Venice Culver Marina Medical Group

Oh wow I am so happy I came here. I did not have an appointment walked in and they took me not only that is took less then 10 min and it was my turn. The lady at the front desc was very nice and helpful and told me a couple of tips to get better insurance. Dr Hoshang Pormir is a very knowledgeable and experienced doctor he’s very humble and easy to work with. It was a great experience thank you guys I will definitely recommend to my friends and family.

I dislike leaving negative reviews but I feel it is necessary especially when it affects people’s schedules and health. We recently made changes to our HMO (as in switched to this dr) after being told that this Dr’s office was open on Saturday, unfortunately the woman we spoke with failed to say that only the lab is open. We didn’t make a big deal about this – we spoke to the female receptionist on Saturday and made an appointment for a weekday at 430Pm. She reassured us that she would make sure the DR stayed until 430 and would let him know we are new patients. We arrived after getting off work early to go to this appointment and found that it had not been made. The woman on the phone was very rude as was the front desk at the site. I believe the two are the same but the woman at the front desk denied it and said she doesn’t know any of the other people there (I know the names of all my coworkers-​kind of weird). She was very unprofessional and unhelpful and spoke in a condescending tone. Needless to say we will be calling our insurance carrier and changing to another dr.

I’ve been to ucla at santa monica/​20^th before, and this place is not worse. one of the doctors visits the place only twice a week, so my only complain would be accessibility. the medical sector is in a mess general (only getting worse with obama care), and this place is no exception. overworked doctors

Updated ⁴⁄₂₂
The delay in our reimbursement was related to our insurance and they payment process on their end.
The clinic was trying to work with us, but it was a long and difficult process.

Updating the review because, sadly, I had to go again for an urgent matter.
I had a much better experience. The front staff was different than before and they were a lot better: they were friendly and were able to quickly process my paperwork. The doctor was also a lot better. He was more thorough than the last one.
If you need to get checked for something quickly– something not emergency room worthy but you want some pain relief/​prescription, if necessary, before a more thorough check by your regular physician– this place is fine.
TIP:
There is parking in the back. Entrance on Grandview.

they do the job, so its good enough for 3 stars, I suppose. but I agree with «Berkley C.» review, the receptionist here tends to yell at you. that is totally inappropriate! if I had a store, I would work to cater to the customer, i.e. I sell myself or my product to them. here, at Venice Culver Marina, I feel like I have to sell myself to them, in order for them to accept me as a client/​customer. I guess they have plenty of customers, because they aren’t winning any points with me. more complaints: –1 – inconsistent pricing. $ 70 last time, $ 90 they tell me, $ 60 on my insurance card which they agree, and finally its free $ 0 according to my health plan 1^st appmt only. –2 – cant understand Belin on the phone. talks too fast. –3 – they hurt my arm! after withdraw blood, arm is very sore for 1 week afterward, and now there is 6 inch black/​blue/​yellow bruise along my arm vein. he probably missed the vein and then moved the needle around, damaging my tissue. he is an idiot. I hate him. my arm is jacked dude. –4 – inconsiderate, feels like they are angry at me immediately upon stepping into their office. –5 – bad advice, don’t clean your ears, you want some earwax. it sounds logical, but I disagree. as a surfer I need to prevent ear infection, my main goal is dry ears, but also very clean is important to me. –6 – bad advice, always finish all medicine. wrong! only antibiotics. drugs do as much harm as good, so best to avoid them. –7 – error, upon mention of eye doctor, Belin says «orthopedist» instead of optometrist. I have a pet peeve, especially when its in the medical profession, of people talking as if they know. I prefer they just admit they don’t know something, or use the words «I think» in order to express some possible doubt. otherwise, a person tends to believe what they say, and acts based on wrong information. UPDATE: they told me to call in to get my blood test results. when I do that, apparently the results were not in yet, and they tell me to wait for the doctor to call me. (thats different than before) I am still waiting. I don’t think anybody is going to call me. my arm bruise has healed but still a scar where the needle stuck me. this place is whack. jack.

I was prepared for a nightmare and was completely surprised.
I, like many, have no health insurance so I called (after being referred by another clinic) Venice Culver. The receptionist was straightforward about the process of coming in and the fee to be seen.
But here’s the crazy part: I get there and there’s no line. Not like two or three people ahead of me, but like nobody else waiting. The nurse was polite and seemingly capable as she took my vitals. Doctor Cruz saw me within ten minutes of my arrival, and twenty minutes later, I was on my way. He was a really pleasant guy to talk with as well.
I get the feeling that there are fees waiting around every corner if you need something more than a prescription, but my experience was the good kind of unexpected.

The last time I was here I waited for over 2 hours for a simple pre employment drug test. All I had to do was pee in a cup and sign my name. I was told it would be a few minutes, but I felt I was waiting a while. The person at the desk kept telling me just a few more minutes. A little later I heard that the person who does the pee tests was out to lunch. Like I said, over 2 hours wait. Pathetic.
But I didn’t Unilocal it last time. This time was the kicker. Their Saturday hours are 9am-​5pm. I showed up at 8:55am to be the first to be seen, because I remembered the last time I was there. I patiently waited for the doors to open, but there was no movement inside, no lights, nothing. I continued to wait, until I realized it was 9:25. There was an afterhours phone call on the door so I called to see if anyone would be in today. I told the man on the other end of the phone my situation and he proceeded to yell at me, stating, «Well, nobody called to say they wouldn’t be in today, so I’m sure the receptionist, the doctor, and the nurse will be there within the next few minutes.» I began to ask another question but I was cut off mid sentence being told, yelling again, «Mam! You heard what i said, didn’t you? They will be there within the next few minutes!» Woah…
I could have been calling at 9:10 or 10:15 and I think he would have responded in the same way. That was extremely unprofessional. I, the customer/​patient, called for some information, and I was being polite, and he yelled at me and gave me a bs response of, «I’m sure they’re on their way and will be there within the next few minutes.» He had no idea. They showed up at 9:45am. AND, though they saw me, and some others waiting outside when they arrived, no one felt the need to apologise for their tardiness. I don’t have a choice but to go there on a yearly basis because my employer requires a drug test from them, but if you want to go to a place that doesn’t stick to timelines and yells at you when you ask logical questions, go here!

I’ve been to worse, I think as long as you’ve got the cash or the insurance this place will see you.
while the people are personable and friendly, their equipment is old, outdated and I don’t think very clean.
I’d go back only if I had to do so.

I would never recommend this place to anyone with a serious ailment. My friend went there in excruciating stomach pain for which they essentially patted her on the hand and said «there there, take two mylantin and call me next week». She is in the hospital now with very serious gall stones that they made no mention of the possibility of. The physical exam was cursory at best. This is just a ripoff joint.

I went for an ear lavage, and although I was in the office for a total of 2 hours, I’ve had worse experiences.
Got there, signed in, paid $ 50 for the intro thing. Then they called me within 5 10 minutes. Got the nurse check-​up and then waited about 30 – 45 in the exam room until a doctor came by, he then instructed the nurse to prep for the lavage. Waited on my side with the door open, as the hydrogen peroxide loosened up my stuff up ear, for about 10 mins. I had to pay $ 30 for the lavage, I discovered as I awkwardly handed over my card to one of the receptionists while still lying on my side. About 10 mins after that she came back and had me sign the receipt. Then the doctor came in and finished up.
No one was particularly friendly, but no one was out of the way rude either. Mostly it looked like they were all bored out of their minds, or irritable for other reasons, so I didn’t take it personally.
Not sure if it was worth it, but I have terrible ears, and not being able to hear is a big problem work-​wise for me. So I had to go, and I don’t have insurance. At least I was seen the same day, which often doesn’t happen at many clinics.

Let’s say, as an example, that you lifted something small at work that you expected to weigh about ten pounds and instead it weighed about fifty. Your annoyed, but feeling fine, at the moment, then your back starts to complain.
So you go to the administration office at work and file an incident report. They ask if you want to see a Doctor — you know you have just pulled something, so ask if an acupuncturist, chiropractor, or a massage therapist is covered — Their reply «this may be Santa Monica, but those aren’t options we have» The option — take or leave the Workman’s Comp Doctor. I am feeling mighty fine on my Advil, so I don’t think I am going to need the doctor — that is until I am stuck in traffic and the meds wear off, so I flip a U and off I go.
This place is great for what it is. I was in and out in under an hour. X-​rays, meds and all. The staff was super friendly, patient, and kind. The doctor was very old-​school, helpful, and compassionate. He seemed to actually care that I was in pain, which is not always seen. I will definitely be back — since its required!