Clinical Services

OUTPATIENT SERVICES

Registration for first contact 

TIMINGS: 8 am to 11.30 am (First contact as well as Follow-up patients)

Days: Monday, Thursday and Friday (Except gazetted holidays)

Location: G-13, Ground Floor, Main OPD, NIMHANS

There are several ways you can consult the Department of Integrative Medicine (IMD), NIMHANS in the Outpatient facility.

1. Directly as a Walk-In Patient
2. Referred by another hospital or health professional
3. Referral to a particular doctor
4. Have an Online Appointment

Directly as a Walk-in Patient to Outpatient Department of Integrative Medicine

Patients coming directly for the first time to the Department of Integrative Medicine are registered at the Screening block in the Outpatient Department between 8.00 am and 11.30 am on Monday, Thursday and Friday. Please come at 8.30 am and get a screening slip made after payment of registration charges. If you mention that you want to be seen by a Yoga or Ayurveda Consultant, you will be sent directly to the IMD OPD. If you are not sure which doctor you need to meet, you will be screened by a medical officer who will guide you to the appropriate specialist.

At the Integrative Medicine OPD, an initial screening will be done and depending on the nature of the problem, a decision about a detailed evaluation on the same day or on a later date will be made. For the majority of patients detailed evaluation is done on the same day and treatment (yoga or Ayurveda) is offered. Before leaving OPD premises, a date after a few weeks is fixed for a follow up with an appointment. The team aims to offer brief instructions about yoga therapy during the first consultation itself. 

The unique feature of outpatient clinical services of IMD is the availability of an in-house team of Ayurveda and Yoga experts along with a Psychiatrist who will see the patient together.

Referred by a doctor or another health professional

Patients referred by doctors get preference in the Screening block. There is a special counter for patients with a referral letter. Please come at 8.30 am and show the referral letter to the Referral Counter and get a screening slip made after payment of registration charges. At the Integrative Medicine OPD, an initial screening will be done and depending on the nature of the problem, a decision about a detailed evaluation on the same day or on a later date will be made. For the majority of patients detailed evaluation is done on the same day and treatment (yoga or ayurveda) is offered. Before leaving OPD premises, a date after a few weeks is fixed for a follow up with an appointment.

Referred to a particular doctor

Please come at 8.30 am and show the referral letter to the Referral Counter and get a screening slip made after payment of registration charges. You will then be sent to the consultant whom you have been referred to.

Have an Online Appointment

Online appointments are available from the Patient Online Appointment Portal.

NIMHANS provides online appointment facility to patients who are visiting the hospital for the first time.

• The patient should have a valid mobile number.
• One appointment only per day is provided for a mobile number.
• Registration Fee should be paid at Counter No 3, Hall No 2, Screening Block, OPD, NIMHANS.
• If the patient fails to come on the given day and time, the appointment will be cancelled and a fresh appointment needs to be taken.
• Online registered patients should report to Counter No. 3, Hall No 2, Screening Block at the NIMHANS OPD and produce their online appointment printout or SMS message. In case they are carrying a referral letter to a particular specialty or specialist, the same should be produced at Counter No. 3.
• The appointment is available for a period of one month excluding Sundays and OPD Closed Holidays.
• Please carry the valid Identity Card mentioned during the time of registration in case you are not able to show the SMS or you do not have the printout of the Appointment Slip.

CONSULTANTS:

Dr. Shivarama Varambally, Professor of Psychiatry and Head (I/c), Department of Integrative Medicine

Dr. Kishore Kumar, Assistant Professor of Ayurveda

Dr. Hemant Bhargav, Assistant Professor of Yoga

Dr. Bharath Holla, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry

Appointments for assessment and evaluation

1. For the majority of patients, detailed evaluation is done on the first day of visit itself. Sometimes a detailed assessment and evaluation is scheduled on a suitable day.
2. During assessment the history will be collected by a junior resident/ trainee and subsequently you will have your consultation with the senior doctor (either a senior resident or a consultant). Please remember that these assessments usually involve time. The whole process usually takes about an hour and a half at least.
3. During the comprehensive assessment, depending on the number of assessments and your time of arrival, please expect a waiting time of at least half an hour to one hour at the least.
4. A hospital file in your/ your relative’s name will be made. This file is meant to record illness and treatment details. You will be provided with a hospital card that bears your name, your hospital ID number.

Geriatric Counter (for elderly >60 years)

1. A separate counter is available for the elderly above 60 years. This facility is available both in the Screening counter.
2. Patients above 60 years of age are seen earlier and have separate seating.
3. If you (the patient) are above 60 years of age, please inform the person at the counter and they will help you.

Pregnant women and those with young children

We are committed to giving preference to pregnant women and those with young children. Please inform the person at the counter in the OPD and they will help you to meet the doctor early.

 Department of Integrative Medicine OPD Schedule

OPD days: Monday, Thursday & Friday (except gazetted holidays)

TIMINGS: 9 am till last patient is seen

1. Many patients with neuropsychiatric health issues require regular follow up with your treating team/ doctor. Ask your doctor about the regularity of these visits and follow their advice.
2. Patients who may require emergency care and treatment will be immediately sent to the Emergency block of NIMHANS (Neurological conditions) or short stay ward (Psychiatric conditions) located on the ground floor of the Psychiatry Open General Wards; next to the Emergency block of NIMHANS). Emergency care and services will be provided by a neurologist/neurosurgeon/psychiatrist.
3. Elderly (> 60 years of age), pregnant ladies, mothers with young children and patients on a wheelchair and non-ambulatory patients may approach the attenders at the counter and will be seen by doctors on priority.
4. On a given day, depending on the time of your/ your relative’s arrival and the crowd, your waiting time is likely to vary. It is important that you patiently wait till your turn arrives.
5. At the end of the follow up consultation make sure you have collected your prescription, request form for any investigation (if required) and the date for your next follow visit. Don’t forget to collect your card back on your way out.

INPATIENT SERVICES

Ayurveda

Inpatient services are likely to start soon once the renovation of the Ayurveda Block is completed. The Block will have 20 general ward beds and 7 special wards.

Yoga

Currently yoga therapy services are available at Yoga wing of the Department of Integrative Medicine for patients with various neuropsychiatric disorders.

We require a referral from your treating physician for yoga therapy. The doctors from the yoga wing of the department see patients who come with the file/referral letter on all working days between 2-4 pm. Every new patient is assessed by the doctors (Consultant/SR/JR) and directed to a specific yoga therapy session that is most suitable for them. Patients are offered one-to-one sessions as and when needed. A card is provided with basic details and attendance. With this the patients can come for regular therapy sessions on a daily basis.

Yoga therapy sessions for the following disorders are conducted on a regular basis.  

1. Schizophrenia and psychosis
2. Depression
3. Anxiety disorders
4. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
5. Mild Cognitive Impairment
6. Parkinson’s Disease
7. Substance Use Disorders
8. Somatoform Pain Disorders
9. Epilepsy
10. Low Back pain
11. Childhood and Adolescent  Psychiatric Disorders
12. Hirayama Disease
13. Postpartum Psychiatric Disorders (Mother Baby Yoga)
14. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

TELE-YOGA THERAPY SERVICES:

The Department of Integrative Medicine has also started offering tele-yoga therapy services for registered patients who cannot avail in person therapy sessions. Currently we have ongoing tele-yoga therapy services for patients with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, psychosis, obsessive compulsive disorders, Parkinson’s disorder and low back pain, and we further plan to extend them for other neuropsychiatric disorders too.