Dr. Jeffrey Chao, MD

I have seen Dr. Chao for 20 years. I saw him once a week for a FULL 1 hour for pshycoanlaysis (SP) and relevant meds. Dr. Chao purchased the clientele of a shrink I was seeing before the purchase. At year 10, my life changed drastically. I could no longer afford to pay $200/hour, but it became irrelevant to Dr. Chao. I cut dowwn on my office visits, but Dr. Chao still treated me, waiving he cost of visits in their entirety. I paid what I could. I constantly apologized. Finally, Dr. Chao told me "Scott, you are my patient and you are under my care". He has NEVER not returned my call and gave me instructions on how I could receive my meds for free by contacting big pharma and applying for their Patient Assistance for when one cannot afford their meds. Dr. Cho keeps our relationship professional, but, he went far above the Dr. patient relationship. I was arrested at year 10, due to an investigation by the FDIC. Could not find work and no one in my life gave me more support and care,… kindness and substantial advice. I paid what I could. I took a job out of San Diego county and had Kaiser as my insurance. I went to their shrink, simply asking for the meds that Dr. Chao was prescribing, and within 20 minutes, this woman, that is Indian and got her medical degree from a substantially inferior med school and she, after talking to Dr. Chao and never reading his notes on me, told me that I was Bi-Polar. That she does not recognize any of his diagnososes or his opinions of my anxiety and that is what Dr. Chao treated me for, for 20 years. He went to one of the best medical schools in the country, is published and considered one of the top shrinks in all of San Diego. Number 1, do not utilize Kaiser for anything. I just changed my insurance as I received an even better job, and while Kaiser is cheap, I am willing to pay $4000/month, rather than $37/mo, simply to get regular treatment from who is one of the best shrinks in Southern California. He cares. Once again, the man cares. If I page him at 1AM he will call and will not be upset that I called him at that time. He talks me off the ledge. He navigates me thru the insurance beuracancy (sp) of all of my insurances, even when it's mt an insurance that he accepts. I grew with Dr. Chao. I saw him change from a novice to an expert. He has supported me back to a "normal" person again. As much s possible. I have many issues and Dr. Chao address's them all. I could not afford a primary care Dr and Dr. Chao,, not a PCP, treated me for what he was allowed too by law. He is simply one of the most important person's in my life. He is ALWAYS be there for me. He has never turned hs back on me, had always made sure that I have access to the meds that I do use and regardless of my outstanding bills. Again, he has waived over $3,000 in bills due. Don't go in thee and expect him to treat you for free. We just developed a close relationship. He knows the names of all my family member's, and all of my friends that have helped me financially. I spent 7 months in work furlogh and Dr. Chao insured that I was being given access to ll of the meds that I was on at the time. I was in jail for 15 days, and Dr. Chao sent over a letter explaining that it is the law that I am able to to still meet with him and that they allowed me access to meds that I was on. My life spiraled down the toilet, but Dr. Chao wast there for me at any time. Never judges me and knows when a joke or levity is in order. After seeing a shrink at Kaiser, I realized just how lucky I was to have him. I am now changing my insurance to a PPO so I can continue to see him, rather than waste my time with a Kaiser Dr. If one looks at the medical degrees that Kaiser Dr's' have, they are all foreign or got there medical degrees from very low tier med schools.I will make an appointment for a 30 minute visit and the all go longer, even fulls 1 hour sessions and longer; not a 45 minute hour. He prescibes meds that we think might help and if it is not helping, we decide to either go with no meds, or an alternate med.. Bottom line, I was very mentally "il" and if it were not for Dr.Chao, I would have committed suicide. His is a great man first and a great Doctor second. If you are suffering, go see Dr. Chao.

The simplest and most direct way to say this: Deep within myself, I know that Dr. J. Chao is the psychiatrist who saved my life during my 3rd and and most horrific episode of depression. It was a "major" depression that went on for years. Honestly, I lost hope and thought I wasn't going to survive during year 3. My opinion is that Dr Chao has multiple healing abilities and gifts that, synergized with his superb medical knowledge and abilities, guided me out of a terrifying dark pit, that only those who've been there, can possibly understand.

In my experience, Dr. CHAO is the best! Very talented in psychopharmacology, psychiatry, psychology....he is empathic, sensitive, patient, very aware, attentive, and present with me moment to moment. He truly listens and captures the essence. He puts it all together in a calm, secure and caring fashion. He knows how to respond in a way that understand. One thing that I find extremely unusual is that he returns calls very promptly, usually the same day. I consider him to be a top doctor and a healer.

Very professional, patient, and effective.