Traveling for SAINT® TMS: Your Week in Coral Springs

Before you book flights or pay a deposit at any 5-day TMS clinic, protect yourself by asking these five questions:

• 1. Is this the FDA-cleared SAINT® protocol from a provider listed on Magnus Medical's provider locator?
• 2. Are the brain MRI scan, psychiatric consultation, all 50 sessions, and follow-up included in your quote?
• 3. Is the targeting software FDA-cleared for personalized fMRI targeting?
• 4. Was your exact protocol tested in the SAINT® clinical trials?
• 5. Can my insurance or Medicare be billed for a benefits check or prior authorization?

Read our 5-question clinic checklist before you travel.

SAINT® (Stanford Accelerated Intelligent Neuromodulation Therapy) compresses what would be six weeks of standard TMS into five consecutive days. Each treatment day includes ten 10-minute stimulation sessions with 50-minute breaks in between, so a full day runs roughly 10 hours, Monday through Friday. Because the entire course fits into one week, patients from across the country travel to Neuro Wellness TMS Centers of America in Coral Springs, Florida — a Verified SAINT® Provider — without taking six weeks away from work and family.

Before you book a flight or hotel, you start with a free consultation by phone or video. That consultation confirms whether SAINT® is clinically appropriate for you, reviews your treatment history, and starts the insurance verification process. Only after that do you schedule travel. The week itself involves an fMRI mapping scan (either the day before or the morning of Day 1), five days of treatment, and a follow-up plan for when you return home.

The first step is a free consultation with our clinical team, conducted by phone or video so you do not need to travel for it. We review your diagnosis, treatment history, and whether SAINT® is a fit. SAINT® is FDA-cleared for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) whose depression has not improved enough on prior antidepressant medication. NWCOA treats adults 22 and older.

If SAINT® is appropriate, we schedule the fMRI (functional MRI) mapping scan that personalizes your treatment target. This scan may be done the day before treatment begins or the morning of Day 1, depending on scheduling. We also begin insurance verification at this stage — we contact your plan to confirm benefits, prior authorization requirements, and any out-of-pocket costs before you book travel.

• Free phone or video consultation to confirm candidacy
• Insurance and benefits verification before you book travel
• fMRI mapping scan scheduled for the day before or morning of Day 1
• Pack comfortable clothing, your medication list, and any imaging records
• Bring a companion if you'd like support during the week

Neuro Wellness is located at 9734 W Sample Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33065, in northern Broward County. Three major South Florida airports serve the area:

• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) — closest, about 35–45 minutes by car
• Palm Beach International (PBI) — about 40–50 minutes by car
• Miami International (MIA) — about 60 minutes by car

A rental car is the most convenient option for the week, and free parking is available at the clinic. Rideshare services (Uber, Lyft) are widely available throughout South Florida if you prefer not to drive. Because SAINT® uses no anesthesia or sedation, you can drive yourself to and from the clinic each day.

Several hotels and extended-stay properties are within a short drive of the clinic in Coral Springs and the neighboring communities of Parkland, Margate, and Coconut Creek. For a treatment week, look for lodging with:

• A kitchen or kitchenette (extended-stay properties) for the week
• Proximity to the clinic — ideally under a 15-minute drive
• Reliable Wi-Fi if you plan to work remotely between sessions
• Comfortable common space for a companion who travels with you

We can share a list of nearby hotels and extended-stay properties once your treatment week is scheduled. Hotel rates and exact distances should be confirmed directly with the property, as availability and pricing vary by season. Arrangements are made directly between you and the hotel.

A spouse, partner, family member, or friend can travel with you and stay at the same hotel. Because SAINT® uses no anesthesia or sedation, a companion is optional — you can drive yourself and do not need a medical caregiver. However, many patients value having someone nearby for emotional support during an intense week.

A support person can wait at the clinic, return to the hotel between sessions, or explore the Coral Springs area. Each treatment day takes most of the day (ten sessions with breaks), so companions should plan for a flexible schedule. There is no medical caregiving duty, but having someone to talk to between sessions and share meals with can make the week easier.

Each treatment day follows the same rhythm: you arrive at the clinic, receive ten 10-minute stimulation sessions spaced 50 minutes apart, and leave in the late afternoon. The 50-minute breaks are yours — many patients work on a laptop, read, or rest. Wi-Fi is available at the clinic.

Day 1 may begin with the fMRI mapping scan if it was not done the day before. By Day 5, the full 50-session course is complete. On Day 6 (or Day 5 evening if flights allow), you travel home. There is no post-treatment recovery period — SAINT® uses no sedation, so you can fly the same day your treatment ends.

If you live outside Florida, your insurance may still cover SAINT®. Out-of-state Blue Cross Blue Shield members can use BlueCard, which allows you to access in-network benefits at participating providers in Florida. Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plans and Medicare may also apply, subject to plan terms and medical necessity. Coverage varies by plan; we verify your benefits for free before you travel so you understand your costs upfront.

For self-pay patients, SAINT® at NWCOA starts at $25,000. This includes the fMRI mapping scan, all 50 stimulation sessions, physician oversight, and the treatment-week coordination. Financing is available on a case-by-case basis and discussed during your consultation. We never quote a lower or exact final price without reviewing your individual situation.

After the treatment week, you return home and we continue your care remotely. We schedule follow-up appointments by phone or video at set intervals to track your response and adjust any medication. If you have a local psychiatrist, therapist, or primary care provider, we coordinate with them and share treatment notes so your care continues seamlessly at home.

If SAINT® does not fully resolve your symptoms, we discuss next steps — which may include SPRAVATO® (esketamine), IV ketamine, medication management, or psychotherapy, all available at our clinic. You are not sent elsewhere. Individual results may vary; 79% of participants in the 2022 randomized trial reached remission (Cole et al., Am J Psychiatry 2022;179(2):132–141), but not everyone responds, and follow-up is part of the plan.

If you live in Florida, you do not need to leave the state for SAINT®. Neuro Wellness TMS Centers of America in Coral Springs is a Verified SAINT® Provider serving patients from Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties and beyond. Patients within driving distance can commute daily; patients from other parts of Florida (Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville) can travel to Coral Springs for the week. The same consultation, MRI, and treatment-week process applies whether you drive in or fly in.

We've created travel guides for patients coming from specific regions. If you're traveling from one of these areas, see the dedicated page for drive times, lodging, and local details:

SAINT® TMS near New York · SAINT® TMS near Tampa · SAINT® TMS near Miami · SAINT® TMS near Coral Gables · SAINT® TMS for Utah Residents · SAINT® TMS for Nevada Residents · SAINT® TMS for Colorado Residents