Gale Lawrence , MD

Dr. Lawrence is wonderful! She’s very knowledgable and sincere when answering my questions. She spends time with you and gets to the bottom of anything!

My husband and I are currently in the process of adopting a child and by law we must provide a current health examinations. I called, made an appointment and showed up 15 minutes early to my appointment.
As a first time patient of Dr. Lawrence I was a little apprehensive upon entering her office since it featured advertisements for beauty products and serums. She advertised as a family practice/​dermatologist. She also has large photographs of the volunteer work she has done in Haiti after the earthquake which I thought was commendable.
I then waited to be called, and waited, and then waited some more. My appointment was at 10:30am and I wasn’t seen until 11:25am.
My physical lasted all of 5 minutes. When I went to pay Ellie, Dr. Lawrence’s receptionist, she was having trouble with their card reader so she asked me to call tomorrow. I then had to drive across town to get blood work done which was a inconvenient since most Doctors offices do them in office.
I had a simple 2 page form for Dr. Lawrence to fill out regarding the results from my blood work and physical. A form necessary for our adoption packet. Ellie, her assistant, failed to notify me on the day of my appointment that I would be required to pay a flat fee of $ 250.00 for Dr. Lawrence to simply fill out the results of my physical.
I was completely shocked and floored with such a large amount. I told Ellie that I felt that was a ridiculous amount from which she said and I quote…
«Well Hun, $ 250 dollars really isn’t a lot of money.»
One: keep it professional at all times and don’t call me Hun!
Two: Yes that is a large amount of money to fill out a form. I did my research and sometimes it is common for doctors to charge for forms to be filled out. The average charge per form is somewhere between $ 5-​$ 30. $ 250 is completely outrageous
I felt helpless, taken advantage of and put in a difficult position to where I needed this form to be completed as part of our adoption process.
She then proceeded to tell me that Dr. Gale Lawrence could charge any amount that she pleases.
This was the final straw. I immediately changed doctors and filed a complaint with my insurance company. I’m completely disgusted by the way her receptionist
Ellie handled the situation. I wasted time and MONEY while in the company of Dr. Lawrence.
It’s a shame because she was honestly pretty nice overall, but being nice isn’t good enough to have my trust in a doctor. I need to feel that you care about my medical needs and that you openly communicate your policy’s when you preform a service, not afterwards.
Overall, after all is said and done I’m extremely disappointment in the lack of bedside manner and professionalism carried out by Dr. Lawrence’s staff.

Dr. Lawrence is an angel in a lab coat! She is a wonderful doctor, that has helped me with a range of medical advice. Her office is a one-​stop shop, because she also offers top-​of-​the-​line beauty services in her medical spa. The appearance of my skin has improved dramatically based on her suggestions and her youth-​in-​a-​bottle miracle product, Biocel serum. Ellie is the receptionist, and I love chatting with her. I have a blast every time I go to an appointment, even if I’m not feeling well. Dr. Lawrence’s practice has definitely made me a healthier and prettier me.

I gotta say I’m not the normal guy who gets botox but so glad I did and chose Dr lawrence, very sweet and nice and makes me look 10 years younger. The funny woman at the desk is also great. Had me cracking up everytime I go there. So for that thank you ladies! On my way to get another session of some of that great product Botox!!! :^D

Do not go to this Dr. !! Your life could be at risk !!! My longtime Physician (M.D) retired and I was referred to Dr. L I took my 2 sons and my nephew to see her on 07/​20/​2015 for well checks. She did the physical and ordered blood tests for all three. I started calling a week later to find out the results and was told the results were fine and they would send me a letter stating everything was ok, A week later NO letter so I called again same conversation «Oh I am putting the letter in the mail today». Last week I went to pay my deductible and called to make a payment was told «I was just about to put letter in the mail» The next day my husband realized we had been double charged so I called back and was told that they would call me right back about billing and «definitely put the letter in the mail That was 08/​20/​2015. Today I called again and the first thing said was I have the letter right here ready to go in the mail, at this point I got the Dr. on the phone I thought for sure the Dr. would be livid at the horrible experience I had but instead said for me to call the billing company (even though I had paid the Dr. office directly) and that she would make sure the letters got in the mail. I asked her had she actually read the blood tests and she told me to hold on and she would get them. She then gets on the phone and says my youngest sons just came in over the weekend (What ?) and there were areas of concern on all three !!! I am on Unilocal looking for a new MD and taking a moment to warn people that you take your life in your own hands !!!

Updating my previous 3-​star review with another 3-​star. I LOVE Dr Lawrence. She is so warm and considerate and kind and will listen to you and not judge. If I could give her 10 stars, I would.
So what I’m really rating here is my experience in her office due to her «front desk receptionist». No idea how this woman got the job, but please, please find someone else. She is very nice… but that’s about all I can say. I’ve had so many prescriptions fall through the cracks because she forgets to fax things to CVS and when I call, she’ll tell me «oh, I think I faxed that already» but doesn’t offer to re-​fax or maybe call CVS and confirm with them. I don’t think it’s my job to be the mediator between the pharmacy and dr’s office to refill prescriptions.
There was one time where I and several other clients were locked outside of the office after her lunch break. We rattled the doorknob, peeked inside. No one was there, so we waited outside. Finally someone from a neighboring business came by and offered to tell Dr Lawrence she had patients waiting. The receptionist finally opened the door and laughed, saying, «why didn’t you tell me???» Um, how could we do that when we couldn’t get in and no one answered the phone?
I’ve talked with other patients about this too, so it’s not just me. I struggled to write this, because I don’t want to give anyone a negative review they don’t deserve and Dr. Lawrence herself deserves 5 stars, but I just can’t in good conscience refer people to this office when the receptionist is so awful.
Also, I love that Dr L routinely travels to offer medical care to underdeveloped countries, but I really wish they would notify their customers in some way or put it on their website, etc. It’s awful to call up and have nobody answer or the receptionist say «she’s not in» but offer no further explanation as to why.
Overall, I love Dr L and that’s why I continue to come here.

Dr. L is the best!
Very knowledgeable, kind, and makes me feel very comfortable. Her experience in international medicine really shows and I would highly recommend her.

I scheduled a physical with Dr. Lawrence at 9am on a Friday. She didn’t arrive in the office until after 10 am. Her parking spot is right outside the office so I could tell that she wasn’t just running late with earlier appointments… she was in fact over an hour late to her own office. My physical lasted a whole 5 minutes. The most productive thing she did was order me lab work. I asked her if she could look at some moles and she told me I would have to make another appointment. I gave her the benefit of the doubt and made another appointment.
On my second appointment which was over 2 weeks later, the front office receptionist had no idea where my lab results were. Dr. Lawrence spent another 5 minutes with me where she practically convinced me that I had several moles that probably had cancer and that I should get them removed immediately. I again gave her the benefit of the doubt and made an appointment to get them biopsied and removed later that week.
I showed up for my appointment later that week early, and low and behold, not only was her car not in its parking spot but the office was closed and there was no answering machine to leave a message!
Needless to say, I will not be visiting Dr. Lawrence again. Not only a waste of my copay, but a waste of my time.

Dr. Gale is wonderful. Having said that, the front desk girl couldn’t care less about the patients, how they feel, or what they need. I’ve been frustrated with her every time I’ve been there and I’ve noticed everybody in the waiting room disgusted with her ATTITUDE. She also makes countless mistakes. Even CVS was frustrated with her lack of knowledge. It’s really too bad.

I have had a HORRIBLE experience w/​Dr. Lawrence and her office. My husband went in about 3 months ago with a strange lump on his neck. She ordered an ultra sound and blood work. Two weeks later, he called b/​c he hadn’t heard anything about the results. The receptionist said that they’d been sitting in her office and that he needed to come in to talk to the Dr. about them. She never called, or mailed anything out stating that, however. So he went in and she ordered an MRI and some more blood work. It took Dr. Lawrence’s office 3 ½ weeks to order the MRI. In the meantime, my husband and I went into the office to talk w/​the Dr. about our frustrations and to go over his bloodwork. When we said that he hadn’t gotten the bloodwork, she looked at us puzzled and said, «why?» We explained that her receptionist continued to file the wrong paperwork (according to the MRI place). They assured as we left that they got it right this time. Lo and behold, my husband called the MRI place and still had not received the correct paperwork from the Dr. Dr. Lawrence was extremely short and unfriendly when we went in to speak w/​her about our frustrations. Not to mention, it took us an hour and a half to be seen. Finally, the MRI results came in and Dr. Lawrence told my husband she didn’t know what the lump was still. So she referred him to an Ear Nose Throat specialist. He went to that appt., and the ENT ordered an ultrasound. My husband told the ENT that he had already gotten an ultra sound and an MRI, and that Dr. Lawrence was supposed to send them over… but of course, her office didn’t!!! This has now been going on for 3 months. It’s absolutely ridiculous! She is a great Dr. for people who have a lot of money and want their face worked on… otherwise– don’t bother w/​her… she’s rude and uninterested in actual medical problems and her reception staff is a joke! The one visit I went to w/​my husband, we stood at the receptionist counter for a minute waiting for her to come back so we could check in. After a few minutes, she popped up from underneath her desk and loudly announced she was having a hot flash, and needed to go under her desk. This is not a joke! Don’t waste your time w/​this Dr!

Great Doctor. Very compassionate and wonderful bedside manner. Seems like that is a lost art these days but she has a gift for it along with her willingness to donate her time to disaster situations like the Haiti earthquake, Chile and Thailand Tsunami. Very cool finding a Doctor who is willing to show up and be present to help while not making a dime. Thats the kind of doctor I want on my side and am happy to refer. Thank you

I have been a patient for a while. It has been hard to get a hold of someone, as there is no back up doctor available when Dr. Lawrence is out of the country. Which is often. Her medical records are less than desirable. I had many biopsies done by her and when my records were requested by a specialist, she could only come up with two. I had to have a spot rebiopsied because of it!!! The medication prescibed to me for a viral infection was something my dentist would prescibe for a toothache! My children got much better advice and care from our pediatrician. (We were all sick with the same thing!) They were better in half the time! I am looking for a new primary. Although Dr. Lawrence is nice, she seems to be unorganized and inexperienced with prescribing medications.

Dr. Gale Lawrence has been my primary care physician for approximately three years now. I sought out a relationship with a primary care physician after moving to the Orange County area from Los Angeles (it always feels good to have a connection with a doctor instead of visiting a horrible prompt care facility). I am so pleased with the care I have received whenever I have visited her office. I am not sure what is the best part, the friendly greeting, being treated and reassured or leaving within 30 minutes tops. Her office is neat, organized and peaceful, did I mention parking is never a problem either?
Dr. Lawrence is very personable and easy to talk to with great bedside manner. I swear, I tell her things I think would be embarrassing and she never seems phased and provides me with immediate and concise answers. I have referred several friends to her office and they are pleased as well. I look forward to trying her med spa services soon as well :)

I am in nursing school and as a general rule, I mostly hate doctors. But Dr. Lawrence… I actually like. Unfortunately our first meeting was for my annual pap smear which I’ve been avoiding for three plus years. oops. But she was very very nice and made me feel comfortable immediately. The office is really nice and very accessible off of PCH with plenty of free parking. She specializes in dermatology and skin care. She even made me get a couple moles biopsied on a return visit but assured me that I shouldn’t have multiple panic attacks about it, which I did anyway, but that’s beside the point.
I am definitely glad I picked her as my doctor through my insurance group! Go to Dr. Lawrence, I think shes great! They also take walk-​ins, but they only take cash for co-pay…who carries cash anymore?!?