Divyansu Patel, MD

I’ve been seeing Dr. Patel for about a year and really like him. I haven’t experienced any issues with him forgetting or not being aware of my issues, as some of the negative reviewers have. He is professional, conservative with my medication (which is something I really wanted in a psychiatrist) and friendly. When I had a personal issue regarding medication with another doctor (not in his practice) he treated the incident with care and concern. Yes, he did have to protect his license and in the process of clearing everything up I did have a $ 900 drug test billed to me as I was self pay for a couple of months. This was an unexpected expense and I do plan on speaking with the billing dept but I don’t think this reflects on Dr. Patel as a psychiatrist. He always had my back, so to speak, and I feel like he does have my best interests as a patient at heart. I would absolutely recommend anyone to Dr. Patel, I drive all the way from Dripping Springs to see him!

Dr. Patel was prescribing me a dangerous mix of drugs at dangerous doses– enough to easily give me seizures and/​or heart attacks. I found this out after consulting 3 different M.D.s who were appalled at how Dr. Patel «managed» my depression and adult ADHD.
After seeing Dr. Patel for around a year he still couldn’t remember a darn thing about me– even with the aid of the iPad he’s constantly looking at during the session. You’d think he could at least review a few notes about me and my meds before I’d go in with what I was paying him. My first visit he told me that he could gladly fit me in for med upkeep visits (15 minutes each) and that he could take me on for therapy too but he really rather not– he was busy and had some other people he wanted me to try instead. I should have left then but at the time was desperate for help. Those he suggested to me were prissy morons with Masters degrees and textbook verbatim advice that I told him from the start weren’t for me. He knew I wasn’t getting any real therapy but would just kept increasing my meds instead.
It seems the reviews on Unilocal about how he is with kids are a complete opposite of how he is with adult patients. Heather C., Calico, Aleasha– those reviews on here are right on the money as far as my experiences are concerned. The staff wouldn’t call me back– especially the billing woman over there who I left clear messages for on 3 separate occasions to return my call. The entire office staff seems sadly apathetic to patients which is really not what a bunch of people seeking help need from their doctor’s office.
I was also given the drug test that was presented to me as absolutely routine and with no hint of there being an additional charge. I wouldn’t have minded a surprise bill for it so much had it been a reasonable amount, but after my insurance I was left with a bill for over $ 280 out-​of-​pocket expense! If Dr. Patel was so concerned about what other substances might be in my body, why did he wait until after 6 months of treatment to administer it? Money obviously isn’t a concern for him. I know this by the pricey drug test that he’s obviously had other patients complain about (yet still doesn’t give warning), the strict practice of charging $ 100 if you don’t cancel your 15 minutes appointment in time, and with the extremely pricey prescription he once gave knowing I was having financial issues at the time. (Don’t give me that, «doctors don’t know how much it will cost you» crap. They know which meds are expensive– if they care enough to find out).
I went to him because I was sad and was having trouble keeping up with tasks at work. I couldn’t exercise due to spinal issues but he’d suggest it nearly every visit before I’d have to remind him again that I couldn’t. He put me on Abilify which took me from 115 lbs to 145 lbs. in 3 months. Ultimately, after ‘keeping up’ somehow at work for 5 years without the aid of Dr. Patel, I ended up losing my job due to the difficulty I was then having keeping up with things. I’m now worse-​off for going to this pill-​pushing quack.

I would agree with some of the other reviewers on this site. Dr. Patel is strictly business with 15 minute client appointments and no attention to emotional health at all. From what I know, someone’s emotional status should be considered when prescribing medication.
Although I never felt I was getting a full range of treatment, the reason I ended up leaving was different. Dr. Patel said he needed a drug test for legal reasons, in case something extreme happened where I was involved and people would need to ask him for my drug test records and confirm that to his knowledge I wasn’t abusing substances while he prescribed anything. Although that situation was highly unlikely I understood his caution and complied. Then received a bill for over $ 200 for the drug test. You should definitely let someone know they’re paying for your legal caution and to what extent then just billing them later.
When calling the lab to discuss the billing they were upset to know the doctors weren’t informing patients there was a fee associated with the drug test since «it was one of the most thorough and expensive drug tests they could order.» I tried to contact Patel’s office about it but received no response. Maybe if it was $ 15 I wouldn’t care but no one likes an unexpected bill for $ 200+ for something that wasn’t necessary.

We searched and searched for a psychiatrist that would treat our children, both of whom have a form of Autism. We went through our insurance and the offices we had called were not accepting new patients. When I called Dr. Patel’s office, I was set up with an immediate appointment– for the next day to see both children. The office staff is wonderful. Dr. Patel is so knowledgeable in medications, reactions, Autism, ADHD, depression and anxiety as well as the 504 and ARD processes. Dr. Patel is so caring and has a great sense of humor. Our daughter, we had feared would not like him because he is a male doctor. He is laid-​back and easy for her to talk to. He really seems to have a deep intuition to understand our daughter and this is one reason she adores him. She loves to go see her, «Dr. Patel». For a time, they were in transition as they switched offices and things were a bit chaotic– which one would expect. No more– they are very organized and helpful. I highly recommend this doctor– particularly if you have children that need assistance. Dr. Patel has been instrumental in getting our daughter help at school. As well, the district had lost a form we needed for the 504 process. I called the office and within 30 minutes, Dr. Patel had another faxed over. I hadn’t expected him to do so with such haste! I appreciated it very much as I didn’t make a copy for myself and turned over the one copy I had to the office weeks before and never saw it again. My thanks to Dr. Patel and his office staff for their support and help!

in my experience:
1 he is unknowledgeable
2 legal fears override patient care
3 he is oddly apathetic to patient wellness
elaboration:
i have been on the same mediccation for 2 years and basically just need to see a pyschiatrist to keep getting the written script for it. our appointments consisted always o him asking the same questions about my mood and side effects, and pausing for probably 30 seconds after every single answer to get it into his little ipad thingy. he required bimonthly appointments
every time he makes a desicion regarding medication or prescriptions, it really seems like the only motive to his answer is an attempt to seem [strict /​professional/​legal?] he provided blatantly incorrect information/​answers on several or. well basically every occasion in which he provided any information… which at one point had some drastic mental as well as physical consequences, at another some more minor ones… and which is especailly interesting because he is on his ipad thingy for the entire duration of each appointment, and i would assume or at least hope there is some relevant information on it. i understand dr’s are just people too, and not remotely all knowing, but the extent to which he made up answers when he didn’t know them was absurd
now, this was the final (immense) straw; when i, for the first and only time, lost a prescription, he /​the office cared far more, no, EXCLUSIVELY about the possibility of legal detriment; i really did completely understand, but this was the proceeding;
i called: the office aid informed me they could not possibly rewrite. i told him i understoodd why they would/​should have that policy but that, first off, my body would go into withdrawal from a very sudden absence of a stimulent i have taken for 3 years. he said, ‘well, actually, it’s a stimulant so there is no withdrawal.’ um, WHAT TYPE OF DRUG IS LESS LIKELY TO RESULT IN WITHDRAWEL WHEN STOPPED? (im sure there are plenty but still). anyway, i was trying to explain how i had been extremely depressed before taking them, (and in a previous break earlier that year when he made one of the aforementioned mistakes), and to withhold some details, in short, it was my hospitiization that more ror less resulted in my being prescribed this medication. he said he would leave a note. i came into the office 3 horrrible days later, he was out traveling, i asked if another doctor could potentially rewrite the script and explained my issues, and was told about the offices legal issues which i again affirmed i understood but (and so on) and they told me if i felt like i was really depressed/​suicidal i should check myself into a hospital; this got to me more than anything: i was telling them i was really depressed; i have been previously hospitilized; she has every right to think im a risk and yeah i could just as well check myself into a hospital as… well. you know. you know, THAT could have given them some REAL leagal issues.
i come back after the weekend where he wants me to pay for an entire appointment and suddenly they charge upfront only (I dont have any backfees, but i had several times paid for both a current and previous appointment at once and was never notified the policy changed) so that was a whole deal, but really, i didnt need an appointment just a rewrite so finally they agree but he charges a fee for that and they infrom me that the aid is «going to take your vitals.’ apparently, by «take your vitals,’ they meant drug test under the guise of ‘this is just to see how well your body is metabolizing the medication [that you just said you havent taken in two weeks].. i said, ‘you mean youre seeing if theres any in my system?» which he denies, repeats the former at least three times, but was clearly drug testing me… and i was 100% aware but i still doubt its legal to drug test someone when neither informing or gaining consent from them. finally, he comes in with the prescription and tells me now i am going to have monthly appointments for the next 6 months. i told him i was gonig to find a new dr. and to top it off, i then get an insurance bill for, in my father’s words, ‘an incredibly thorough drug test.

Dr. Patel is one of the nicest guy’s you’ll ever meet. While he doesn’t handle much in the way of therapy, I’ve never had a problem with any of my consultations or the results.

After years of looking for a decent Phyciatrist for my daughter, we found Dr. Patel he is a Godsend. he takes the time to listen and actually diagnose he stays in contact with my daughter she is Bi-​Polar and has been level now for over a year I cannot thank Dr. Patel enough you have given me my daughter back.
If you have an adolescent and you need a great doctor look no further.