Access Health Services
Psychiatric Treatment Center
Verified Treatment Services
Please read this before becoming a patient here: Psychiatric appointments are meant to be 15+ minutes depending on medical need. In reality, my most intensive sessions with Dr. A (Asongtia) averaged approximately 5 minutes, according to my logs. During my scheduled appointment times, Dr. A likely routinely double- and triple-booked Medicaid patients within the same few minute period, which directly resulted in these extremely short visits. Five-minute encounters do not allow a meaningful opportunity to discuss symptoms, concerns, treatment options, or medication side effects. Regardless of billing justification, this visit length does not support safe or comprehensive psychiatric care. Care felt rushed and disorganized. Medication side effects were not discussed during visits. I only learned about them after independently requesting a medication fact sheet from my pharmacist. For psychiatric medications, this falls way below acceptable standards of patient education and informed consent. Dr. A prescribed high-dose medications that were ineffective, and at points damaging for me. After this initial failure, I independently reviewed evidence-based medicine alternatives and brought this information to my next monthly follow-up appointment, which was my first meeting in the 5 months i was with her to reach 10 minutes in length. Instead of engaging in a professional, collaborative discussion, I was spoken to in a condescending and dismissive manner. My efforts to participate in my own care were inaccurately characterized as “using Google,” which was both inappropriate and untrue. To clarify the response I received: I did not request medication “on demand” or ask for a specific prescription. I requested time for discussion after an ineffective treatment. The medications I asked to discuss (Vyvanse and guanfacine) are well-established widely used options with low abuse potential. Reframing a request for shared decision-making as a demand is a manipulative misrepresentation of what happened. This environment did not feel focused, attentive, or safe. I have ADHD and anxiety, and this experience was discouraging enough that it nearly caused me to abandon treatment altogether. Patients with more severe psychiatric conditions may be especially vulnerable in this setting where time, respect, and dialogue are lacking. In contrast, the receptionist consistently showed professionalism, knowledge, and responsiveness. She appears to be the primary reason this practice functions in my opinion. I would not recommend this provider unless no other options are available. Montgomery County has multiple Medicaid accepting psychiatrists who provide attentive, respectful care. Teaching clinics with UMD and other DC universities offer full length visits, supervision, and genuine patient engagement, all of which were absent here. I am transferring my care and strongly encourage others to consider doing the same. Average visit length: approximately 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I would also like to mention this experience has given me billing compliance questions, as 5 minutes appointments are not typically reimbursed and our meetings were all of low complexity that do not require outside-of-meeting review.
