Jennifer E. Ward, MD — Psychiatrist in Austin, TX

Very cold hearted. I was in the ER for suicidal ideation (trying to get into Shoal Creek because it’s a private hospital so I need to go to an ER first. I’m familiar with that facility) and instead of trying to get to know what was going on Dr. Ward was hounding me about if I take my (controlled substance) correctly. She asked a few times a few different ways if I abuse it. If she really wanted to know she could have checked PDMP herself and seen how often I pick it up and the day supply. Really no reason to treat me that way when I’m in a bad position and it can be looked up. She asked no other questions about why I was brought there. Just about drug use. Even if I was on drugs aren’t you a specialist that is supposed to help those with addictions? She then said they were going to run labs and I denied them as is my right I deny them every time in hospital because I get them done frequently enough. I also denied them because their lab is out of network for me, and I’m having to pay for labs I did not authorize from my last visit. Some of those labs had already been drawn by my PCP that very day, and so my right to informed consent was violated that day. She then asked “not even a urine sample?” (Why? Because you’re trying to see what drugs you think I'm abusing? I have no reason to lie in a psychiatric setting especially about drug usage . Lying about it doesn’t give me appropriate care). I denied these as well because I wasn’t gonna let her have that “aha!” moment that wouldn’t have even happened, again had she checked the website. She then gets upset “that’s just going to delay your care.” (How? You don’t have to wait on test results. That should speed it up if anything). Knowing where I wanted to go they sent me as far away from family as possible at a place known to keep people on involuntary holds for extended amounts of time. Every single person had the same story. (And while all businesses have bad reviews along with hospitals and psychiatric there is a common theme when you look up Georgetown Behavioral Health Institute holding people). I feel sending me away from where I wanted (which is against patient rights as you have a right to go to a hospital of YOUR choosing) was out of spite. I left feeling much worse than when I did going in there. Having a psychiatrist demean you in the way I was makes me not want to open up to others who are actually willing to help. It honestly makes me not trust the healthcare system even more. Days later I’m still feeling awful and ruminating about what went on that night.

Dr Ward is awesome. So so so compassionate and caring. Angel.

I have never encountered a physician as rude and irrational as Dr. Ward. She included false, subjective information on my medical records and sent them without consent to my personal physician. Additionally, she claims that I have drug problems; 2 cases of misuse and 1 case of dependency for medications that I take as prescribed by another doctor.