I recently moved to Texas and scheduled a telehealth appointment with MAVA Behavioral Health LLC for psychiatric medication management after being prescribed a new blood pressure medication and experiencing panic attacks for the first time. I have worked in the medical profession for decades, so I am familiar with how clinical visits and patient privacy procedures are normally handled.
My goal for the appointment was to review my psychiatric medications in light of the new blood pressure medication and discuss the panic symptoms that had begun around the same time.
I initially requested Henry Chavez but was told he did not see patients. I was offered an appointment the following day with Fanny Nnabuike, PMHNP. The appointment confirmation, time change, and call-back request are all reflected in my call log and appointment notifications.
My appointment was originally confirmed for the afternoon. However, the office called the morning of the visit and said it would be canceled unless I called back immediately. When I returned the call, I was told the afternoon time was no longer available and was offered an appointment beginning just three minutes later.
When I joined the telehealth session using the link provided by the office, another patient was already present in the call due to what appeared to be a scheduling or link error. For a brief time, we could see each other's faces and names before the provider addressed the situation and the other patient exited the session. Given my background in healthcare, this raised concerns for me regarding patient privacy.
When the appointment began, I attempted to explain that I had recently started medication for high blood pressure and wanted to review my psychiatric medications for potential interactions while discussing the new panic symptoms I had been experiencing.
In response the provider said she needed to "look something up." She muted the microphone but the video remained on. During that time I observed her speaking with someone in the office, laughing and gesturing.
When the conversation resumed, I attempted to continue explaining my concerns but had difficulty completing my explanation and felt my concerns were dismissed rather than fully evaluated.
What struck me most during the appointment was noticing my own reaction on the telehealth screen. I saw myself shrinking back, withdrawing, and hesitant to speak, which surprised me. A mental health appointment should be a setting where patients feel safe discussing symptoms and medication concerns.
At that point I decided to advocate for myself. As politely as possible, I told the provider mid appointment that I was going to end the call. I immedielty contacted the office to request removal as a patient. The office offered to schedule me with another provider, but I chose to seek care elsewhere.
Seeking psychiatric care can already be difficult and given the importance of patient privacy and respectful communication in mental health care, I hope the practice reviews its telehealth procedures to prevent similar situations for future patients. read more
