Toluca Lake Health Center

I Had a good experience. I had to make a last minute appointment and they were able to get me in the same day. Dr Mendoza was fast and really kind. I was even late because Obama was in town and they had closed off the streets and they had been accommodating.

Been coming here for years and since UCLA took over its now run like a welfare clinic.
Hope it works itself out soon. I don’t want to find another dr :-(

This place is a disaster since UCLA took over.
D-​I-​S-​A-​S-​T-​E-​R !!!
Since the new year it’s only $ 240 to go visit if you don’t have insurance. Even if you do have insurance you can never get a hold of anyone. Nobody can tell you how many thousands of dollars you might get charged for lab work. Nobody knows a damn thing. It’s really a fucking disaster over there. Go anywhere else. Save yourself some time and patience.

Not a single doctor here cares about the source of illnesses or ailments. «Let me write you a prescription for pain killers…» Has been the response to everything no matter what, every time I’ve been here. I’ve asked a doctor where my intense headaches come from «we, as a medical community, have no idea, here’s a prescription for painkillers» back pain? «here’s a prescription for painkillers» knee pain? Foot pain? «We, as a medical community, have no idea, here’s a prescription for painkillers».
This may be what you want. If that is the case definitely go here. They prescribe more pharmaceuticals than you would know what to do with. Ever fix anything or heal anybody? Not a chance. I’m speaking from personal experience, maybe some patients have been cured but it has not been my experience.

So here’s how it worked for me. You find out your pregnant, you make an appointment with your in-​network OB, which you found through the motion pic website. You get to your first appointment and they tell you that you need to go see a random Motion Pic doc for a referral to the OB so your co-​pay will be much less. So, here I am pregnant sitting in the waiting room wasting about 6 to 7 peoples time to tell some random doc that I’m pregnant and need a referral. He talks to me for 40 second and takes my blood pressure (probably feeling stupid to have a pregnant woman show up in a germ pool for a letter) writes referral and then tries to talk me into using Motion Pic for all my health needs. So I ask «do you have pediatricians?» He says no. «do you have OB?» …no. So basically I can use Motion Pic to waste my time to get referrals to go to the «in-​network» docs that I want to see, except for family practice. Plus I have now been there 3 times and the same doc is never there. I like to see the same family practice doc, not just randoms. Another time I had to have blood work done and it was the test where I had to fast… as a pregnant woman that is not fun! I called to find out lab times and they told me Sat times. I showed up and no one was there so I went up stairs and they told me to wait. After an hour and 6 people waiting no one showed up. I called around to 4 different departments and finally someone said «they aren’t there on Saturdays!» Starving pregnant women will never write good reviews! Did the insurance cover a lot of my care and in-​hospital expenses… yes. The hospital bill stated the expenses were $ 40,000+…which we all know is not true, but in order to get the insurance to pay they have to bill amounts like that (said hospital billing department). They say it’s a PPO but lets be clear, it’s really not. You can’t go to any family practice doc that you want without paying for it, you have to go to their docs to get the benefits that they advertise and you must get referrals for all specialist. So this is kind of a review on the Motion Pic Ins and the clinic and maybe ins in the United States in general. I gave an extra star because the client was fairly clean.

Never had a problem with this place before… Today, I tried to make an appointment because I’ve broken out in hives with an allergic reaction. Long wait time on the phone, no appointments, no help. Off to Urgent Care I go.

I went in to see Dr. Tsang about my thyroid. I had previously been seeing another doctor but needed someone who was closer and more available to talk for follow ups. When I went in to see him he was extremely pushy about his own agenda and even though I already know a lot about my condition he wouldn’t listen to a word I said. He had me test my blood and lowered my dosage and then had me re-​tested again in only a month which I know is too soon to retest as levels take two months to change. When I called to talk to him and tell him the mistake he refused to speak to me and told the nurse to tell me if I had questions to make another appt to speak in person. He wouldn’t even talk to me for two minutes to clear up his own mistake? He’s a bully and a fraud. Don’t go see him if you want a caring doctor who will listen and be respectful and not waste your time and money.

Tried going to one of the Doctor’s at this center (as a New Patient)…because its close to where I live… as I was trying to make an appointment I was told that this center only works with Entertainment Industry… WTF?
I feel Discriminated against… I guess Doctors at this facility and/​or the facility do not need new patients or money… my thoughts are Patients are Patients and Insurance is Insurance… didn’t know it made a difference of where I worked! HOW LAME!!!
Please don’t waste your time trying to go here if you are not in the Entertainment Industry! I hope UCLA can make changes to this!
Guess I can take my money and insurance and go else where!

I’m surprised by the negative reviews Toluca Lake Health Center has received lately.
I hadn’t been there since it had been taken over by UCLA. With some trepidation,
I went there almost expecting a scene from a third world emergency hospital. But, it
was nothing of the sort! Calm, serene, professional and uncrowded. The staff treated me with with care and respect, carefully clearing doors and obstacles, as I maneuvered thru a Dr’s Appointment with the kind and conscientious Dr Shorr, then to Xray for my foot, an on to the lab for blood tests. A slight stumble over a receptionist in the Lab, but no big deal.
Altogether a fine experience. Thank you Toluca Lake staff, Thank you Dr Shorr!

The saga continues: today, my husband got a cut on his head while surfing. It was pretty deep so he got a quick appointment. Upon his arrival, Dr. Rodriguez inspected the wound. He was trying to help and said It needed stitches or staples. Husband suggested glue or butterfly strips.
Then he summoned another doctor who «lives» at the office and she decided the same thing. However, as it turns out: they DO NOT HAVE THE GEAR TO GIVE STITCHES OR STAPLES at Toluca Lake Health. The doctor who lives there told him to go to the «urgent care». They didn’t even bother to clean the cut but did tell husband to «hurry up» because urgent care gets «busy when people get off work».
WTF?! Why do we pay for health insurance only to be turned away to the ER they quoted $ 500 for stitches?
So husband goes to an urgent care in Burbank where they were super nice to him. Not only that, they told him to get that super glue stitch stuff and just do it himself.
So there Ya have it! This place is fast becoming a joke. Actually, it’s kinda hilarious at this point. Seems like no one wants to be there. Is UCLA medical the Disney of corporate medical takeovers? Who was doing «special» favors to push this awful merger through? So many questions– so little answers. Can we even complain to anyone?

Got here at 2 something had an appointment at 3:45 I came from Pasadena so ended up there a little early, I came in for a referral for my obgyn that I already have and just for them to tell me my obgyn wasn’t in network. I’m annoyed at the fact that I went to Burbank for a referral to not getting the referral I wanted so now I have to change doctors and hospitals for when I’m about to give birth I don’t understand why they couldn’t have told me over the phone that my obgyn wasn’t in network before I went all the way to Burbank for the damn referral

I’m confused that there are so many bad reviews of this place. I’ve been going to this clinic for a year and it has mostly been a pleasant experience.
–I’ve never been on hold for more than 5 minutes.
–I’m always able to get an appointment within a few days.
–When I arrive for my appointments, I’m often called in immediately. I’ve never had to wait more than ten minutes to be seen.
–2 of the 3 doctors I’ve seen were kind, patient, professional, and thorough. They were happy to give me referrals to specialists when necessary.
–When I was experiencing a particularly serious problem, the doctor called to check up on me.
–The nurses and desk staff I’ve interacted with were competent and very nice.
–The waiting room and the exam rooms look clean and organized.
I only have two complaints:
–I had to wait over an hour the one time I went to the lab for blood work.
–I did have one rude, impatient doctor one time. But I decided to never see her again and I’m happy with the other doctors I’ve seen.
Overall my experience with Toluca Lake Health Center has been great! It’s better than most of the other clinics I’ve been to.

Service here is sloppy and brief and cheap quality .Doctors spend 5 to 8 min max with you. Not a good service. It’s always crowded like the county hospital. I don’t recommend this place. FIND ANOTHER PLACE TO TRAET YOURSELF.

Ever since this medical center was taken over by UCLA it’s the worst. I don’t know if there is new management or if it’s just the new system but it feels like I am at a free clinic or an urgent care unit without an appointment. The last two times I went, I had to wait for at least thirty minutes past my appointment time. And on one occasion my doctor was no longer available by the time they figured out how to check me in. I would not go there. Maybe you’ll have better luck at the Woodland Hills or Bob Hope centers.

I’ve had a lot of patience over the years for Toluca Lake Health Center, but it is wearing thin lately. I have had very competent and helpful doctors, and some not so much, but my main issue is with the center as a whole.
I understand they have been going through computer changes with the UCLA takeover, but there is more they can do than just apologize for the inconvenience. I was waiting on the results of some blood work, and when I tried to call in, I was on hold for a long time. When I finally reached a person, I wasn’t able to get answers on my results, as they just gave the blanket «7 – 10 days» wait period, even though my particular test was supposed to be done within a couple a days. I could wait the two weeks for the rest of the information. Which was never sent to me, by the way. I had to call and ask what happened and get results re-​sent.
They’ve been so busy I can’t get in for appointments when I am very sick. I had to take an appt in Woodland Hills, which I am thankful they at least had openings somewhere, but I had to take the half day to travel there and be seen the next day, not the day of symptom onset.
What most upsets me is what happened when I had to bring in samples for the lab, which should be a simple drop off. I had all the canisters and labels and everything given to me by the lab in Woodland Hills — I was to fill them and bring them in to any close location, which was Toluca Lake. I did that, but had to wait 30 minutes for them to print labels I didn’t even need and turn in my samples. I understand I needed to check in with the front desk before I could drop off at the lab, but they literally made me wait 30 minutes for no reason — my canisters were already labeled. The lack of communication costs people time and causes a delay of care. This facility already takes two weeks to process any lab work, if you’re lucky enough to get the results then.
Very unhappy with the hold times and appointment unavailability. I won’t be going to this center if I can help it.

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Looks like they fixed phone issue
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I’ve been going here for many years, while I used to really recommend the place, and I like my doctor, the service has declined recently… HOLD TIMES are ridiculous…
I got a note to call my doctor… Nothing urgent, just to discuss recent physical.
No number was left. So I’m forced to call general number, and waited unreal wait times, I’m not talking 5, 7, 10 or even 15 minutes… And this isn’t just in one day… Currently I’m going on 25 minutes for today. Writing, and rewriting this as I wait.
When I got through FINALLY yesterday after 3 attempts and probably WELL over an hour of total wait time, they left a note for my doctor, saying he’ll call me back… They called back later in the evening, saying, CALL HIM BACK today…
To which I have to ask, WHY DIDN’T HE JUST CALL ME AT THE START OF THE PROCESS.
I’ll be asking friends for recommendations of other places, as this has become unacceptable. I suppose it’s because it’s been taken over by UCLA, and that’s the reason.
— — — — — — — — — —
59 minutes BEFORE I got a human being and could leave a note.

Never in my life have I been so angered and frustrated by an entire medical group.
Negative a million stars!!! DO NOT GO HERE!
I have been in SEVERE pain for the past five months! That scale of 1 to 10? 10 being the worst? 8. A consistent 8 this whole time.
Took me a month to get an appointment with Dr. Sheh. Best doctor here. Also the hardest to get an appointment with. See you in two weeks? Try a month to a month and a half. Seems like my health is of no one’s priority here. At all. Oh but wait, call me at 3pm the day before to cancel my 7am appointment for the next day. Next available appointment? A month. Ugh.
Had to settle for seeing any available doctor to get treatment. You know when it’s been months and you can’t sleep and your life functions are nearly zero? You’d settle for anyone too.
So that led me to Dr. Yashar. 2^nd worst ever. (The worst was someone that no longer works here, but at the time had he balls to Google my medical issue. Yeah. Seriously. That happened.)
Dr. Yashar. Bedside manner? Zero. Common sense? Zero. The desire to listen to what ails you? Zero. I paid my copay once, waited over an hour to see her for her to blow me off in less than five minutes that she couldn’t do anything for me until she had blood work. So fasted and came back the next day. Two weeks to get another appointment to get results. Even with results, the answer was well I can’t really treat you, you have to see your primary care doctor.
Got prescribed physical therapy for nerve pain. WTH? Ok. Got pain medicine but only enough pills for less than a week. Post dates the damned script so that’s another night of no sleep. Grr. Which is also amazing is that a specialist later told me that with that with that much prolonged pain my blood pressure could have possibly caused a stroke. So yeah. Thanks for that too.
Long story even longer. After five months, ten doctors appointments (scheduled anyway, so this counts cancellations), countless sleepless nights and work days filled with agonizing pain? I’m over it.
Got myself a new PCD somewhere else. Saw a specialist today and diagnosed me on minutes. Something that could have been done months ago. Something I could’ve started treatment for, months ago. Money and time wasted. No one cares there but both are very valuable to me.
Your time and money are so valuable to me that I’ve spent time to write this. Yes it’s scathing but it’s all the truth.

Trying to get a prescription refilled for two days.
On hold for over 25 minutes, same 10 seconds of music over and over again,
with same apologizing announcement, pure torture.
i have been calling all day from work but nobody picks up phone
was never like this before.
Spoke to receptionist previous day who claimed approval had been sent to pharmacy, called pharmacy multiple times and no sign of refill approval.

The worst!
It used to be a great place but after obamacare started it turned into a low cost clinic quality care kind of a place .
I would avoid going there at all cost rather pay more to go see your own private MD and paying the extra money that going here.
The physicians don’t care they only listen to you for a couple of minutes and tell you” — if it continues to bother you make an another appointment” -
They never solve any health problems and you have a very good chance to get the wrong advice and even get the wrong prescription with their low quality care.

I called in for a visit and was able to schedule one right away. However, they asked me a series of questions on the phone to see if I was available and then of course didn’t keep my information in the system so when I got there I had to repeat a lot of it. Although they keep it restricted to people in the «entertainment industry», it was still $ 65 for a visit for an uninsured patient. I would have been fine with that if the doctor had seen me for more than 2 minutes. The nurse took my vitals and then the doctor came in and saw me. I had a lump in my armpit and she prescribed me antibiotics for 7 days, telling me to call her after 3 days and report back. If it didn’t improve, we would have to do an ultrasound to rule out cancer.
I took the antibiotics and called her after 3 days, but naturally had to leave a message with the receptionist, who then called me back and told me to keep taking the pills and to report back in 2 days. I tried calling after the 2 days and was put on hold for so long I got tired of waiting and hung up. I decided to wait the full 7 days and see what happened. I still had the lump after 7 days so I tried calling again. No luck. Nobody from the clinic called me asking me how I was doing.
I started getting a rash all over my body the next day. After a bit of research on my own, I was able to easily self diagnose my condition. The symptoms all pointed to mononucleosis. Not only are you not supposed to treat this viral infection with antibiotics, they can actually cause the skin rash.
Now I’m just angry with the clinic and Dr. Yishar. I mean she never asked me questions to try to find out what it could be before prescribing antibiotics. As expected, she took the easy way out because she wasn’t interested in doing any work but just wanted to get me out the door.
If you want reliable service and to be seen by a doctor who is concerned in helping with your condition as opposed to treating you as a number, don’t go here.