Andrew Diamond, MD PhD

Dr. Diamond was recommended to me by someone I trust a great deal and I can’t believe I waited this long to write a review. First of all, how can you not want your primary physician to be named «Dr. Diamond?» I mean, that’s a totally pimp name (in fact, I bet there is a pimp named Dr. Diamond somewhere). I have been going to him for several years now.
Qualifications: The dude has both an MD and a PhD — two doctorates? Awesome overkill, that much more intelligence and knowledge focused on you. You can never complain about having an over-​educated doctor caring for you.
Manner: Always and consistently supportive with a good sense of humor and genuine concern for his patients. If I go too long without checking in with him, he’ll actually send me a bitch-​slapping email reprimanding me for not keeping in touch and coming in regularly. Think about that, most doctors barely remember your name, this guy guilt-​trips you like only your mother could.
Treatment: Consistently checks in with all of my other doctors (I have a whole team because I took such rotten care of myself in the early years) and even pulls favors from other doctors. You know you’ve got a good guy if other doctors are constantly doing special favors for him and his patients. I have a ridiculously high deductible which I met near the end of last year, which meant anything after that, the insurance company had to pay. I met the deductible on December 28 and told him how I would love to get a certain procedure done. He managed, in two hours, to get his friend, a surgeon, to agree to do the procedure on December 30 (they were closed for new year’s eve on December 31). How slick is that? Suck it, Blue Shield, you’re ponying up for that one 100%.
Concerns: None when it comes to the good doctor but a few when it comes to One Medical Group. I definitely like OMG but they are a ridiculously busy office and Dr. Diamond is much in demand so they book up his time very quickly. It’s not their fault, it’s just the volume they have to deal with. If you don’t speak up at the time of making the appointment to say exactly how much time you’ll need with him, they’ll give you the usual 25 minutes. As long as you let them know that you need a set amount of time, they will help.
Getting an appointment with Dr. Diamond can be difficult, but I would rather be with a doctor who is much in demand than one who never seems to have any patients.

A Google search led me to Dr. Andrew Diamond and his home page on the One Medical Group site. I was attracted to Dr. Diamond by his educational history, patient reviews, and the fact that he specializes in cardiovascular issues. On his page, OMG claimed be was taking «Limited New Appointments.» Good news, right? But, you can’t make an appointment with him until you first join OMG. So, I paid the $ 149, joined OMG, and then tried to select Dr. Diamond as my primary care provider. Impossible. Tried to schedule an appointment with him. Impossible. So, I wrote an e-​mail to OMG administration telling them I felt «baited and switched.» A short time later, a woman called me and advised that Dr. Diamond has a lot of clients, so it would be wrong of me to expect to see him because that would inconvenience his other clients. I told her I wouldn’t have expected to see him if the web-​site hadn’t listed him as «accepting limited appointments.» If they had listed him properly as accepting no new clients and off-​limits for appointments, I wouldn’t have been led to join the group expecting to see him. She recommended some other doctors, but frankly, none of them have his background or credentials. It seems clear to me that they are using Dr. Diamond to draw customers so they can then hand off his prospective clients to other doctors.
Now, add insult to injury, I made an appointment with another doctor, cleared the time in my schedule, drove to the OMG office in Noe Valley only to find that the other doctor decided to take the day off without notifying either his patients or, apparently, even the receptionist, who seemed rather confounded that he had simply skipped out on his appointments for the day without informing anyone.
Dr. Diamond may very well be a great doctor, but IMO, he should not let his name and picture be used in this way. Prospective clients attracted to OMG because Dr. Diamond works there ought to be told that no matter what the web-​site leads you to believe, Dr. Diamond is not taking any new clients, nor is he accepting new appointments. Based on my experience, I think Dr. Diamond ought to know that when prospective clients are handed off to other doctors in the group, they can be unreliable. This does not reflect well on Dr. Diamond.

Dr. Diamond is awesome. He is super personable and really listens to my health issues and concerns. I like that I can email him for basic follow up or questions without actually having to get an appointment and coming in for something simple. His support staff is also great.
Because of the business model of One Medical I’ve actually seen a couple of his colleagues when Dr. Diamond isn’t available. Dr. Arnold Lee has also been really good. I did see one doctor at One Medical that was less than stellar and I mentioned it in one sentence of an email I exchanged with Dr. Diamond. He was really open and welcoming to my feedback and supposedly made some changes to their processes based on my experience.
The only thing that is a bit annoying is that Dr. Diamond tends to be constantly instant messaging or emailing during my appointments. Overall not that big of a deal given all the other positives.

I wasn’t impressed at all with Dr. Diamond. When I went for my annual physical exam, he didn’t examine me very thoroughly, as compared to my exams of years prior. I’m over 55, yet he didn’t check the prostrate, for a hernia and even put off the blood pressure test until my next visit. Also I had to ask him to check and run blood tests for things that most doctors always do.
Plus, he had to do my exam over a two visit time frame, since he only sees patients for 30 minutes max. I also don’t like the $ 150 annual fee they charge, since this seems unnessary when you belong to a HMO, which I do.

I was a former patient of Dr. Matthew Reid before he left for the Pacific Northwest, so one can imagine the frantic state I was in when I realized I had to pick another primary care physician. Esp. one that was really, really good. I guess you never know until you try.
I picked Dr. Diamond after reading the rave reviews on Unilocal,and never before believed there could be a truly sincere, intelligent, and caring doctor out there. My experience at The Metropolitan Group offices have always been incomparable, but the doctors there really make them stand out from the rest. I was seen right on time of my appt. and it was a same day appointment! Because it was my first time seeing Dr. Diamond, he spent close to an hour understanding my history, ailments, and overall health. He did a thorough exam, and made sure that all my concerns were answered. He ordered all the relevant tests and said I could come back whenever convenient to take them. (on a fasting stomach).
I have never before been so impressed with a physician. Dr. Diamond truly gives new meaning to medical care.

I chose Dr. Diamond because he took my insurance and because of his stellar reviews on Unilocal.After reviewing their website, I was drawn to his expertise in special cases.
I am certainly a special case. I have had adrenal insufficiency and Cushing’s for the last two years. He is the first doctor I have met since being diagnosed that actually knew what Cushing’s was without me having to school him. Right there, everything aside, he gets my five stars.
He spent 30 to 45 minutes with me for the first 3 appointments. He is completely dedicated to understanding me, my past experiences with doctors and my medical history. He orders all of the right tests (I didn’t even have to tell him what test are usually ordered for my condition!) and he followed up with a personal email when the results came in.
Dr. Diamond also had the foresight to test me for something I didn’t know was an issue — Vitamin D deficiency. Turns out I am severely deficient and treatment will solve many of the problems I’ve been having. (BTW he said Vitamin D deficiency is epidemic in SF… you may want to look into your own… or see Dr. D!!!)
Once you’ve seen him, he refills scrips via email, he answers questions via email and I’ve found he is completely invested in my recovery. He has also been an invaluable source of information on specialists, home care for back pain and he has cured the ear problem I’ve had for more than a year in one visit!
He is not only a wealth of information but he is patient, kind, funny and totally understanding. Most doctors are patronizing and flippant — Dr. Diamond is the absolute opposite.
I feel the $ 100 investment to join their medical group the best money I’ve spent in a long time.
Dr. Diamond is truly gifted and a great doctor.

There is nothing more satisfying in a health care experience than knowing your doc is a sane and willing partner in your attempted efforts at improving your overall well-​being.
Andrew Diamond is an easy-​going, sharp-​witted example of what I always hoped to find in a primary care doc, but didn’t believe existed. He’s not one to immediately throw lots of meds at you and send you on your way if something doesn’t seem to be going as expected. He’s also not one to want to order lots of tests for the aforementioned ‘things’, though I am certain if there was an immediate need, he would make that clear as well. Options are presented, discussed, selected and agreed upon, with next steps clearly explained, just in case. A partnership, with time made available within days, if not the same day, as needed. The email follow-​ups are great – no more rambling phone messages, unless I ask for them!
Bonus points to him for getting what was intended as humor when I was asked to describe certain aspects of my lovely history. I got nothing but crickets back in Davis. I’m just sayin’.

this doctor is a good man. and thorough.

I recently switched primary care physicians to Dr. Andrew Diamond. I have read all of the other five-​star Unilocal reviews about him, and agree with them all. Dr. Diamond treats you like a person, not like a medical chart. His «bedside manner» is second to none. He is attentive, pleasant, and thorough. His office staff are pleasant, they answer the phone on the first or second ring during office hours, and they follow through on inquiries promptly. I love the fact that you can schedule appointments for the same day (sometimes even within an hour or two of your call), and that you can communicate with your doctor via email (which is PROMPTLY responded to).
I recently had an urgent medical matter and needed to speak with Dr. Diamond on a Sunday afternoon. I called the main office number, and found that the office was closed — but to my surprise, the office answering machine tells you the cell phone numbers for two of the doctors in the medical group, including Dr. Diamond. Despite the fact that I had met him exactly once before (my initial visit a few weeks prior), he answered my call that Sunday afternoon and spent as much time with me on the phone as I needed to take care of my issue. I have never had a primary care doctor in the past who I could even get a hold of on Sunday, let alone who would take so much time out of his weekend on the spur of the moment to help out a patient who he barely knew.
If this level of dedication and service does not deserve five stars, then nothing does.
Several people have also mentioned the initial fee of $ 99 for patients to join the medical group. My advice to you — pay it with a smile, and just think of the fee as a slight addition to the cost of your health insurance, in exchange for which you receive a level of prompt and thorough attention and compassion from your doctor that you will almost certainly not get elsewhere. When Dr. Diamond and Metropolitan Medical Group say that they have offer health care that is more personal, accessible, and helpful than your typical medical group, they actually deliver on that promise.

After moving to San Francisco a bit more than a year ago, I finally decided that I should a) have a doctor, and b) get an annual physical. Of course, I check Unilocal,and I begin to call around.
«We don’t accept new patients»
«We don’t accept new patients»
«We accept new patients, and our first appointment is four months from now»
None of these answers were satisfactory.
I noticed that the Metropolitan Medical Group charges an annual fee, and was thus a bit hesitant to call. But then I thought about it, decided that I’d wasted $ 100 on far dumber things, and I’d give it a shot.
Good call on my part. They accept new patients. They could see me the next day. Dr. Diamond was pretty great, and as an added bonus, he answers emails (promptly too!). Five stars indeed.

I am a big, big fan. I went to the 2 EC location (which opened 2 days ago) which was clean, well-​lit, lacking of any stained carpet or 40-​year old arm chairs one finds in most medical practices.
I came a lookin for a new primary care doc when my 2 previous doctors resigned within 2 years of each other (was it me, or was I just in a flaky medical group?)
Anyhow, I walked by this new location on the way to the gym several times and then decided to stop in. Not only is the location convienient and the staff friendly, Dr. Diamond is a top notch clinician who has not been jaded by too many years wearing the white lab coat and stethoscope. He actually listened and asked questions about my medical history, urged me to get some bloodwork done (they will be offering this service on-​site within a couple of months– soooo convenient!) and said he or his assistant would follow up with an email even if the results are totally normal. What a coup! I’ve always had to call to get test results.
I’ll be back! (That is, next year to get a flu shot if my emailed test results come back normal)

After researching medical practices in the city (and after a few less than satisfying experiences) I came across Metropolitan Medical Group & Dr. Andrew Diamond. When I phoned the office at 9 a.m., I was shocked to find that they would be able to see me at 12:30 the very same day. The receptionist informed me that Metropolitan charges $ 99/​yr in «membership fees.» My initial reaction to this was negative & I told her I’d call back later.
After doing some research on the web, I realized that these guys actually stood for something & were aiming for real reform in the patient-​provider relationship. Additionally, they generally have same-​day appointments, stress the fact that an appointment is more about communication than anything else, & also appeared quite web-​saavy. Long story short, I realized that if I can throw down a $ 99 bar tab on most weekends, surely I can afford the annual fee.
My appt with Dr. Diamond was nothing less than outstanding. Unlike other doctors who spend ¹⁸⁄₂₀ minutes starting at a chart, 1 minute taking your blood pressure, & 1 minute listenting to your complaint, Dr. Diamond & I «conversed» for nearly 15 minutes before he performed any kind of test. Once he fully comprehended the issue at hand, he confirmed it with tests & gave me a very thorough diagnosis.
I highly recommend this place.

After horrible experiences with the Notorious D.A.K. (Dr. Arlene Keller) and the primary care clinic at UCSF, I was given a referral to Dr. Diamond. And let me tell you, instead of singing the blues, this athiest is now singing Hallelujah!
I first saw Dr. Diamond at his prior practice in Pacific Heights. I was complaining of minor headaches and joint pain. Dr. Diamond spent a whole hour with me examining me and getting my medical history. He was extremely thorough, interested in what I was saying, and appeared to be caring. Although my symptoms were very vague, and probably stress-​related, he gave me all of the relevant tests and referred me to a neurologist. And although he is grounded in traditional Western medicine for the most part, and I did not spy an ankh on his chest or smell any incense, he is open to alternative treatments, suggesting without my prompting him that acupuncture could be helpful. He is also not overly happy to push pills on you. Quite the contrary, in fact.
I was impressed enough with Dr. Diamond to follow him to his new medical group. The new medical group charges a modest yearly membership fee ($ 79 if I remember correctly), but they promise — and deliver — quick appointments and superior communication.
I saw Dr. Diamond last December at his new practice last December, as I had just entered a new monogamous relationship and wanted to do routine STD screening. (The relationship has since ended, but I don’t think I can blame Dr. Diamond for that.) I called on Friday afternoon for an appointment and was offered my choice of appointments on the following Monday. Despite the routine nature of the examination, Dr. Diamond insisted on taking a full medical history of everything since I last saw him. Also, although perhaps not the primary criterion in choosing a doctor, since they’re there to cure you and not to chat, I do have to say that Dr. Diamond is very friendly and has an excellent sense of humor. However, his friendliness doesn’t stop him from telling it the way it is. After I told him that another doctor had put me on allopurinol because I had suffered attacks of gout (the disease of kings — a result of going to all the restaurants that I Unilocal about), he challenged me to lose 20 pounds and eat healthier so that I didn’t have to rely on the allopurinol. (Which I did!)
The only slight knock was that he ran a bit late for the appointment last time I saw him. But it was pretty understandable seeing that I had a 6 pm appointment (the last one of the day I would fathom) and he said that a few last minute emergencies came up during the day which backed him up a bit. (It was during flu season.) Even so, he apologized profusely.
I therefore grant onto thee, Andrew Diamond, M.D., five Unilocal stars. He’s a good man, and thorough.

My primary physician recently retired and I was randomly assigned to Dr. Diamond. What a stroke of luck! Dr. Diamond spent at least an hour with me during our first appointment, carefully going over my concerns and questions. I have pretty severe allergies and mild asthma and it was refreshing not to feel rushed by a doctor.
Dr. Diamond has recently joined the Metropolitan Medical Group which handles patient care in a whole new way — appointments can be made online, doctors correspond via email and are even willing to give out their cell phone numbers. Most ’boutique’ practices charge hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year… Metropolitan has a set fee of $ 79 a year, a bargain considering the personalized care and attention that they provide. The first time I called them the receptionist picked up on the second ring… at my old primary it sometimes took days to talk to a live person on the phone.
When it comes to your health, you really owe it to yourself to get the best care possible… if you are looking for a new primary care physician, I highly recommend Dr. Diamond and the Metropolitan Medical Group.

I have been seeing Dr. Diamond for over a year at California Pacific Medical Center (Brown & Towland provider network). He has recently decided to switch medical groups and is now at the Metropolitan Medical Group. He is the best doc I’ve had at this annoying California Pacific Medical Center office where I got a new doctor about every 2 years on average because no one wanted to work there. Do I hear meat factory? Get ‘em in get ‘em out. I’m sure that’s really the fault of HMOs rather than CPMC (great hospital, though).
The last time I saw Dr. Diamond he told me he wanted to switch medical groups because he wanted to spend more time with his patients than was allowed at CPMC. That made me very happy because he ALWAYS had taken more time with me than any other doctor I have seen at CPMC. He wants to go in depth if necessary and now he will be able to.
Dr. Diamond is young, very smart, nice, very caring and gentle and I was nervous about having a male doctor. But, he is such a nice guy that I was willing to overlook my discomfort being seen by a man. My goal is to have him be my doctor forever and not have to keep switching every 2 years with whatever new doctor CPMC gets to replace the last. I want to stay with Dr. Diamond. He’s a keeper.
In a recent email to me he said: «The new practice is called the Metropolitan Medical Group, and is located at 110 Sutter Street, near Montgomery Street in the Financial District. It is quite different from a typical doctor’s office. The basic concept is one of superior service to our patients, made possible by the use of cutting-​edge technologies. We are a group of five academically-​trained clinicians dedicated to providing high-​quality, education-​oriented medical care. We offer same-​day appointments during regular business hours; unhurried, more personalized visits; online requests for prescription refills; and secure electronic medical records. We have an interactive web-​based patient portal under development, which will enable you to view and edit your health information from any computer. ou will be able to schedule appointments online, and you will be able to contact me or my colleagues by email or by mobile phone whenever necessary.
Metropolitan Medical Group is like a „boutique practice“ for everyone, not just for the wealthy. When you receive medical services at Metropolitan, your health insurance is billed just as it would be with any other physician (you pay your typical co-​pay and co-​insurance costs). We accept most forms of PPO and HMO insurance as well as Medicare, and we’ll even see you if you don’t currently have any health insurance. In order to cover the costs of our remarkable level of service, we also request an annual fee of $ 79/​yr. If, for any reason, you are unsatisfied with our services, we will gladly refund your fee. And for those with undue financial hardship or other personal reasons, you may always opt to waive the fee upon registration.»
This new change makes me very happy and I will go to his new office for my next doctor’s visit. I give 5 stars to Dr. Diamond for bucking the system and finding new digs where he can spend more time with his patients and hopefully be my doctor for a very long time.