The Investigative Committee of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners has charged Dr. Patel on three counts – malpractice, violating patient’s trust for financial gain, and failure to offer appropriate procedures for financial benefit.  In this particular case, Dr. Patel saw a patient with the progressively increasing malaise, fatigue, and shortness of breath at less than normal exertion.  The patient had a history of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension along with other health issues.  Accordingly, coronary artery bypass surgery was performed on the patient.

Seven months after the surgery, Dr. Patel saw the patient again for increasing shortness of breath and fatigue.  Dr. Patel recommended Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) therapy at his clinic and billed the patient $600 per visit for a total of seventeen sessions for a total of $10,200.  It is alleged that Dr. Patel conduct in recommending and performing EECP on a patient was intentional, and made for his own financial benefit and pecuniary gain.

In another case, the Investigative Committee of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners has charged Dr. Devendra Patel on one count of malpractice.  In a complaint, the patient was seen by Dr. Patel with signs and symptoms of an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) of the inferior wall.  A STEMI is the most serious type of heart attack, where there is a long interruption to the blood supply. This is caused by a total blockage of the coronary artery, which can cause extensive damage to a large area of the heart.  Dr. Patel failed to properly assess and diagnose STEMI and he failed to order urgent cardiac revascularization.

Based on the investigation, the committee is recommending that Dr. Patel is subject to discipline by the Board.

Earlier vegasdesi reported the Elko, NV based Dr. Devendra Patel was arrested on 39-charges of unlawful distribution of prescription opioids and Medicare and Medicaid fraud.  Dr. Patel was charged with 36-counts of distribution of controlled substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, and three counts of health care fraud.

According to the 39-count indictment that was unsealed, it is alleged that, from May 2014 to September 2017, Patel routinely prescribed fentanyl, hydrocodone, and oxycodone for his patients without a legitimate medical purpose and that he fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for medical tests that he did not perform. The indictment alleges that Patel performed EKGs on his patients, so he could then order nuclear stress tests which he did not administer. He allegedly used a poorly calibrated machine and presented his patients with fraudulent X-Rays, in order to deceive his patients into thinking they had coronary issues that needed to be treated by him.

Dr. Devendra Patel Arrested on Opioid and Fraud Charges