Gastroenterology Associates

This review is for Dr Narayan:
When I saw Dr. Narayan over 5 years ago, he was an excellent doctor. He took time, asked intelligent questions and provided thoughtful answers. When I saw him more recently, it was an awful experience. Basically, he is part of a procedure mill now, and no longer functions as a physician. During my endoscopy, his back was turned to me the entire time (until the procedure). He listened poorly suggesting a colonoscopy when his own notes indicated I was not due for one. During my checkup, he was inconsistent in what he said, and was unable to provide any decent medical advice. Terrible experience.
Also, the office won’t let you switch physicians. I can see why. Everyone would want to see Lisa Higa instead of arrogant Dr. Narayan

Totally rip off!!! Don’t go! you have to wait for so long and it’ll cost you a lot to do a procedure. I keep receiving bills from them. Seriously, I have enough of this!

Wait, am I the only positive reviewer here? LOL!
For those of you referred by your physicians to this place, I personally had a very positive experience, and I would not hesitate to give them a ring. Dr. Narayan met with me, even though I was 15 minutes late to my appointment (apparently, there is a parking lot where they validate – I did not know this). It’s not like he’s a cuddly teddy bear personality, but I like efficient people with a dry sense of humor.
I loved his team at the Endoscopy Center in Walnut Creek. Could not have asked for a more empathetic nurse, genius anesthesiologist, and many other supporting staff with warmth and love. They abated my fear, and what more, the procedure itself was over in 30 min! You do have to get there an hour in advance to run the IV and such, so calculate total of 2 hours. Yes, they charge $ 200 if you need to cancel your colonoscopy without 2-​week notice, but looking at the team they need to gather, I think that’s totally reasonable.

This practice represents many of the problems with our Healthcare system today. I called to make an appointment for a somewhat routine procedure and during the telephone triage I was told that I needed to see the doctor before they could schedule the procedure due to an (unrelated) illness I has 30 years ago.
After scheduling a half day out of work I arrive at my appointment to learn the doctor is running 20 minutes late. 30 minutes later I’m finally in front of the doctor, who has to ask me why I am there to see him. When I explain, he tells me that I did not need to have come in. In the middle of our conversation, his cell phone rings and he leaves the room for 10 minutes. I’m always amazed how physicians can have so little regard and respect for patient’s time and attention. This would never happen in any other line of business if you wanted to retain customers and stay in business.
Later that afternoon I get a call from Walgreens that prescription is ready. It’s the prep kit for the procedure, that I had not yet scheduled, due to timing considerations, as well as my uncertainty about this practice.
I’m sorry I had not read the Unilocal reviews prior to calling them. Apparently the staff and management have not read them either, or perhaps the just disregard them as the do customer service.

I initially had a very good experience. For 6 years they were relatively accessible. Now you can’t get past their voice mail system. Can you believe they think you are going to wait on line for them to give you the extensions for 34 docs? After 4 minutes listening to extensions quotes without giving you a way to go into voicemail I had to hang up.
I guess they really don’t care about their patients.
I thought This sort of idiocy had disappeared. The front office is totally clueless. If you try to call them you’ll see what I mean.

I mistakingly wrote this about the East Bay Endoscopy Center. Apologies as it was intended for this group.
I have had a very negative experience with the Gastroenterology Associates of Berkeley in my attempt to schedule a colonoscopy with Dr. Subhendu Narayan as a current patient.
Today is October 9. On September 28 I phoned for an appointment explaining that a finding on a brain MRI recommended a colonoscopy to rule out cancer, which may have metastasized to the brain. I answered a series of questions, filled out an on-​line registration form and then waited for a call to schedule the appointment. On October 2, I called back and was told that they were still waiting for my chart and when I asked how long that would take, they connected me to medical records, which offered that I could leave a message.
I still have not heard from them. On October 3, I called Dr. Daniel Conlin in San Francisco, and on the initial call I was offered an appointment for the end of the month. I was hoping to have the procedure in the East Bay as I live in Berkeley but will drive to San Francisco. It appears that Dr. Narayan’s practice is full and thriving and returning calls or treating patients with consideration is not a priority.”

I saw Dr. Bukhet here, and he was terrible. I called several times and left messages asking for help with symptoms, and he never called back. Eventually he admitted he never even read the messages, because he was too busy. He never even apologized. He made promises about getting me medication which he never made good on. Terrible doctor, terrible service, nobody cared.