R Melchor, MD

I read the first shining review here on Unilocal and the second not so good one, so I had mixed feelings about setting up an appointment with Dr. Melchor, but since Cerritos Medical Center was just three miles away from home, it seemed like a good idea. So I called and got an appointment the following day, wow! Took my Mom there promptly and was seen on time. Dr. Melchor is an excellent physician, her bedside manner is impeccable, she was courteous and was really considerate. She took her time, we didn’t feel rushed at all. She prescribed something for my mom and gave us samples as well. I have searched high and low for a doctor who can put my mom at ease, a doctor she can easily talk to and Dr. Melchor has exceeded all our expectations. She will definitely be Mom’s doctor from hereon.

I waited over an hour to be seen by Dr Melchor, for maybe 10 mins. She was rude and rushed. I would not recomend her to anyone and I am looking for a new doctor.

I think I have found my perfect doctor.
When my new district informed me that all special education teachers need to get a physical done (in addition to the standard TB skin test) to finalize the hiring process, I groaned inwardly. I knew it was going to cost me out of pocket since I’m in the process of transitioning out of student insurance and into the one offered through my new job and from experience I also knew it could get expensive. I called my regular family physician to see how much it was and when the receptionist quoted me $ 230, (this was without the TB skin test and they couldn’t even schedule me in till mid-​August) I hung up on her. $ 230 to ask me a few questions about my health and check my heartbeat, pulse, and blood pressure? Well screw making a difference in children’s lives and education, I should have gone to medical school too.
After deciding there was no way I was going to pay over $ 200 for something like that, I did what my parents have always taught me to do in these sorts of situations. I opened up the Korean business directory phone book and looked up ‘Hospital.’ Since I was pretty much choosing blindly, I looked at the ads and chose the biggest and fanciest one which happened to be for a John Kim M.D. and R. Melchor M.D. whose joint practice resides at the new Cerritos Medical Center. I gave them a call.
«Good morning, Cerritos Medical Center.»
«Hi. How much does a physical exam cost without insurance coverage?»
” A physical? Without insurance? That would be $ 60.”
«I’m sorry. I don’t think I heard you right. Did you say $ 60?»
«Yes I did. It’s $ 60.»
«Why is it so cheap?»
«…»
They scheduled me in on the same day (this amazed me… this never happens!) and I arrived expecting an excruciatingly long wait to get through everything (new patient paperwork, seeing the doctor, etc.). I’ve spent many an hour sitting in examining rooms waiting and waiting for a doctor to come in so they could do something as mundane as check my chart and have always wondered why these things take so long. So imagine my surprise and astonishment when I saw how minimal the paperkwork was, when my name got called right on time, and the doctor came in only a few minutes later.
There are three things I value and expect from doctors. Efficiency, competence, and a courteous bedside manner. I have yet to come across a doctor who encompasses all three until I met Dr. Melchor.
She was quick, to the point, asked all the right questions, and had me out of there in less than 15 minutes. She promised to have all my paperwork done by the time I came back in a few days to have my TB skin test read and sent me off with a lavender sateen makeup bag filled with candy and an admonishment to take my calcium. A «gift» for new patients. I flinched when she gave it to me, I was so surprised. A doctor was giving ME something? Something other than a prescription or a bill? Whoa.
I glanced at the clock as I paid for everything ($ 60 for the physical and $ 20 for the TB skin test) and was floored to see it had taken less than 30 minutes for me to get the whole thing done and over with.
I practically skipped out of the building and towards my car when I looked at the building next door and saw the sign for «Magic Wok,» a Filipino restaurant I’ve been dying to try for awhile now.
I smiled. It really doesn’t get any better than this. The perfect doctor indeed.