James A Davis, MD

Dr Davis is my primary care physician. When I recently fractured my leg, he visited and called me numerous times. When you are physician time is a scarce commodity. I really have appreciated Dr Davis’ generosity with his. It has made a big difference.

Dr. Davis is a fine doctor, but the office administrative staff and billing knowledge is a complete disaster and I question some of their business practices. Here is what happened:
1. Called to schedule annual preventative care physical which is 100% covered by my HSA healthcare plan.
2. During the course of my Physical my blood pressure readings were slightly higher than normal
3. Nurse practitioner (Dr. Davis was fully booked for months) asked me to come back in 2 weeks for another reading.
4. Got normal blood work done as part of a physical.
This is how they decided to do the billing:
Initial visit was for «medical need» charging me $ 151.00 (out of pocket cost). This was completely miss coded as the cost should have been $ 0.00. They have already tried to fix this once and are in the process of trying to fix it again because the first time did not work. Seriously.
The second visit was for a simple blood pressure check… nothing else. They charged me $ 190 for that. This is something I could have done across the street at Walgreen’s. I feel completely scammed. The reading was absolutely normal the second go around. They charged me $ 190 for me to needlessly come in and get my blood pressure reading. This took 5 minutes. I am starting to wonder if the first reading was even abnormal or if they just wanted me to come in again. I can understand an honest mistake, but why then won’t they adjust the bill to $ 0 and have it as part of the physical — which it should be. They have since lowered the second 5 minute office visit to $ 85.65 which is a joke.
Most of the blood tests I got done were covered under the preventative care list of acceptable tests and were coded correctly, but 3 of them were not and these cost me $ 215. I am going to chalk this one up as a learning experience, but it would have been nice to know.
I have spent over a month dealing with these issues alternating called between Anthem Blue Cross and the Doctor’s billing department. I don’t have time for this.
Beware — they like to get you in as often as often as possible for quick visits so they can charge hundreds of dollars for unneeded office visits. If you are in a HSA high destructibility plan — which is where the industry is heading — you need to be aware of these kind of shady practices.

My primary doctor recommended Dr. Davis to me when I was having (and am still having) some unexplained rheumtalogical issues.
Dr. Davis himself is an OK guy. Older, soft spoken, seasoned. However, on both occasions I have seen him, he seems to be in a great hurry and asks me the same questions repetitively which leads me to believe his mind is elsewhere. At first I thought he just wanted to be /​extra/​certain I did not have «Symptom X» which is why he asked me three times in ten minutes… but no. He just wasn’t listening.
Also, upon leaving my visits both times he shakes my hand, and says «goodbye» as if he never wants to hear from me again, then proceeds to walk my paperwork to reception without further instruction.
Luckily, I can find my own way back to reception; but this is where my real complaining comes in.
THE RECEPTION STAFF HERE IS AWFUL.
Both visits:
Tons of young woman sitting around in yoga pants, gabbing away, all eating greasy, smelly food, cookies, smacking, chewing gum, talking on their cell phones. Mind you, it was nowhere near lunch time. My most recent visit, one of the messy haired blond chicks finally looks up at me after I’ve been standing in front of the check-​in counter for a solid 20 seconds and says, «Name?» Me: Rachel Her: «What’s your co-​pay?» Me: Um, I’m not sure. I don’t remember. Doesn’t it say on my file? Her: grabs another cookie and crams it in her mouth, still not looking at me. «I need your card.» Me: My Health card or my debit card? Her: Grabs another cookie, smack smack smack. «Helf – psh!» (cookie spraying everywhere) Me: «here» Her: «Uh, now the co-​pay???» Me: I told you, I don’t know what it is. Ten, fifteen dollars? Her: Eye rolling ensures. Me: I just had her a $ 20 bill. She gives me $ 5 back without saying anything.
WTF.
Is this what an $ 800 appointment should be like? NO! Reform people.

Dr. James Davis is a superb physician. He is both my internist and my rheumatologist. He stays current on the latest medical research and discoveries and distills this information in lay terms so that we non-​scientists can understand our treatment options and make the best decisions for our health. Dr. Davis’ demeanor is soft spoken, patient, caring, and encouraging. He takes the time to listen carefully to his patients; treats them with kindness and respect;; and makes their well-​being his highest priority. He has abundant professional integrity and medical knowledge. If only there were more physicians like Dr. Davis, the world would be a healthier place!

I saw Dr. Davis because I was having lots of pain and could not tie my shoe laces, put on my socks, walking was painful and I waddled and my back hurt. I could not sleep because of pain in my hip area. After cooking dinner I had to lay down and put my legs up on pillows with my knees bent. Taking four ibuprofen did not cut the pain. I brought in my XRAYS of my hips. He studied them prior to seeing me. He told me I had fibromyalgia and told me to take 500 mg of tylenol per day. I asked him about my hip pain. He said I could live with my hips until ninety years old. After the visit with Dr. Davis I asked for physical therapy from an NP Sohr at same medical office. I was referred to James Daniel at West Portal. He immediately tested the movement of my hips and said that I had 5% mobility left in my right hip and 15% left in my left hip. He said he would write a letter to my Primary explaining I needed to be seen by an orthopedist. Pacific Hieghts Medical Group never acknowledged receipt of the letter but I insisted on a referral to an orthopedist. I saw Orthopedist John Callendar and he referred to his son on the spot who happened to be at the office. Peter resurfaced both of my hips with Birmingham hips. I have a new lease on life. I can do Yoga and sit cross legged, tie my shoes, sleep at night, walk (which I could barely do before) and more. DR. DAVIS — I did not want to live to be ninety with my hips. Soon I would have been in a wheel chair and with gripping pain. I am sure this would have shortened my life. The quality and longevity of my life has been immensely improved. The Callendars are Santa Claus and Dr. Davis is Scrooge.