Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Medication Management in Kailua-Kona
West Hawaii's psychiatric access problem is geographic to the point of absurdity: a months long wait in Kona, a drive across the saddle, or a flight to Honolulu. When care requires an itinerary, people skip care, and the skipping compounds. Medication that affects your brain should be managed, not merely refilled. shrinkMD brings board certified medication management to Kailua-Kona by video, with appointments as soon as availability allows and progress tracked at every visit.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed July 7, 2026 · Editorial policy
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Why shrinkMD
Care built around Kailua-Kona
From Kailua-Kona to the coffee belt to Waimea, visits happen by video from home, office, or farm, deleting the itinerary entirely, with island economic rhythms respected.
We bill no insurance, fees are flat, published, and predictable through tourism's seasonal swings, with HSA and FSA accepted and superbills provided.
What's included
Stewardship, visit by visit
Good prescribing is a feedback loop. At each visit your clinician reviews your validated symptom scores, your side effects, and your sleep, then adjusts a single variable so cause and effect stay readable. While starting or changing medication that loop runs every two to four weeks; once you're doing well it relaxes to every one to three months.
Your full trial history, names, doses, durations, responses, lives in your chart from day one, so failed experiments never get repeated. Prescriptions go electronically to your pharmacy, monitoring labs are arranged through your local clinic when a medication requires them, and your primary care doctor stays in the loop with your permission. No controlled substances, stated plainly before you ever book.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Kailua-Kona
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
My income swings by season. How do fees work?
Flat and published before you book, follow ups cheaper than evaluations, and honesty about visit frequency so you never overpay.
Do you serve the whole Big Island?
Yes: Hilo side and Kona side identically, Waikoloa to Hawi to Captain Cook, by video.
Can you take over prescriptions from my previous provider?
Usually yes, for non controlled medications, after an evaluation and records review. Switching shouldn't mean starting over or missing a refill.
Do you prescribe stimulants or benzodiazepines?
No, anywhere. We're upfront about it before you book, and skilled with the non controlled options the evidence supports.
How do labs work with a telehealth practice?
We coordinate orders through your local clinic or lab, lithium levels, metabolic panels, thyroid checks, and review results together. Telehealth changes the visit, not the monitoring standard.
About Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona is the main town on the Big Island's west (Kona) side. It's home to about 20,000 people. The people we see here include west-side island residents, retirees, and workers in healthcare, hospitality, and small business.
Serving Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona is the heart of the Big Island's sunny Kona coast, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across Kailua-Kona by secure video, whether you're near Hulihee Palace, Mokuaikaua Church, and the Kailua Pier. You keep the same clinician each visit, with no commute and no waiting room.
What it costs
Transparent, published pricing
Our self-pay prices are the same in every state where we practice. No insurance billing, and no surprise statement later.
| Service | Self-pay price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Initial evaluation | From $295 | A full 50 to 60 minute evaluation, diagnosis, and written plan. |
| Follow-up visits | $110 to $215 | Per visit, depending on length and complexity. Member rates are lower. |
| Membership (optional) | $49 per month | Priority scheduling, member rates, and the Unstuck and QuitScrolling apps. First month free. |
Your care team
Who you will see
Your care is delivered by shrinkMD clinicians, and you keep the same one over time. You meet by secure video with a clinician licensed in your state.
- Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, founder and board certified psychiatrist (ABPN), dual board certified in psychiatry and in sports and performance psychiatry.
- Matthew George, PMHNP-BC, ANP-BC, dual board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with more than two decades of clinical experience.
Related reading
- psychiatric medications, explained
- how long antidepressants take to work
- medication vs therapy vs lifestyle
More from a trusted source: Mental health medications - MedlinePlus.
Your next step in The Shrink Network
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Each site in the network has one job. No matter where you enter, we help you find the next step that makes sense.
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Want to understand more first?
Start medication management in Kailua-Kona
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Kailua-Kona residents, by secure video from home.
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