Dr. Frank Shapley Highley, MD

He doesn’t listen. Isn’t that the whole point of a psychiatrist? How else are they going to know what’s going on with you?

Dr. Highley was my first experience ever with a psychiatrist. I saw him for about 2 years. After a while I realized it just was not working. He would come out to get me with his had down looking at the ground, not making eye contact. He would always mumble stuff I couldn't understand. I literally felt like I would have to pull him out of his shell and therapize (one of my words) him for a few minutes before he could start a conversation with me. We would do a the usual "how's it been since the time I saw you last". When I would tell him in usually 3-4 sentences, he would start asking me the exact same questions that I just gave him the answers to 1 minute ago or less. It was round and round like that every time. If he was just testing to see if I would vary my answers it was annoying to say the least, but came across like he might have ADD. I finally grew tired of what appeared to be a lack of pro-active/engaged treatment. That's the best way I can describe it. When I… finally went to a new psychiatrist, my experience was like Night & Day. I felt like they were attentive, considered differing options, had enabling and helpful suggestions of how to handle situations, people etc.., set goals and developed a flexible treatment plan with me that seemed feasible. I think Dr. Highley has extensive experience there is no doubt about that, but his personality and professional ability to implement what a variety of patients need is what I question. He's probably the perfect Dr. for certain personalities, but not so much for others.

Dr. Highley was assigned to me while I was inpatient at Presbyterian Hospital Behavioral Health in Charlotte, NC. He diagnosed me with depression, instead of my formal diagnosis, Bipolar Disorder. Even after being delusional and having hallucinations, (because I was manic) he kept me on an antidepressant which only exacerbates the symptoms of mania. He did not listen to any of my feedback. When I requested a different doctor he stated, "I don't think anyone else would take you case." Upon release, for which I had to fake my wellness, I was still delusional and having hallucinations. I was admitted to a facility in Davidson, NC the next day and was taken of the antidepressant prescribed by Dr. Highley and treated for Bipolar Disorder and my syptoms went away overnight. I was inpatient with Dr. Highley for a full month with only worsening of my illness.

Very good Doctor Cares about Total well being and not quick to push pills. More concerned about whole mind healing over quick pill fix.

Dr. Highley is great!

My sister is mentally ill and is a long time patient of Dr. Highley. I requested to join her visit with Dr. Highley just so that I could help her in whatever way that I could. I found Dr. Highley to be very helpful and kind. My sister really likes him and the staff and I would highly recommend him as a doctor for the mentally ill. He is compassionate and treats his patients with respect. My sister considers him to be her friend and doctor at the same time!!

I was so afraid but his expertise squeltched that!

Seeing Dr. Highley was a complete waste of time and money. After about 30 minutes of speaking with me, he came up with what he called a "theory" about my issues and made recommendations based on that. The problem was that there was a lot more about my issues that we had not discussed and his recommendations were things that I already told him that I am doing. Before I saw Dr. Highley, I had two other doctors that thought medication would be a good option for me. Dr. Highley did not agree. He certainly has a right to his own medical opinion, but he made a quick decision about me with very little information. When I asked Dr. Highley to speak with one of the other doctors that I had spoken to, he refused. He suggested that I see another doctor more 'in-line" with that thinking. As a doctor, it is Dr. Highleys responsibility to give his patients the best care that he can. If he does not think medication is right for me, suggesting that I see a doctor that will prescribe… medication doesn't seem to be in my best interest. I am not dismissing the possibility that Dr. Highley's theory about my issues may be correct, but it was quickly developed, not well thought out, based on incomplete information, and Dr. Highley refused to consider that there may be some merit to the ideas that others have. I would not recommend Dr. Highley to anyone.

Seeing Dr. Highley was a complete waste of time and money. After about 30 minutes of speaking with me, he came up with what he called a "theory& ...

I initially saw Dr. Highley in hopes of finding a psychologist that I could see regularly and confide in. In our first visit he filled my prescription for a single month, stressing the importance of coming to see him each month. Upon returning to the office on my second visit I was informed by his receptionist that I needed to pay for that days office visit prior to seeing the Dr., despite the fact that I have a deductible plan which states that THE CARD HOLDER OWES NO PAYMENT AT TIME OF SERVICE. After informing the receptionist that I am uncomfortable paying a charge that has not yet been billed to my insurance and has not been verified by them as valid and necessary, she stated that she is able to view the contracted rate. I then stated that even though she is able to view the contracted rate, she cannot guarantee to me that this is what the insurance charge will be when in fact my insurance company has not received the bill or the procedure code. A procedure code that has not yet… been applied (as I have not seen the Dr. yet) and may be subject to change. So how is it that I am supposed to pay a bill for a charge that does not yet exist and a procedure code that my insurance has not verified? Does this not mean that I am paying the Dr. money that I may not be reimbursed for by my insurance company (An illegal act known as Balanced Billing). The receptionist responded that they do not do that to people. That may be true, but what you do in fact do to people is ask them to break the standards of their insurance contract, while simultaneously breaking the providers insurance contract. The receptionist finally turned me away with no offer of a payment plan and said to return when I can pay them. This again is in direct violation of their contract which states IF A MEMBER IS UNABLE TO PAY AT THE TIME OF SERVICE , THE PROVIDER SHOULD NOT REFUSE TO PROVIDE TREATMENT TO THE MEMBER. Well you cannot build patient-client relationships by turning people away and ignoring your contracts. To those seeking help I can assure you that necessary action has been taken and reports have been made.