Health Service Alliance – Palm Desert

I can’t speak for the other psychiatrist but JASON Kukas has absolutely no regard for his patients and how they feel, cut me off when I was telling him my symptoms n got no compassion from him! Like common u work in… mental health show some grace n compassion basically scolded me the whole meeting.

I felt like I was being interrogated and I also felt like I was a guinea pig. I got no compassion and I felt like this dude Jason had alternative motives when I was a kid I was on a drug that my doctor prescribed. It… took me from special to regular Edd and I did great. My plans are to go back to school and I’m trying to get back on that medication and he said he will not prescribe me that medication because it’s a stimulant. OK doctor then what are drugs? What do drugs do? they’re stimulants they do something to the central nervous system!

I tried to get on the same page as my psychiatrist at Palm desert community health center by sending them some articles on a medication because I had some questions. But as soon as I spoke to the psychiatrist, they said… they were insulted by the homework I gave them and just fired me as a patient. WTH!

Had a 3:15 pm telemedicine appointment. They sent me the last form to fill out at 3:10 pm. I completed and submitted the form at 3:14 pm. I never got a call from them I had to call at 4:25 pm , they said that the form… was submitted 3 minutes ago . I had another call , so I took that call . When I called them back they told me that I had to reschedule, they received the form 27 minutes into the session . That's 3: 42 pm , not 4: 22 pm. Which one was it ? Get your information straight before you give clients 2 different times . This was to be my first session. Won't be going there after all.

REAL REVIEWS SEE DESERT PSYCHIATRIC. I am a Health Advocate who attends appnts w persons suffering from PTSD and behavioral issues resulting from their service w military contractors...so, no.VA to protect them. Got my… client in to see the prescribing, idk, maybe a PA...not an actual Dr. They did telehealth for a nearly a year wo issue. Then in Nov 2024, the office had some staffing issues and could not- would not accommodate my client and forced him off his 15year medication regiment, throwing him into severe withdrawal and at high risk of seizures. After 2wks, they made him an appnt... in person, tho he'd never done that, and didn't tell him of the format change. He didn't make it bc he expected telehealth. He called the phone girl a foul name. Another 1/2wk b4 he saw his regular guy... JASON KUKAS. In person was required. What I witnessed was a manboy. A total piece of work, let me tell you! He started the appnt at a level 10 fury and just escalated from there! He was overly angry about the office girl being called a name. He refused to listen to what happened to the patient and in fact NEVER even asked how he was... knowing he'd been off his meds. He then went on a TIRADE about how he'd been "fired" and "wasn't even here" during this fiasco. He repeated this, angrily, at least 4 times. My client and I just sat there in stunned silence. Jason Kukas then arbitrarily (retaliatorily!) decided it was "time" to cut the patient's PTSD/anxiety meds in half. Then mid-sentence, he just snapped. He told my client, "Never mind. You know what? This relationship is no longer therapeutic for either of us. You're done here." Practically chased us out of the office, huffing and stomping. We were silent. Shocked. Treating severe PTSD and behavioral issues (plus a sleep disorder, in this case) is not an off the cuff practice. You take away long-suffering patient's meds and then act shocked that all he did was call someone a foul name. They were all lucky I was with the patient, bc violence was a definite possibility. The behavior I witnessed from Jason Kukas was *outrageous* and dangerous. He made the entire visit about his employment grievances! After making the full situation known to corporate, they banned my client from all of their clinics. Bc that was easier than losing a low-paid PA. Well good freaking riddance. Hard to say who "dodged a bullet" in all this... but any practitioner who can't seriously treat a *former military contractor* w behavioral issues and then forced him into withdrawal... well, that's a risky situation that could have gone VERY badly. Don't go here, they don't care about you at all.

Absolutely garbage, the worst psychiatric 'help' I've ever seen. They rarely answer the phone, when they do, they usually claim they are 'fully booked', their 'doctors' come and go and have no regard for the patient, I… could go on, but I've been out of my bipolar and anxiety meds for a week now thanks to them, and It's very hard, and I'd rather find something constructive to do while I flounder for a new psych.

I've been seeing a psychologist and psychiatrist regularly since 2007 and would say not to send a family member here as it is a high volume psychiatric service...like a McDonald's. They send acute psychiatric cases here… in high numbers and as a result the staff here are disgruntled...it appears they hate their patients at Foothills/Palm Desert Community Health. My reason for coming here is that I have been trying to get habitability issues addressed since 2019 when my roof first leaked and it led to a hostile landlord/tenant relationship where they would try various forms of threats and harassment to get me to vacate my home. I rent from a powerful real estate trust with connections in local superior court and I have gone through a 3.5 year "self help eviction" (illegal harassment to get a tenant to vacate without due process) but as someone with zero support system I had no where to go. My rent was fixed at $1625/month on a home that inflated from $200k when I rented it to $650k+ in 2023. They wanted me out to double the rent. As my roof leaked repeatedly in 2021,2022, and 2023 I went from being a waiter/sommelier in the fine dining industry to being a full time landlord tenant law researcher. I used free legal for 3.5 years to try to get my roof leak fixed while my landlord did things like turn up the sprinklers to 1.5 hours per day costing me $200+ water bills and fines w CVWD, disconnecting sprinklers entirely, tampering with AC/refusing to fix it, and entering the premises when they have no cause to do so. Eventually they found a way to exploit my disability by hanging pay rent or quit notices for rent I have already paid. When the landlord's son accuses me of not paying rent I go in to sensory overload. I start stuttering and sweating and when I show him the copies of cleared checks and he fails to acknowledge them it creates an indescribable panic. When it first happened in Feb 2022 I quit sleeping for about 6-8 weeks. I have had 5 similar event since and lost about 30 lbs on the most recent. I have lived in fear of my landlord filing a case in superior court for money I do not owe for 2.5 years. (yes, lots of baggage) When I described this to the doctors there and tell them the organizations that are supposed to protect are failing me the Dr (Lewis) barely even listened. She was too busy trying to teach a student...clearly that was where her focus was. I wasn't given any advice or resources on how to deal with the situation and when I asked for medication to help overcome my acute panic/psychosis I was offered buspar. I have a long medical history and that is what they give to drug seekers. I was treated like I was being petty or dramatic. I felt both insulted and neglected during my first visit because my roof had already been leaking 3 years at that point. Clearly my concerns are valid. My most recent visit I doubled down and said I had already had two visits asking for resources to help and felt neglected. The office manager was the most disrespectful person I have ever dealt with in the medical field. When I explained the gravity of the situation she rolled her eyes at me. I drove home crying my eyes out on 2 of 3 visits here. I did not receive adequate care here... I wish I hadn't gone at all because staff were cruel with their gaslighting. I will say the male nurse practitioner was good and got my referral to Ensemble promptly. I generally prefer a female doctor. If you get referred here in crisis that means you have IEHP. All I can say is go somewhere else and pay out of pocket to see a doctor that will listen. It might be the difference between torture and being treated. I would have written the review earlier but I just had a 6-8 month crisis...trying to be better prepared to avoid these in the future

Absolutely remarkable the staff here is amazing. I trust Dr.Lewis with my whole heart her faith also she's gotten me balanced out on the right medication and she honestly cares. Paola the receptionist is also… amazing..... Paola is always so kind, patient, knowledgeably an extremely professional. She's a sweetheart I appreciate the entire staff so much. Thank you💯🙏💐❤️‍🩹☝️ Always, Daniel

I’ve had nothing but positive thoughts for Dr. Lewis and her staff. Everyone is thoughtful, kind and considerate. I had a very tough year last year and won’t not have through it without God and Dr. Lewis.

Patrick is my therapist and Jason is my nurse practitioner psychiatrist who checks me once a month about my medications and how they are working. Patrick is probably the best, most kind, and easiest going therapist that… I have ever had!! I’ve been in therapy for many years. He checks up on you and is very easy to reach if you have a problem, has a very flexible easy schedule. Patrick is a true down to earth professional who is not just an asset to his patients/clients but to Palm Desert Community Health Center as well. I also feel he is an asset as well to the community. Jason too is a terrific professional and he is very kind and helpful as well. Easy going, caring, and no drama. I am very blessed to have found and to be associated with Palm Desert Community Health Center.

Great help. Great service.

The office staff are friendly, kind, patient, and welcoming. Whenever I have a question or concern, they are quick to provide the answer. I have been a patient of Dr. Lewis for three years. She is compassionate and… attentive to my concerns. I highly recommend their services.

The service is excellent and the people are really nice and caring

The front desk is amazing, always so kind and helpful when asking any questions and scheduling. Dr Lewis made me feel so valid, kept me extremely comfortable and was the best person I’ve ever spoke to. I could literally… trust this woman with my life, you won’t make a mistake coming here they take very good care of you.

This place is great! The staff is very helpful and best is the fact they do phone appointments!

Some how when you come in at 10am they are full and not accepting walk-ins. And told me to come the next day early. I got here at 8am and apparently no walk-in’s that day. I found this to happen all the time. Don’t… waste your time and find another psychiatrist.

Brought my sis here last week for first time. My son is a patient there and told me to get there early because it gets full fast. My sis and I arrived and we were shocked at how many people were in line. Line filled up… the whole hallway. I asked the girl in the front if this was usual, she smiled and said yes and that it was actually slow compared to other days! Once checked in, we saw Dr Lewis and she was great. My sis said that no other psychiatrist listened to her the way Dr Lewis did. Highly recommend this place, but arrive early! My sis and I got there at 8:30am.

Well organized walk in services and excellent support staff. Dr Lewis was extremely insensitive, and condescending; needs to keep private thoughts inside her head instead of saying out loud. She has little to zero… awareness of how disabilities effect individuals.

Thank you for helping us, it’s hard finding help here in coachella valley