General Practitioners who are Physicians - Twentynine Palms, CA

"Dr. Jones-Poland MAY be an excellent, well-trained physician, but she and her office staff seem too overwhelmed to provide adequate follow-through, based on one in-person visit and one video-call visit. Christina, Dr. J-P's medical assistant, does NOT follow through in a timely manner, nor does she write referrals Accurately. For example, my mom has dementia and would like to have a therapist with whom my mom can discuss her struggles with her "new life" (i.e. losing her driver's license, her freedom, not being able to cook, etc.) But there are no therapists within my mom's Desert Oasis HMO Premier Behavioral Health Care group willing to work with a patient with dementia. So, we asked Dr. J-P to submit a request for an out-of-network authorization for my mom to see a therapist recommended by the Alzheimer's Association. However, it's been two months since I asked Dr. J-P for this. The referral request has TWICE been submitted to Desert Oasis INACCURATELY: once as "Neurology" and then as "Psychiatry". The therapist is NOT a doctor! She's an MSW. So, we've been paying $140 to the out-of-network therapist. Christina wrote these referrals incorrectly, and Dr. J-P signed them. This is just one example of the ineptitude of the staff at Dr. J-P's office. I am trying to get assistance from the office manager, Michelle. This is such a simple, no-brainer matter, but I'm jumping through hoops. Ugh. "

"I've been a patient of Doctor Sean Thomas ever since he took over the practice from Dr Barron. I have yet to meet him. In the last 5 years every time I have called for an appointment the Doctor is not available but his Nurse Practitioner is. I have made appointments with him, but somehow he is never available. I like the staff and the Nurse, that's the only reason I stick around. "