Los Alamitos Orthopaedic Medical and Surgical Group — Local services in Los Alamitos

7/17/24 Once again, I'm in BED. IN SO MUCH PAIN AND I SPOKE WITH MORGAN . (Morgan did call me back as Jet promised me a call back. Thank you). However, with the call back came GREAT DISSAPPOINTMENT AGAIN . I AM IN SO MUCH PAIN IN MY Right knee. Needing an injection of Depo. They gave me Kenalog in May when it was supposed to be Depo. Depo works better for me. I specifically requested Depo. I know I did. However they didn't listen to me and gave Kenalog which do not last as long for me. They are once again telling me that they have to get Authorization from the insurance Co. Meantime I'm suffering. I feel nauseated with this pain. The pain is causing me to have a headache. I feel like the drs do not care. Why can't they just take care of the pain 1st and worry about the insurance later. SMH. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS WORLD IS COMING TO WHEN DRS CARE MORE ABOUT THE PAPER ($$$) THAN THE PATIENT. I shouldn't have to go to ER /Urgent Care for something like this. I know what it takes to get RELIEF. I KNOW MY BODY. IAmTIRED!!!!!!!!!!!! AND IN PAIN FEELING LIKE THE Drs & Medical SYSTEM DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE PATIENTS. At what point do the Drs take/use their Authority concerning their ppl? Everyone's body is not the same. Everyone's body do not respond to meds the same. Why do the Drs not get that. Sometimes rules must be broken to help a person. Idk what to do. My next appt is a month away that is too long to have to suffer. Lord please lay your hands on me. I need you right now Jesus. Please touch and heal my body in Jesus name. Not only me but everyone else who is in pain also. In Jesus Name I Pray .Thank you Lord Amen Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 8/21/23 If I could give -0 stars... That's what it would be. Here we go again. I have been trying for OVER 2 WEEKS to get an appointment. NO ONE EVER ANSWERS. I tried the Text message route and It responded someone would call me back within 24hrs. Never got the call back. This place is REALLY REALLY SAD. I am definitely going to request a referral to a different place. I'm Sorry, at this time I DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!

4/11/2022 I went for the first time to see Dr. Chao. I am in SO MUCH PAIN. ARTHRITIS IN HIPS & Knees. Lower Back pain. I could barely walk. Only to struggle getting there and to be told #1 We can only treat you for one body part per visit and #2 your knee part is not on your referral so we have to get Authorization from insurance. (Dr. Chao tried to get stat Authorization but was denied). Dr. Chao is Really Nice. He listened to me, understood me and I believe he wanted to help me. However the rules and regulations of the insurance Medi-Cal (Regal) would not allow Him to help. It's really sad how we Patients have to Suffer because of rules of insurance. I'm Tired, Disgusted, Disappointed and Angry at how we are treated like a piece of Hot Meat or like a number. I dislike how you have to see one Dr for this and another for that and come on this day for this and that day for that. We are Already going through physically and Mentally. Gas is sky high we shouldn't have to go to the same building 2/3 times a week. All I ask is that whomever is making the rules to Please put yourself in the Patients Position. I left Kaiser for this reason. I feel like I jumped out of the. Pot into the Fire. I would like to say that my experience with front desk was Nice. Dr. Chao and His Assistants were nice. Thank You to all of You. You did try to help and I do appreciate...

I was asked for a different co pay amount every time, meaning to me they never actually refer to your charts, just charge whatever they felt like that day. During the pre-op evaluation for a broken knee, one of the nurses took my crutches from me, placed them 10 feet away from me and told me to walk over to the scale to be weighed. Again, does not inspire ANY confidence in that office, but I was not there for the office staff and was only suffering through them to get to an excellent surgeon who has since left that office, I'm sure due to continuing similar experiences.

Post-op. This is office has proven incapable of returning phone calls. Despite multiple messages left that I had run out of medication, I never received a call, and when this was brought up, no one in that office cared except for the surgeon that's now left.

The billing department is frustrating to no end as well. Having questions on their billing, messages were left and even faxes were sent and no response was ever given. They did send out duplicates of the bills with the term "your account is in collection" after ignoring me. After walking into the office I was told by the billing manager that was a term they used to piss people off and get a reaction out of them.

I want nothing more than to NEVER see a single individual from that...

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT SEE Los Alamitos Orthopaedic Medical and Surgical Group. They initially told me, after taking my insurance information, that they were “in network” with my insurance, so I took their word for it. (It is simply not possible to independently verify this assertion with my insurance every time I see a new doctor.) Upon my first visit they asked for a payment of $105 “just in case” they were not covered by my insurance, which policy they said they have for every new patient, a highly unusual and, in my opinion, unethical move. Then, after my second visit, they informed me that, in fact, they were not in my insurance’s network, and billed me $196. I disputed this, reminding them that they first told me they were “in network,” and that this “change” of mind was not my fault, but theirs; however, they refused to recognize my complaint. After several back-and-forths, they sent me to collection. I am currently disputing with collection, but they have caused me undue stress and have wasted my time. Bottom line is, they are unethical and unprincipled, and unless you want to be pursued and harassed, and billed for money that is not rightfully due them, do your best to avoid seeing this doctor’s office. There are many other better orthopaedic...