You will be treated with with expert care and genuine personalized service.   We are experts in our field; we love our work and enjoy the relationships we establish.

In private practice in this precise location for more than 30 years, the Charleston Community has come to associate Dr. Abess’ practice with good outcomes, professional personalized management of patients, dependability & reliability.   Dr. Abess is well connected in the medical community of Charleston.   He performs consultations at the request of other physicians, law firms and health insurance companies.   He is an occasional advisor to corporate CEO’s.   Dr. Abess is on staff at Bon Secours St. Francis Xavier and Roper Hospitals.   He also serves the emergency department at Roper Hospital.  He receives patient referrals from civic leaders, organizations, health professionals and from his own satisfied patients.

Dr. Abess has been certified by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, by the Americal Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology and the Board of Forensic Medicine.   He remains current with all continuing medical education requirements of the South Carolina Medical Association, the American Medical Association and the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology.   Dr. Abess is a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.   He is a member of the Charleston County Medical Society.   He is on the physician staff at Roper Hospital and  Bon Secours St. Francis Xavier Hospital.   He has an unrestricted license in South Carolina to practice medicine.      He is comfortable utilizing medical hypnosis and was trained for this by Herbert Spiegel, MD, at New York City University School of Medicine.

Ann is a Registered Nurse with broad experience in medical and surgical nursing. She practiced as a certified nurse midwife at The Medical University of South Carolina before coming to this office. She has an unrestricted license to practice nursing in the State of South Carolina and meets all continuing education requirements.  She is a valuable resource to our patients in terms of education and triage.

After NORMAL office hours, you will reach a professional answering service and you can speak with a real person. The answering service always knows how to reach Dr. Abess. When needed, Dr. Abess will return your call.   During normal office hours, you won’t encounter staff that are strangers.   Ann will answer the phone and she will know you and she will help you.

For those times when you are temporarily confined to home, or at great geographic distance from the office and need continuing medical care,  televideo sessions can be arranged by appointment.

No records or patient information leaves this office without your prior awareness and concurrence. *    You would be very hard pressed to find a medical office that takes more precautions to safeguard your information, privacy and confidentiality.   Records are primarily electronic with multiple safeguards implemented to prevent accidental data loss or data theft. There are no employees to peruse through or steal information.  When Ann and Dr. Abess are not in the office, your information is protected by 3 locks, 2 doors and video security.

* South Carolina Law enables judges to determine if individual privacy rights can be over-ruled by the general good of the public. This applies to all doctors regardless of specialty. In such a case, judges can access records by issuing a court order. However, this is extremely rare and we personally know of no case where this has occurred. Such an order has never been issued on any of Dr. Abess’ patients.

We have and maintain our own electronic records.   For your protection and privacy this office secures your records through encryption.  Dr. Abess’ personal laptop computer is entirely encrypted and files in storage remain encrypted.

During office hours, you will reach Ann. If you need to speak with Dr. Abess, you will receive a call back that same day.   Our professional answering service will handle your calls after normal business hours.   This service level is satisfying for almost  everyone.    However, IF you desire the ultimate in personal privacy and responsiveness we offer an optional higher level of service (See Optional Below.)

For an even higher level of  flexibility, convenience, responsiveness and the absolute utmost in privacy, we offer our VIP service;  This service provides you direct access to Dr. Abess via cell phone enabling you to bypass the answering service operator.  You are also guaranteed an appointment within 48 hours of requesting one.  If you are interested in this VIP service, please discuss it with Ann.

Ann will still complete health insurance claims for you. However, keep in mind that payment is due at the time of service.   Any questions you may have about insurance reimbursement, you may discuss with Ann.

We think you will find our office friendly and peaceful.  It offers a relaxing respite from the hectic outside world.

As patients of Dr. Abess, you can receive free newsletters spotlighting the newest developments in medicine with particular emphasis on psychiatry and behavioral health. Dr. Abess will offer his comments on what to make of these developments.

Dr. Abess also writes short articles on recent events, trends in society, societal values, life’s challenges and rewards and the human element. These articles are also available to patients of Dr. Abess without charge. Dr. Abess contributes to Gulfstream Communications CharlestonGrit.com and to the Moultrie News.   Dr. Abess has been quoted in Newsweek, WebMD, and ABC.com news.