David Schif, MD

I actually liked Dr. Schiff, but his office staff are so incredibly rude to the point of hostility that I chose to take my business to Dr. Chen in Walnut Creek where I am treated with respect. In addition to being so unfriendly, they charge exorbitant amounts to fill out standard disability forms that my doctor and the neurosurgeon I ended up using, Dr. Chen charge nothing for. Dr. Schiff’s excuse was that it was so difficult to type in the little boxes in the forms. I mentioned that the forms are usually filled out online and only take about 5 minutes, but apparently the elderly women who run his office are not computer literate and refuse to learn. He could hire a high school student to do it, but instead charges $ 30 for each and every form! Then, when I came in to pick up my MRI disc which I had brought in, and was paid for by me and made at the hospital, Martha the receptionist refused to give it back to me. It was mine! She said she would discuss it with Dr. Schiff and call me. Well, I didn’t receive a call, so I went down to the office the next day. The office was closed at noon, and nobody would return until Monday. On Monday, I called the office again, and was told I could come pick up my disc. I went down there that afternoon only to find the office had closed at noon again, something it would have been nice to know. Thanks a lot. Dr. Schiff has a major problem with his staff and appears unwilling or unable to do anything about it. It is a shame because I actually liked him quite a bit.

Dr. Schiff himself is nice (I take it back! See below!), but the woman at the front desk is incredibly rude. They don’t take plastic for co pays, and she looked at me like I had worms crawling out my ears when I said I don’t use checks. She berated me and I said that if she was going to continue to scold me, I’d leave. She said, «Well, that’s your choice.»
This is the second time this woman has been rude to me. Also, they referred me to a physical therapist who wound up not taking my insurance.
Who doesn’t take plastic?
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When Dr. Schiff came into the exam room, he immediately launched into a defense of the woman at the front desk, who turns out to be his wife. He said «She doesn’t give lectures.» I disagreed. He said, «We don’t need your business. Get out of my office» and showed me the door.
I’m STUNNED. If I get billed for this visit, I will be suing.

Although Dr. Schiff is my «second opinion» surgeon and did NOT perform my initial surgery, I am very enamored of his attitude and concern. He is a very gentle and accommodating doctor who admits when he doesn’t feel qualified, but yet up to this point, every recommendation was done with geniune concern and responsibility. I would give this guy the thumbs up.