National Spine & Pain Centers - Ketan Patel, MD - Pain Management in Haymarket, Virginia

“I brought my father to see Dr. Patel for his sciatic leg pain. We arrived early as instructed to complete new patient paperwork and waited for 45 minutes to see Dr. Patel once brought into a room. When I made the appointment, I requested a date/time to see Dr. Patel. We never saw Dr. Patel during our visit and was told that something had come up with another patient which prevented him from seeing us. Before leaving, we did eventually speak with a Physician Assistant. PAs are wonderfully competent members of one's health team and seeing one would not have been problematic after the first initial consult. The Center's recommended treatment plan is to start with injections, but how would anyone think/feel about receiving treatment without meeting the individual who is going to stick a needle in one's spine? My dad and I left after being at the practice for 90+ minutes. I have recently learned the Haymarket location has the practice of their mid-level professionals meeting with a new patient for their initial consult. Again, not an issue if this was communicated to us at the time of scheduling or before the appointment. I have requested a transfer of care to another National Spine & Pain Center location nearby. Based on the online reviews I have read and what I observed while we waited in the practice, I don't doubt that Dr. Patel is a fine physician and pain medicine specialist; however, there needs to be clearer lines of communication with patients (old and new), and adoption of transparency and some new practices to help engender patient trust that is critical in an optimal patient experience and outcomes.”

— Levina Kim

“I am thankful to Dr. Patel and his team. They provide excellent care. I have experienced outstanding communication from the front desk to the medical providers. Dealing with chronic pain is something I never imagined having to live with. I am grateful to have them walking this journey with me.”

— Amy Calligan

“Dr. Patel was the ABSOLUTE BEST, MOST COMPASSIONATE, CARING, UNDERSTANDING doctor I ever had. I am extremely happy for Dr. Patel that he has moved on to bigger and better thing....... However, I am extremely upset that he had to leave, because I have not been the same since he left even though I still get injections. He helped my husband through a car accident and got him on his feet again (without narcotics)and it was just always a pleasure going to see him. (even though we were getting a bunch of needles in our back) I really miss him and wish I was able to continue to have him as my doctor. Wherever he is, and whoever has him as a doctor is extremely blessed because he is an extremely intelligent, compassionate, amazing doctor that really makes a difference in his patients lives. I appreciate the time I had with him and wish him the best”

— Sondra B

“I have been in this office for years start seeing Ms. Suares and she is great for years taking care of my lower back pain as the pain is always controllable by her. The office switched me to Ms. Hiral all the sudden and I started seeing her for months and it was alright. I got developed a SEVERE neck, shoulders and upper back pain on March and was NOT controllable by any of the method that I did with my lower back pain. Hiral was NOT taking my upper back pain as serious as I feel now. She sent me to Physical therapy ( which I already do at home ) also to MRI and she gave C 2 pain medicine for 10 days.That was a great relief but temporarily. My intentions for coming to her was getting a steroid shot for long term relief. I could not get an appointment for MRI within 10 days but it was 21+ days so I was seeking a compensation for C2 pain medicine until I got MRI. I work in the pharmacy and I am aware about regulation for these medicines BUT, when they had me to come back to the office, Hiral was extremely disrespected me . Accusing me for abusing pain medication. Hey I am a single mom that has 2 jobs and full custody for my daughter and I am in SEVERE pain I do not want this attitude. I was asking her during that visit what is the chance of getting relief after cortisone shot , she was NOT listening to me. She kept saying no more pain medicine until you get MRI. I asked her if she can do physical exam (which she NEVER touch me to exam me) she was disrespectfully looking into my batch that says my name and Pharmacy info I work. She did look at this batch probably 10 times during the visit giving me a hint that I work in medical field so I should stop asking for pain medicine. I know they do have a system that can look in Virginia, Maryland and DC for my past control medication I have taken and she saw I did NOT take any C2 medication since I delivered my daughter 7 years ago. Why this accusing and disrespect. When you are in pain you need someone to assure you. Instead Hiral made me cry that night the way she was talking to me. Back to my visit to review my MRI. Hiral could not be able making a call for them and ask, she sent her nurse to accuse me not getting MRI done, I went back to my car to bring MRI CD. Then she said Fairfax radiology system was down. Why did not you call then to find out where is my MRI before you sending the nurse telling me I did not get the MRI. Again it was another disrespect. Getting steroid shot, Dr. Patel told me there is minimal inflammation that close enough to say I have nothing wrong and it's like normal finding does not correspond to the pain I describe. I asked him while he was giving me the shot in my neck weather the finding on my right more since my pain is a lot of more on my right. He kept saying there is NO finding in you MRI except minimal inflammation. When I put my hand on my neck and shoulders I do not feel muscle, I feel a BIG ROCK, so what kind of minimum inflammation cause a rock feel like muscles? Anyway it was few weeks since I got the shot and I feel 0% relief. I am out of work right now as I can't work anymore. The pain is AS ITS with PT and NSAID's that do nothing. I and my primary care doctor asked the office to fax the records for her 3-4 times and it was NEVER done. Until I had to walk into the office and get the records from the receptionists myself. Here are 2 things shocking there when I came to the office: 1- I read my MRI report as ( I am a doctor in different country and I am a medical student here as well) the finding was bulging disk, spondylosis , fissures and HERNIATED DISK from C4 until C7. The herniation and the bulging is mostly on the RIGHT side. 2- I asked the receptionist why Dr. Patel did not tell me about these results? The answer was giving me a deaf ears. When I got the full medical report and walk out the door I turn around and I found the 3 receptionist laughing so hard at me. Is it a real professional place?”

— Zainab Jalali