ENT Center of Austin

Dr. Kevin Taheri is the absolute best doctor. He is so kind, thorough, and really cares about his patients. He takes the time to understand them, listen to their fears and concerns, and allow them to make informed decisions for themselves – all while offering his professional advice in the most caring way. We highly recommend Dr. Kevin Taheri for babies and adults alike.

My family has been seeing Dr. Stierman (and at times Dr. Briggs!) since 2011. Dr. Stierman did surgery on my youngest (tubes/​adenoids) when she was only 20 months old and it was a great experience! Dr. Stierman is great with kids of all ages. She gets right to the issue, but in a manner that kids resound well to. We’ve done allergy testing, shots, drops, etc. Most recently, I had surgery for a deviated septum and a balloon sinuplasty. I had a lot of questions and concerns prior to surgery. Each time, Dr. Stierman took the time to address each of my concerns and answer my questions. Her honesty and frankness was refreshing. I would highly recommend the ENT Center of Austin!

It’s sad that I’m giving this place only two stars because the doctors themselves are actually good. Dr. Briggs in particular is thorough, patient and has a good bedside manner. Dr. Stierman has a sort of fast, no-​nonsense attitude which I appreciate because I basically never want to be at a doctor’s office and she gets you in and out quickly. The nurses are also professional and friendly and deserve all the stars.
Unfortunately, their apparent new policy combined with the office staff is a different story. Today I called and asked to schedule an appointment for a sinus infection which, based on my unfortunate vast experience with getting sinus infections, is a quick in-​and-​out deal for an ENT specialist. Here’s the conversation I had today with a woman in their office who was very curt the entire time:
Her: «Who’s your doctor?
Me: «I see whoever is in the office».
Her: «Let me see, you’re a Dr. Briggs patient, do you go to Westlake or Cedar Park?»
(apparently she was able to get this info very quickly, so I’m not sure why she needed to ask me and I’m not sure why she also didn’t see that I’ve seen ALL of the doctors there, not just Dr. Briggs).
Me: «Westlake».
Her: «He’s at Cedar Park today, I can get you in tomorrow with Dr. Briggs at Westlake».
Me: «I usually just see who is in the office at Westlake, is there any way you can get me in with whoever is there today? It’s just a sinus infection.»
Her: «No, they want you to stay with one doctor so if there is some sort of surgical issue or if you need [random medical jargon that has nothing to do with a sinus infection] or [some other BS] then you won’t run into issues, what time tomorrow works for you?»
Me: Umm, never mind I’ll just go somewhere else I guess.
Her: OK! *click*
No apology or explanation about this being a recent policy change or attempt to keep me as a customer even though I’ve been going here for years. Had she simply said «we’re booked completely today in Westlake» I would have had no problems waiting but instead she basically gave me a «this is how it is, how it has always been and you can take it or leave it».
Well, I’m going to leave it. I called another office in town and got in this afternoon and had a pleasant conversation with their office. I’m hoping this is a better fit.

Dr. Briggs has been my doctor, as well as my children’s doctor since 2006. He always takes his time to explain the condition and uses the most conservative approach to correct the problem. Too many ENT groups in town will operate on anyone who walks through the door… Dr. Briggs treats allergies and every other ear, nose and throat condition known to man. It’s convenient to get in to see him because there are three locations (Westlake, Cedar Park and Round Rock) and two other physicians as well as Dr. Briggs. I’ve been to both the Cedar Park and Westlake locations and they are very clean and inviting. The staff is wonderful as well! A+ to Dr. Briggs!!!

This place is an absolute joke. Without getting into 28 years of chronic ear issues — I made it very clear to the Dr. I saw that I can not — under any circumstances use liquid ear drops for an ear infection. After seeing me for literally thirty seconds, she prescribes it anyway.
Now I will admit it was idiotic on my part not to double check before I left that I was being prescribed something different than the last time I was in the same office for the same issue (different doctor) but I just assumed that, you know, a doctor would pay attention. Strongest recommendation to avoid.

Dr. Briggs is great as a Doctor but for the billing and allergy testing area the office is horrible.
First the billing: we were billed a huge amount of money up front for a surgery. Was told that when insurance pays we would probably get a refund back. Well they didn’t bill insurance right 2 times, then finally on third try it went through. I had to call and follow through with them at least 6 – 7 times throughout many months to ask about my amount due back to me. Did not get it back for 7 months of calling. If I wouldn’t have kept calling I never would have received my hundreds of dollars back I was owed.
Now the allergy testing: I took my child to get tested. Was told they would be numbing his back at the consultation. We came back and waited in waiting room for a while. Was called in and lady started to prepare the 40 something shots. I asked aren’t you going to numb his back? She said no, if I was going to do that it would have had to be done 30 min ago. She said it’s ok though it won’t be that bad and I’ll be fast.
It did not. It was like torture to my son who was 8 years old. I thought it was going to be small pokes and done all at once like he had gotten done a few years back at another office we used to go to. No she actually injected each allergen 1 by 1 into his back.
I do not understand why they would have to do it this way when they don’t have to.
Our old office which is in another state had a huge looking stamp thing that pricks the skin and they would put the allergen right on top, the results came out allergic to most, so it does work.
Anyways we will not be returning ever again. My husband said even though Dr. Briggs is a good Dr. we will not go through those billing problems again or subject our son to that again.
And for some reason they prepared allergy shots for my son and billed our insurance for it even though I never scheduled for him to have them. We never showed up they claim, but they made like $ 400 off our insurance just for preparing it and billing it.

I would just like to thank Dr. Briggs. I had surgery to repair a deviated septum 5 years ago with a different doctor (before i moved to Cedar Park and found about about Dr. Briggs). I wish i would have seen Dr. Briggs then, if i had i would not have needed a second surgery. The doctor i saw in December of 2008 did not correct my septum and i went on for 5 years not being able to breathe clearly out of my nose. I finally went in to see Dr. Briggs who confirmed that my septum was still very much in need of repair (100% closed on the right side). A second surgery was the last thing i wanted to do but Dr. Briggs assured me of its necessity and of his confidence that he could do it right. I trusted him and scheduled my surgery for 12÷20÷13. He made me feel very comfortable before the surgery and afterwards even gave my wife his personal cel phone number in case i needed to contact him on Christmas day to have the splints removed (as my appointment was scheduled for the 26^th since they were closed on Christmas and the splints needed to stay in until at least the 25^th). I held out until the 26^th but very much appreciated the gesture. Here we are now two weeks after my surgery and i can tell you that it was one of the best decisions of my life. I feel like i can breathe for the first time. I sleep better, I’m happier and I have an overall better quality of life. I owe it all to Dr. Briggs. I found out the hard way that not everyone can perform this surgery right, you need a great ENT and i can assure you that Dr. Briggs is a GREAT one. If you are in need of this surgery please do yourselves a favor and make an appointment with Dr. Russell Briggs. Thank you once again Dr. Briggs, from the bottom of my heart! You are truely amazing!

ENT Allergy Center is great. I have been coming to them for the past year. I had surgery performed by Dr. Briggs and was very happy with the results. Due to chronic sinus infections I had an allergy test that was excellent. The level of service at the ENT allergy center is better than what you will find anywhere else. They can also fit you in either same day or next day if needed!

Dr. Briggs is just awesome. Nice, clean waiting room. Dr. was on time for all of my sons appointments. After seeing two different Drs. who recommended my son have his tonsils and adnoids removed, Dr. Briggs said that if he were his son he’d take the wait and see approach. I am so glad we did because my son grew out of his problem within 4 – 5 months and thus we avoided a very painful surgery. I can’t thank him enough. I trust this Dr. with my kids and so can you. It just goes to show that he isn’t trying to make a buck off putting your children through an unnecessary surgery. He took a lot of time to explain things and answer all my questions.