside the immediate area, ask the New Patient Coordinator about lodging recommendations and scheduling options that minimize the number of weeks you’d need to be in town.
TRICARE families. Active duty military, retirees, and military dependents may have coverage available through TRICARE. Ask our New Patient Coordinator for current details when you call.
Taking the Next Step
The hardest part of pursuing any new treatment is often the first step: picking up the phone or filling out a form. We’ve designed the consultation process to give you the information you need to make an informed decision, without pressure.
If you’d like to learn more or schedule an initial consultation:
Call our New Patient Coordinator at 760-388-7781
Or fill out the contact form on our website, and she’ll reach out to you at the time that works best.
This post is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results vary. Please consult with a qualified medical provider to determine whether MeRT is appropriate for your situation.