Riverdale Family Practice

They don’t care about you. That’s all there is to it. If they cared, they wouldn’t act the way they act. They helped bring out a great illness in my husband by giving him too high a dosage of penicillin without asking him if he was allergic. We found out eventually from other doctors that the people at Riverdale should’ve done some tests before blindly giving my husband a high dose of penicillin.
Eventually, we looked to another doctor to help us out, but we still had to go through Riverdale for referrals. They didn’t help at all with what is wrong with my husband. They made things worse. If you are choosing between this practice and another, choose the other. No one can be as bad as they are.

This place is falling apart. I can never see one doctor. I have seen 5 different doctors since I have been there. I have made an appointment way in advance and have been rescheduled twice. I know its uncommon but the best thing about this place is some of the staff Leticia and Vanessa are my girls. They use to be receptionist but now work in the back. Since they left the front it’s gotten worse. but I do like the doctors I have seen. Dr. Gonzalez, Dr. Flores, Dr. Villi and Dr. Groves. I just prefer to see one doctor consistently.

There is a doctor at this facility by the name of Manuel R. Cabrera. We have been with Dr. Cabrera for nearly 30 years. My father was horribly ill in the last year. I was constantly at Dr. Carbrera’s office. Bloodwork done and he would say it was «great» «wonderful.» Echo & CAT just fine. In truth, his platelets were rapidly dropping and hemotocrit and hemoglobin had already indicated by ¹⁄₂₀₁₅ something wrong. In addition, Echo & CAT was not «fine.» By July he is admitted into the hospital and found to be bleeding internally and I was told by numerous doctors and nurses what he went through could have been avoided if this man would have taken the time to thoroughly review his CBC levels. His admittance was exactly 6 days to the day we had seen Cabrera who said his BW was «excellent» «great.» I did speak with a few medical malpractice attorneys and all said the same. There was absolute medical negligence, but because of his age and the number of years he has been retired there is no monetary gain in the end, and I shouldn’t give up my search for a lawyer. If you truly love your elderly parent (s) keep them away from this doctor.

The doctors are terrific, but the clerical staff is mediocre at best. When all is said and done, the doctors are what makes a medical practice.

This is definitely a hit or miss place, there are sometimes you go here and you can have a pleasant experience. However, those are extremely rare and usually have some sort of negativity attached to it.
So my appointment was for 2:00pm, in which I got there around 12:00, in which I thought if I got there early I would be able to see the doctor early. When I got there, since it had been a while since I had been there and had new insurance, I had to fill out the paperwork with my new information. I fill it out, take my time, fill out the paperwork and then hand it back. Good thing I decided to ask because if I hadnt they wouldnt have told me that my doctor didnt get in until 2:00pm. So when I hand the paper in I told them I was leaving and that I would be back.
I come back at around 1:30 and resign in. Now its the same people at the reception desk mind you, ask me if I filled in the paperwork or not. I go to sit down. 5 minutes in one of the receptionist calls me over and in front of everyone tells me my insurance isnt active, which was impossible. So then she says she’s going to give Oxford a call. Firstly, she should have called the insurance company first before bringing it to my attention. Secondly, Oxford was my old insurance, in which if she had just read the paperwork that was less than a foot away from her, she would have seen that it clearly said my insurance was Emblem. Its 2:00pm, Im still waiting for Dr. Amy Laude to finally show up. At around 2:05 she comes stumbling in the place wearing a mini dress, flip flops and giant back pack. After she finally gets herself together in the back, she meets up with Dr. Flores at the receptionist desk to talk about the dress some woman was wearing, although its pushing 2:10 and she’s late for her appointment.
Finally I get called in around 2:15. I see the MA and get my height and weight tested, in which it was done incorrectly. She takes my weight and tells me what it is but doesn’t take into account that my clothes and shoes add a few pounds to it. The same goes for the height, I had on heels and my hair was a little high, yet she didn’t deduct anything for it. So after that, I finally got to see the Dr. Laude. She comes in both unprofessionally dressed and unprepared, her computer’s not working. She introduced herself and goes into talking about the hours and times of the practice and a bunch of other irrelevant things. So most of the appointment was okay, except she didn’t do most of what she was suppose to. I asked her multiple questions about a few concerns I had, in which her response to all of them were that since they weren’t causing an immediate issue they weren’t important. Then she made me listen to at least 4 different awkward nonsensical lectures/​conversations/​rants. She then asked me about some medication I was prescribed but never picked up; she couldn’t tell me what the medication was for. After thinking about it for a few seconds and then pulling out her medical dictionary, she still couldnt tell me anything about it. In which, I left my appointment having none of my questions answered.
After I got threw dealing with that controlling unhelpful doctor, the MA came back in. When she went to draw my blood, she couldn’t find a vein in either arms. So she decides to draw from my hand and as she’s getting ready to do it, she wasn’t wearing gloves. I brought it up to her and she got really mad about it and then just walked out of the room. Another MA came in and found a vein in my arm and drew the blood with gloves on in half the time.
When I was all done, I asked to speak with the office manager. In which I waited a good 15 minutes without seeing her, so I just left because I got tired of waiting and having to deal with a bunch of people that didnt know what they are doing.
So bring it up to now. I had to call and ask them to send me my lab results and the referral I had asked for. I asked for a Dermatologist, I didnt know that they automatically pick one for you. I know it may not matter to some people but of course that uncaring doctor gives me a male dermatologist without asking or finding out if its okay with me or not. Although, I wasnt happy with Dr. Laude, there are a few doctors that are pretty good. If you have to see someone I would recommend Dr. Sedlackova

I have been going to them for over a year and as time continues client service has been declining. Walk ins are allowed but they skip around on the lists.
I will be changing my pcp due to lack customer/​client appreciation

STAFF IS HORRIBLE! There is no consistency of service. If you call with a question & speak to different staff, you will get 3 different answers. DON’t GO TO THIS OFFICE! Different location but same poor customer service as when they were on Tibbett Ave.

I’m surprised at some of the low marks here. I’m not sure what would make me give a GP a 5 star review so I’m reserving that :) Maybe if they were open 7 days a week I’d give it 5 stars. I’ve been going there about 3 – 4 times a year for over a decade and never had trouble with the reception staff, both at the new Corlear office or their old office 2 blocks away. I usually see Jill Groves who seems very engaged with her patients.
I’m assuming that D. M’s doctor that commented about the naval infection was Frank Villi. He’s a no-​nonsense straight talker. I think more doctors should be straightforward and do less sugarcoating of a situation (reserve the sugarcoating for terminal situations where it’s warranted). His frankness can go a ways to preventing a problem in the future.
Overall I’ve had a good experience at RFP and am glad they are here to service the community

I can’t speak for the quality of doctors, but I waited for over two hours as a walk in on a Thursday morning. I understand that they were busy, but I was repeatedly told it was only a short wait and that I was the «next one». I wish they told told me it would be two hours to see a doctor and I could have saved the time and sat in bed.

The receptionist Tabitha had went way beyond the call of duty she is an extraordinary worker. She help me with all my issue and made phone calls on my behalf; she didn’t have to do. I appreciate anyone who really does a good job. 5 stars for Tabatha !

I had a very similar experience with Dr. Solomon as Emily M. Who posted above. Perhaps he is competent enough to take out a polyp and send it to to lab. Which he did for me two years ago or so. I have no complaints about the surgery but I think it was a relatively simple procedure. However his manner with me, a woman in menopause, who is still interested in her sexuality was laughable. He was totally uncomfortable and told me to see a shrink to deal my problem, even as he prescribed for me a hormonal cream. Certainly his ability to discuss sexuality made h freakishly uncomfortable. .
My main complaint is that he is unreachable. He did not get back to me for over ten days when I needed to reach him on some insurance matter. He later told me that he had determined my need was unimportant so he did not feel the need to get back to me.
When I became upset that I could not reach him by calling the number for him given out by the practice no one lifted a finger to track him down. It was only when I demanded to speak to a doctor because even the Nurse Practitioner was clueless did I get someone who said that indeed the Practice has his cell phone number. Dr. Solomon then imperiously called me to inform me that he didn’t not have my chart and I could make an appointment to see him.
When I arrived at my «appointment» they attempted to charge me $ 40 copay but I refused as I was seeing him to get a precert He was rude and argumentative and told me it was not his responsibility to know that the medicine needed a precert. Maybe so, but what is the big deal. After a somewhat tense argument he agreed to call Eatna when I explained to him that as a physician he made the final decision and the insurance company must agree to provide the drug.
How unpleasant to fight with your gynecologist to get a precert. I won’t put myself through that again. I will not be told by a Dr. that it was not his responsibility to do that. In the end I was right, the precert was given in under a minute. What a nightmare, How unpleasant. I am now looking for a gynecologist who is interested in the actual whole woman and not just the plumbing.

Receptionists SUCK a lot!!! Terrible terrible terrible. They should fire them all and start over.
EVERYTIME I call my average hold time is 7 mins. Incredibly annoying.
Doctors are OK.
Save yourself the frustration and go elsewhere.

I recently became a patient of Riverdale Family Practice and have been very satisfied with the level of care from the doctors as well as the assistance from the front desk. I’ve had to get referrals for specialists and they have really facilitated the process for me.
I’ve seen both Dr. Groves and Dr. Villi. Doctor Groves is very personable, but was busy the day I saw her, so my physical was very quick.
Dr. Villi is very straightforward and I absolutely appreciate that.
I’m hoping this practice continues to receive positive feedback! I don’t get hung up on the front desk, I’m not there to receive medical care from them so I let their impatience roll off and say a quick prayer that their day improves! :)

i love this place, open Monday-​Friday at the most convenient time especially if you work late, i love the fact that their also open on Saturdays just in case there was an emergent sickness, i love all the doctors there, they are very accommodating and serious about their work ethics. Plus i may add that they are very clean in the office!

This medical practice has good doctors (not very personal though), great patient web portal, and you can almost always be seen within a reasonable time as a walk in. However, the 2 stars come from customer service and the front desk girls… who have an attitude, are rude and impatient with patients. I understand you have to deal with patients on a daily basis, but if this is not your forte then change your career! They make me not want to go there. If this facility hires professionals who respect and display good human relations and customer service, they would get at least 4 stars.

Dr. Solomon, the gynecologist at Riverdale Family Practice, performed surgery on me four weeks ago. He told my fiancé and I on the day of surgery that he would call with results of the analysis performed on the tissue sample removed, but we hadn’t heard form him since. Unfortunately, we also experienced this lack of communication in the first round of biopsies, taken in the clinic prior to the surgery. He had told us at the time that, «no news is good news — if you don’t hear from me, you’ve got nothing to worry about» and when we went back to the clinic for the results, he explained the cells were high-​grade and I would require surgery that Friday — not good news. So after waiting a month to get the analysis of the tissue sample that was removed during my surgery, Dr. Solomon didn’t have a copy of my results to share with me. I asked what grade of dysplasia was found in the cells removed, and he said they were inflamed but would not answer any questions about finding or not finding dysplasia in the sample. Nor was he open to discussing ways to take care of myself through the healing process: questions around appropriate birth control options going forward and implications for future pregnancy were all deflected. When I asked for thoughts on what could be causing the inflammation, I was told it was my job to figure that out since he doesn’t know my daily habits. He told me he would only discuss the procedure he performed last month and I should find another gynecologist to ask questions of going forward. When I asked to see the results of the biopsy, Dr. Solomon told me to go back to the hospital and request them in person as he did not have a copy. I live in NYC and this hospital is in Yonkers, a one-​hour bus ride from my house. I asked if he would be examining me during this appointment and was met with, «It’s your body. Do you want me to examine you?» I asked if it was recommended that he take a look to see how I was healing and was met with the same answer — asking me if I wanted an exam. Only when my fiancé asked him if he would recommend an examination to check on the healing, did he say, «I would recommend it.» So he did an exam. In earlier appointments, he described my condition in metaphors («if the floor is healthy cells and the ceiling is cancer, you’re ²⁄₃ of the way up the wall»), and once I returned yesterday with more technical questions using appropriate vocabulary (location of irregular cells on the cervix, grade of dysplasia CIN ½/​3), he refused to answer them, telling me I need to trust my physician. Please do yourself a favor and find a gynecologist that is interested in engaging with his or her patients rather than deflecting questions, dropping you as soon as your surgery is over, and oddly defending himself from perceived accusations.

Before I write this review, let me just address whom my doctor is. Dr. Jill Groves who is absolutely sweet and lovely and very professional. So this review is not about her. It’s about the office itself.
On to the shitty part.
The other doctors suck. They are unengaging and one of the male doctors are rude. Once I had a naval infection and he said, with an annoyed face, quote «the only way to fix this is to lose weight or else it will keep happening». Well gee, thanks for the compassion, doc.
The worst part. The receptionists. There are a couple of nice ones but majority are rude and unorganized. Some let me get away with seeing my primary care physician on a walk in and some dont, even though I always tell them I am willing to wait. They are not welcoming whatsoever. You could be standing right in front of them and they’ll be staring at the computers.
I have HIP insurance. Everyone knows (especially doctors and medical receptionists) know the protocol for hip. They require an authorized refferal for any specialists. I have been given the run around several times because the receptionists never get the correct refferal! How can you be a medical receptionist and not know how to draw up a viable refferal based on the patients insurance?
The nurses seem like teenagers out of highschool. Not proffessional. Although they have never been rude.
This office is not quiet and speedy, if thats what you want. The doctors take forever to see you after the nurse takes your vitals.
I love Dr. Jill Groves which is why I haven’t switched to a different office. If she left, so would I.
Avoid them and go elsewhere.

Dr. Groves is a great doctor. Caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, and always returns my phone calls. She also gives ample time to answer questions and review my past history during appointments. I also like that she sends my Rx via email to my pharmacy so that I’m not carrying them around and possibly forgetting to fill them.
I’ve also seen Dr. Sedlakova and she is nice and thorough.

Sorry to say I have to give the office 2 stars. The doctors that I have seen are excellent.
The problem is the staff. Best of luck to you if you want to speak to the same person twice. A different person answers every time. No exaggeration.
If you need something done… a referral, a refill, a message to your doctor, be absolutely sure to get the name of the person you spoke to. Then don’t take for granted that whatever you requested will get done. I have arrived on 2 different occasions to a specialist’s office just to be told that my referral had not been faxed.
The wait time to see a doctor is much shorter since the office has relocated but be prepared to spend a sizable amount of time on hold when you call. One time I was on hold for 8 minutes, hung up, called back, asked for the same person I had spoken to and she asked me again what I was calling for then put me on hold for another 4 minutes.
I have worked for doctors and know for sure how stressful it is… dealing with insurance and the demands of others but with SO many people working there, you’d think the workload would be a bit more balanced.
Too many cooks in the kitchen.

The office policy here is crazy. They won’t allow you to leave a message for YOUR doctor if they aren’t in the office. Instead they will offer to give it to the doctor on call or the one in the office which is fine if you have an emergency, but if isn’t and it’s just a follow up then why bother that other doctor? I called the same day at 4pm to get in touch with my doctor after SHE told me to go to the ER after my physical with her at 8am. She asked me to follow up with her and when I called they said I couldn’t leave her a message. The weekend went by and she didn’t bother to call me to see how I was doing. I didn’t ask to go to the ER. SHE SENT ME. You would THINK she would follow up with her patient, right? No. When I called the next day at 10am I was told she didn’t get in until 2pm so I couldn’t leave a message. I couldn’t even leave a number for her to call to get my results. I literally was told to call when she gets in the office. So basically, call the office while she is seeing patients so that she can stop what she is doing (seeing patients) and call me back. Does anyone see anything wrong with this? They are literally taking time away from their patients in the office by taking messages only when the doctor is in. It doesn’t make sense. I called to speak with the office manager and was talked over and had her voice raised at me because she didn’t like that I had an opinion on how they ran their office. I’ve worked at major universities/​hospitals and doctor’s offices that are well known all over the world, some with a small staff and some with a large staff, but NEVER have I heard of a policy of not leaving messages. If you want follow up care don’t bother with this place. They’ll just leave you out to dry like laundry. They’ll bill your insurance and take your co-​pay upfront but forget about follow up or patient care. That is out of the question. You are asking for too much when you want them to care.