Doctors First

I wish I could give this office zero stars. I called in the morning and made an appointment for the day of, I arrived and they informed me that I had no scheduled appointment. The girl at that front desk was in no way helpful or apologetic. She actually insinuating that I was lying. As if, I would walk into a doctors office without a confirmed appointment and expect to be seen. She told me there was no way to verify that I had called earlier. After reluctantly checking to see if I could be seen by the provider, I was told I would have to wait indefinitely. I told her I would wait 30 minutes (believe it or not, my time does have value to me at least). She then told me I needed to pay my copay immediately… seriously I don’t even know if I’ll be seen or not.
I’ve had problems with the front desk staff at this office in the past. I’ve witnessed others have issues as well. My advice is to find another PCP. This office has gone down hill. And to think my energy was great before I walked into Doctor’s First. It’s clearly not Patients First.

I had a pretty good experience visiting this practice.
First off – getting me to the doctor is like squeezing blood from a stone. I’ve got to be on my deathbed (Although now that I’m getting older I do take part in my work’s annual blood testing to make sure i’m a-​ok.)
I went in because I was having enough pain in my shoulder it was interfering with life. I saw a PA named Zorina who was pretty easy going and seemed to care. She also didn’t seem to pass judgement on me for not knowing why my shoulder was hurting. (My coworkers and friends/​family have all said «Well there must have been something to cause this pain».well I don’t know, I lift and box. I played volleyball and squash for years). Nor did she pass judgement when I admitted I’d probably be pretty bad at follow up care options such as PT.
The one lady at the front desk was a little short with me, but I don’t really see it as rude. Some people don’t have a warm fuzzy personality. She seems efficient and as long as she’s doing her job appropriately I don’t mind.

I have read lots of good reviews on this doctor, so I decided to use him as my primary care doctor. I specially made an appointment with doctor Malik, but guess what, someone else, a young female doctor showed up. When we first walked in the office, it appears clean and pleasant. But the receptionists are unresponsive and not very friendly. Because my niece and her mom did not speak English, so I was helping them to interpret. When her name was call, I walked in with my three year old son, the nurse? stop me half way and told me that only one person can come in in a very rude way. I explain to her that they need interpreter, she still insisted only one person, either her mom or me can come in, but need to leave my son behind. That is ridiculous. So I told her if she or anyone can be responsible for my son’s safety, then I can come in by myself. She finally agreed to let my son in. The doctor came in, seems cold, not very friendly. After we left, I received a phone call to ask us to make another appointment to discuss the lab result. I told them we are not going back and we will change doctor and asked them fax the lab results to our new primary care. Very disappointment and unpleasant experience. will not use this office again and would not recommend to others.

Appropriately named, they put their «Doctor’s (profits) First». I have been here several times and was blown away. Its not that the doctors are bad, but the entire experience leaves you feeling like you are just there to pay the bills.
First of all, each person I have talked to that takes your vitals and blood are all students finishing up their required clinical hours. (money saver #1)
Next, the people at the front desk act like they cant be bothered by your issues. They hand you an iPad like tablet with a card reader to check-​in/​pay. If everyone that comes in here is sick, why would I want to touch that thing? Yes they could wipe it off, but the stylus goes into an internal holder and crap gets in there no matter what you clean. I came in for an eye problem and could not see well and still had to go through 20 screens. After I had input my ailment, the device actually showed me a full screen advertisement for medication that would help with the problems I listed. I had to click «Next» to get past it. I literally laughed out loud. Why is my check-​in device trying to sell me drugs? I have worked in Pharm Sales/​Education and I know that companies give these to offices so that they can sell their drugs but it was just very offensive. (Money save #2)
Again, its not that the doctor is bad, he himself seems like a nice guy. The whole experience however, from the sales pitch on the unsanitary check-​in tablet to the the under-​trained rotating staff convinced me not to go back.

This office is clean, efficient, and friendly. I have been to both the Gaithersburg and the Germantown office and both times the PA-​C I saw were informative, friendly and overall very pleasant. On the second visit I was seen by Melissa and she is awesome!!!

Went for my physical there 2 weeks ago. The doctor spent less then 5 minutes with me them send me to get my blood drawn. The results were supposed to come 3 – 5 days later. It’s been two weeks and despite multiple phone calls I haven’t heard from anyone. Also, when u call them make sure u press 1 to schedule an appointment in order to talk to someone otherwise they don’t pick up the phone, also they do not call back after I left a massage on their voice mail.
Update: I changed my rating to 4 stars because they really came through. I got my results and I feel like the situation has been rectified.

Dr. Malik is great. I was seen promptly and he was able to provide me with a discount card for my medication. The staff was pleasant and helpful. They also speak Spanish. I will definitely see him again when my primary doctor is not available.

In my previous review on 3÷7÷2014, I expressed my disappointment with the many unnecessary blood tests that was requested to complete by annual physical examination and the method that was used to communicate the results. Based on this poor quality service, Dr. Malik called and apologized that they were sorry that his team did not lived up to my expectations. I never expected anyone to call and apologize but he did. I felt delighted that he took time out of his busy schedule to call. He gave me the opportunity to express how I felt about the experience. Thanks Dr. Malik for calling and giving me the opportunity to vent my frustration. I truly appreciate that you called. You showed that you truly appreciate my business and want to provide a great patient experience. Because of your phone call, I will take a second look at your practice for me and my family future health needs.

Just wanted to say Dr. Malik was one of the most compassionate and nicest doctors I’ve ever encountered. I came into the clinic as a walk-​in patient one day near closing time; since I came in last minute, I had to wait a long time to see a doctor. Usually, I get very tired when I have to wait for long periods of time, especially when I’m sick. But the level of care and concern he had shown me when I finally got to see him made the waiting less painful. He was very apologetic that I had to wait for so long, and was very thorough with the questions he asked me about my symptoms. I know that it must have been a long day for him, since I was the last patient of the day, but his bright attitude and patience he has shown me was very admirable. He definitely didn’t have that ‘doctor superiority’ attitude so it was something that I appreciated.

My wife and I have been coming to Dr. Malik and this location for about a year now, and my experience yesterday prompts me to write this.
I called in around noon regarding a sore throat and bad fever I’d had for a few days. The staff let me know the next appointment available was for 4:30 that day, but I felt so terrible I just went straight over to take my chances with walking in, fully prepared for a long wait.
The staff was friendly and within 5 min of sitting down in their always pristine waiting room they called me back. I was nervous when I didn’t see Dr. Malik (because he’s great). However, a P.A. named Mia proved she is just as helpful. She got me set up with medicine that worked. I’d been feeling terrible and within 24 hours of walking in I feel great.
Everyone we’ve interacted with there has been professional, helpful, and knowledgeable. I’d send anyone I cared about here.

A friend referred me to Doctors First and I am so happy to have found them! Dr. Malik was caring, attentive, knowledgeable and informative. His staff was friendly, professional and efficient. The office was clean and modern. This place is a model for how every medical practice should operate! I cannot say enough positive things.

I needed to take my daughter to a doctor for bad cough, fever etc. We walked in and they took us right after filling paperwork out. Medical Assistant was very nice and Dr. Malik was thorough, professional and very nice! Was very pleased with all the niceness in the office and will definitely recommend to anyone. Thanks!

I needed a doctor’s office in a pinch so of all places i checked Unilocal.I got interested in this place cos of Micah P’s review and since it is just up the road. I was feelin TERRIBLE, so not travelling far was good.
The office staff was awesome. The lady at the front desk and the nursing staff were all really, really friendly. They apparantly handle walk ins AND regular patients, but the waiting room wasn’t cramped, dirty, loud, and nobody rushed me.
Dr. Malik, who I guess is the only doctor in the practice (?) is a nice guy, too. I didn’t feel rushed by him, either, and felt like he took the time to check the things I needed checked.
If they take long term patients I might pick these guys up as my new doctor’s office in the area.
EDIT: I’ve since returned. I don’t know if she is new or what, but there is a new PA there who works with patients who took great care of my severe allergy issues. She listened, considered, did tests, and gave me a thought-​out gamut of meds to tackle what was becoming a really unbearable allergy-​laden fall season. She was even out doing literature research while the nurse tech was giving me breathing tests. A +
I said in my original review I was considering these guys as my PCP, and I’ve since decided to go ahead with it.

Dr. Malik is an excellent Doctor. Always takes the time to listen and answer any questions/​concerns and makes sure to explain things. The wait time is minimum and office is beautiful. Everyone from Dr. Malik to the staff are very personable and make a very nice friendly environment.

Update (1÷17÷2012):
Like all good things, sadly this place has now gone to the dumps. It’s such a shame because I still believe that Dr. Malik is a very good, caring doctor when you are working with him 1:1. The part that make’s that useless is his front office. It appears that the nice friendly staff that used to man the front desk are now gone and replaced by an old troll of a woman who has no sense of what customer service is.
And to add to it, I just got a bill for missing co-​payments from more than a year ago! Never alerted to it before and all because they couldn’t figure out the correct co-​payment amount they should charge based on my insurance. And sure enough the old woman at the front desk, when I when over to inquire about this way delayed accounting adjustment, was unfriendly, unhelpful and very dismissive. All the while bitching to her co-​worker about how much she hates the new electronic sign-​in tablet the doctor had put in to use and how she would «do what it takes it make it stop». Sad sight for a customer to see standing on the other side of the counter waiting for attention.
The place has gotten more popular, which is understandable since Dr. Malik is a good doctor, but that also means you cannot get an appoint easily anymore (walk-in’s? ah, the good old days). And again, the woman at the front is not going to make it any easier for you if she can help it or help the doctor retain any clients if she can help it.
So if you can bare super rude, almost useless front office to see the good doctor, then you may accept this new challenge. For me, I’m already sick when i think of Dr. Malik, I don’t need his employees and there accounting errors to help me with feeling sicker.