Advanced Metabolic Care Plus Research

I’ve been seeing Dr. Bailey for over 20 years and have followed him to each location. Since it appears he’s made the career choice to do research, I feel the «care» received is lessened each time I come in for an appointment.
That being said… The office staff has been horrible since moving into the latest location.
–Trying to get a competent staff member on the phone is a joke. I’ve had a «receptionist» call me back because she couldn’t remember what I had called for!?! Seriously?
–The «patient portal» is a joke! Still haven’t been contacted about my inquiries after a month.
–The front desk is a ghost town! No one to greet the patients, you’re asked to enter your information into a tablet and take a seat.
Also, the parking is horrible! Forget trying to find a spot in front, just drive to the back and walk the extra few minutes/​stairs to the office.
If this continues, I’m tempted to take my 20+ years worth of medical records and find a new endocrinologist.

So so so bad!!! Would give zero stars if possible. Terrible experience! Horrible staff, constantly turning over. No compassion from anyone. No answers or access to results! All they do is False diagnose and prescribe meds with no explanation or warrant or follow up!!! First visit with Dr. Bailey he accused my beloved and trusted PCP (who referred me to him) of «sending me to the wrong doctor to ultrasound and biopsy my enlarged thyroid» saying,“she wasted your time and should have just sent you to me in the first place, and that ENT ordered the wrong nodule to be biopsied”!!! So he of course wanted to immediately and aggressively and rapidly (and harshly) biopsy the other nodule. When I commented after about how he took 10 months be to do what 4 people took over an hour to do (much more gently and humanely), he just egotistically replied, «that’s because I’m the best and most efficient at this». Pain and bruises later… When I anxiously came in to get the results after a few weeks of terror (history of thyroid cancer at young age in my family), I was led to a small, stark, white room with a small table, two chairs facing each other, and a strategic box of tissue (for crying perhaps from bad news, I thought) in the center of table. I anxiously waited alone (with my escalating fearful thought) for half an hour and then once Dr. Bailey came in he spent 20 minutes ranting and complaining about the unparalleled amount of office turnover that year… all while I still awaited the results of my biopsy! Talk about unnecessary and inappropriate TMI. What an egomaniacal jackass! Then he finally tells me the nodule biopsy results were benign. Well, I could have not left work early and not inconvenienced friends for child school pick up or driven 30 minutes each way and just been told that over the phone!!! But you better believe they charged me for that appointment! Disgusting experience is more like it. And you can believe I walked out with 3 new prescriptions and a diagnosis that 8 months later I’m still not sure is accurate.
When I followed up a month after starting said prescriptions, with multiple calls saying I wasn’t noticing an improvement, they said, «okay, it’s not necessary to take the meds, why don’t we just revisit all this in a year»!!! After «diagnosing» me with an autoimmune disease! In fact I think the meds made my thyroid symptoms worse and insulin resistance worse/​return!
Fast food reward to today, trying to give them one last opportunity to put the patient first, requesting to have a simple call back from Dr. Bailey explaining my blood results, biopsy results, and need or necessity for medications, I was argued with for 20 mins that,” no he won’t call you back, he will just insist you come in to discuss”. And ‘the notes from the nurse practitioner I last spoke with (who told me to follow up in a year from last March), actually said she had told me to follow up in 4 – 6 weeks’, so this office staff member I was speaking to used that against me and basically called me a negligent liar. Seriously??? Horrible!!! This is why I switched to a PPO so I can self refer instead of only being given one terrible option.
Never waste your time with this place!

My first time here, wish I had read some of the reviews first.
I had to leave a message with the new patient coordinator before they could give me an appointment. Asked to wait 48 hours for a call back. 4 days later I called back and was able to speak with new patient coordinator. She was pleasant, had me email my insurance card. Booked my appointment for the next week. She sent me the new patient packet that asks you to fax it back before your appointment. I did that. Day before my appointment I called to confirm they had everything they needed, but no, they didn’t have my test results. No indication they didn’t receive my fax.
Arrived the required 30 minutes minutes early. They don’t have my new patient packet. Glad I shoved those 30 pages in my purse. But now I’m concerned since I faxed over my social and other sensitive info. Not to worry they said. They haven’t had time to get to all the recent faxes. Mine was sent a week ago…
Saw Dr. Varma about 20 minutes after my scheduled appointment time. He was very pleasant and took time to listen to my concerns, but never reviewed my symptoms that were required in the new patient registration paperwork. Jury is out, not sure how I feel about this office.

I was referred to Dr. Bailey by my Primary who is himself a great doctor.
Having been hospitalized and feeling sick from what was diagnosed as a problematic
thyroid, I went hoping for help from Dr. Bailey and Co.
Scheduling was a nightmare right from the get go. «Who’s on First?» The front office
doesn’t seem to be very organized, and it is the «Department of Redundancy Department».
Cut to the first appointment. Dr. Bailey was all «hearts and flowers» reassuring me that we
would get things under control. I took him a list of my 30 some odd symptoms to make it easier, than re-​iterating them. He did a cursory look see of my previous blood work and
handed me a prescription and I left.
Second visit. Basically was ambushed with the «oh you are having a needle biopsy today».
This was news to me. So ok, I figured, why not, let’s see what we are dealing with. Talk about NO bedside manner. Bad enough to have five needles stuck into your throat, but little or no warning when he does it. For Pete’s Sake how about a heads up, a touch, something???
I had questions about my ongoing fatigue and he responded with «It’s a little fatigue and a little weight gain NO BIG DEAL» No big deal? To whom?
Then I asked him about another kind of treatment, and whether he thought it warranted looking into.
He rolled his eyes, literally rolled them. He said «Well if you want to go back to 18^th Century snake oil then fine. The only time I hear that question is from people that can’t pay for the current drugs» Nice guy… not only no patience, no sympathy but condescending and snarky. Just what I want in a doctor…
He then proceeded to tell me I probably have sleep apnea and to take his much huckstered «STOP BANG» questionnaire. I told him I had already on my first visit, he didn’t believe me. I also told him that I don’t have sleep apnea. He walked out of the room while I was still trying to talk to him.
I went to the front desk and the person there DID find the previous test, and DID tell him I do not show as a candidate for sleep apnea. I got no further answers to my questions.
Cut to my pathology report on the needle biopsy… three weeks later THEY COULDN’T FIND IT. It took 3 days and multiple phone calls to finally get one of them to try to track it down. I had it sent to my primary immediately. They wanted me to come it to «discuss $$$$ it» What is to discuss with a negative result? Another insurance hit though, right ?
SO RUN, DON’T WALK AWAY FROM THIS DOCTOR, HIS STAFF AND HIS «ADVANCED METABOLIC CARE PLUS RESEARCH» It is all about the money for them. They couldn’t give a damn less about the patient. I wouldn’t send a stray dog to them. For Heaven’s Sake save your money, and YOUR HEALTH, go find another doctor.

I wish I could give this place negative stars. I came in for a thyroid consultation with dr. Varma after having an elevated tsh and suffering from thyroid symptoms. Refused to treat me wanted to just order more bloodwork and was arrogant. Then he says well you have an autoimmune disease that is causing your thyroid issue and im like ok so what now and he goes «I’m not an immunologist» oh no shit? Why the hell am I here wasting my time and money then? The staff is horrible as well. Don’t bother with this ripoff.

The star is for Dr. Bailey since he is always nice, the rest of no stars is for the worst run operation. I left messages and I got no call backs, the address listed sent me to a trailer park (and I wasn’t the only one to have that complaint), everytime I come here, I have to wait at least 50 to 60 minutes before I am seen. my prescriptions are never sent on time, always late and it leaves me without medication and no answer to my phone calls, no answer to the pharmacy request for refill. very difficult place to deal with.

I wish I had read the reviews here before EVER going to this office. Not only do I wish I had never gone — they should not be in the medical profession… here is why: 1) I had been on synthroid for some number of years due to a thyroid nodule… well, I’d been asking about coming off for some time… and they kept telling me «no, you can’t come off you’ve been on too long». It took a second situation with this office, but I finally went for a 2^nd opinion and guess what — they no longer treat thyroid nodules with synthroid and I can (and did) come off synthroid — saving myself ~$ 400/​year and reducing the potential of bone loss! Now for situation number 2 (yes it gets worse)… I finished menopause and they strongly recommended HRT. I acquiesced, but asked that I be put on the lowest possible dose as I react strongly to most medications… they agreed and then unbeknownst to me prescribed the «normal» dose, NOT the minimum I requested… I reacted badly — sending my hormones over the edge… and when i had to back off lost ~1/​3 of my hair!!! which has not (and I’m told likely will not) come back as it was as if i went through a second and more extreme menopause. Yes — this is absolutely true… Do not let these people treat you — read the reviews!

This is the absolute WORST practice I’ve ever encountered. After seeing me four about 2 minutes, the doctor diagnosed me. Then, refused to renew my prescription. When I finally did get them to renew my prescription (for a thyroid medication) the person on the phone couldn’t find my pharmacy, and ensured me she would find it on Google and send it. Two weeks without my medication, which I need DAILY to function, and not one phone call returned. I’ve called every day and left a message every day for two weeks. This practice is RIDICULOUS and DISGUSTING. DO NOT GO HERE.

Here’s another update 3−31−14. Here I am again dealing with the office staff. Every couple of months when I get my blood work done it’s a fiasco with them. Apparently, they are unable (even by direction of the doctor) unable to order copies of bloodwork to the patient and the primary physician because of THE COMPUTER! and apparently e-​mail is beyond their reach as well, so here I am again waiting for results via snail mail which after 6 days still have not arrived and they are literally two blocks from my house. I could have driven over there to get them, but since I have things to do during the day like most people I didn’t. When you call them you get a message that puts you on hold and then after being on hold another message with a lady talking with her mouthful asks you to leave message! So basically you’re on hold to wait to be on hold to leave a message. Again the office manager needs to reign this place in in a BIG way.

Two stars because my experiences directly with Dr. Bailey have always been positive. However, the problem is the office. They will schedule you for an appointment, confirm your appointment, have you arrive, and then inform you that they did not get the authorization from your insurance company for any useful test that would justify your being there at that time. Oh, yeah, and you didn’t get your bloodwork done either because they didn’t send you a lab slip. Therefore, you have to come back multiple times. If you value your time, you should try other clinics if you have the choice.

This review is specifically for Dr. Roya. If you want a lack of care, incompetence, and love feeling brushed aside, she is the doctor for you!
Dr. Roya treated my appointment like it was a huge hassle for her. She preached information I already knew. When I asked questions regarding my health – like any sane person would do – she seemed very annoyed like I was wasting her time. It’s funny how she didn’t act like this two years prior when my dad accompanied me on my visit. Maybe she likes putting on a front?
It doesn’t stop there. It has taken me well over three weeks to obtain my medications! It took three weeks to finally get one medication, and despite calling her office again and even having the good people at the pharmacy fax her office, I STILL have yet to receive my second medication! What is going on here?!
Today was the last straw. I am refusing to ever see this dreadful woman again and am only contacting her incompetent office to get the medicine that’s mine. Then I will find a new doctor.

So greatly disgusted with the quality of care at this doctors office. The nurse practitioners are nice but limited with their knowledge. The doctors on the other hand, dr Varma in particular, is an arrogant a-​hole that tries to diagnose and prescribe medications without ever meeting you.
For years I’ve been suffering from many different symptoms, all if which being symptoms of hypothyroidism. The nurse practitioner agreed that my symptoms were all of those of low thyroid function but when she asks dr Varma to palpate my thyroid (it felt enlarged to her) he simply told me I was stressed and needed to be on an antidepressant. Mind you, I had never met not conversed with this dr before this time. It took everything in me not to blow up and storm out of there. The nurse practitioner is running labs and I’m interested to see the results. Needless to say the only reason ill be returning to this office is to get a copy if my results. I will be finding a new endocrinologist.
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THESE DOCTORS… THEY’RE A BUNCH IF IDIOTS!!!

The Staff at AMCR in Escondido, CA are pathetic. They are SLOW & totally INCOMPETENT. Your average wait time when calling their office is 30 min to an HOUR, easily. They have no clue what they’re doing. NO Customer Service! The only person I have been able to ever see is the Nurse Practitioner, Roya Jannesari. She comes across very nice, but knowledge is limited. She only works 2 days a week & is very hard to get a hold of. She NEVER return calls. Message never get delivered from staff to Dr.‘s. Overall, if you can go somewhere else, DO IT! It’s definitely not worth the time & frustration to deal with these people. I pay waaaay to much for my insurance to be stuck going somewhere like this.

I made an appointment with this office to seek help with an excessive daytime sleepiness problem and other conditions. I am seeing several specialists and it was suggested that I see an endocrinologist. I was assigned to a nurse practitioner because I was told that neither of the doctors work with my type of case.
Nevertheless, I have had great experiences with nurse practitioners so after three weeks of waiting for my appointment I was hopeful that she may help shed some light on my condition. Boy was I disappointed,.
I spent quite a bit of time with Roya Jannesari who spent more time trying to convince me that the symptoms that I was feeling were made up «in my head» than she did actually listening to me. She told me that I was not sleeping enough. I told her that I had seen a specialist in sleep medicine and had done a sleep lab and that it came back normal. Then she went on to suggest that I have suppressed emotions that are not allowing me to have «restful» sleep. Again, the specialist ruled that out. She told me that if that wasn’t the case that I must be depressed and on and on.
You know, I just wanted to see an endocrinologist to run some blood tests and rule out any more serious issues before I continue on my journey to figure out what this debilitating condition I’m battling is and I was met with an uncaring and downright arrogant nurse who wanted to play therapist and convince me that there was nothing wrong with me.
It’s amazing how I can leave one doctor with such hope for finding a diagnosis and thus getting me back to normal and leave another feeling so beaten down and hopeless. This was the later.
In the end she did order labs, of which I had drawn today so stay tuned for take two of this saga.