Family Medicine practitioners - Capitola, CA

"It is showing via Aetna Health that Dr. Temple is accepting new patients. I just called and he is not currently accepting new patients when the closest scheduled date that he is available is January-February... of next year... "

"To be clear: this doctor is probably wonderful but I didn't get to see her. I'm putting this review up here (February 16th 2025) because although I reported she's not taking new patients, she's still listed on aetna as taking new patients as I look for a new doctor. This is currently not true, and her staff made it VERY clear 2 days before my appointment that I made 2 months before, then when I called back two of their call center employees assured me she was taking new patients and my appointment was still valid, then when I showed up for my appointment (20 minutes early btw) I was turned away. On a personal note- I do not seek help readily and was planning to address some chronic pain I've lived with since I was 12, and although this is not their fault, it was very discouraging to be turned away from an appointment I made two months before when I was ready to actually address it. Although the update in not taking new patients does not sound like it comes down to the receptionists, they couldn't have been less empathetic. I know there's a lot of compassion fatigue in the medical field, but they couldn't have been more dismissive when I was pretty darn kind to them despite the fact I could have been very visibly upset or angry. I was both, but didn't have much reaction to them other than shock. They offered me an appointment with their male doctor in two months (male doctors are not an option for me), or another doctor female doctor in May an an entirely other hospital. That day, they had mailed a physical letter letting me know that they need 24 hours notice if I no show my appointment again. Lol, sure, it was probably automatic but still felt like salt in the wound. TLDR (too long didn't read): if you're a new patient, just call ahead (make sure it's the actual clinic and NOT call center) and make sure they are taking new patients. Otherwise you'll make an appointment months in advance to get a super unprofessional voicemail the week of saying "I don't know how you made that appointment she's not taking new patients" and then will get turned away after talking to two different people afterward via phone and them assuring you it's still on. They don't check their appointments until the week of so you won't get notice until the week of and can't plan ahead to see anyone else and will be set back months when you want an exam. "