Pasadena Dermatology

They directly lied to me multiple times. First, they told me over the phone that a 10:00 am Monday appointment was when they could do a biopsy. When I got there, they said that no biopsies are done on Mondays and blamed me for scheduling that time. Then they said that the doctor was available for the procedure after all. When I went in, the doctor needed to check a previous biopsy area and had the RN use his cell phone light to see the area! Finally, he said that he couldn’t do the biopsy in question and that I had to reschedule another time… all AFTER collecting my $ 30 copay.

I NEVER post reviews on Unilocal,but my experience here was awful. The service here was subpar at best, but the worst thing about this place is the front desk. Neither the friendliest nor the most professional staff I’ve had to deal with. What really bothered me the most was their lack of response to the NUMEROUS messages I left. To top it all off, they sent me a bill for service that was done 7 months ago, and that was already paid by my insurance company. Avoid this place like the plague.

My 92 year old mother was referred by SCAN, her Medicare-​Plus insurer. SCAN generally only contracts with very good providers, in our experience, and Dr. Kivett /​Pasadena Dermatology is no exception. On our first visit, (a Friday) we were seen promptly and Dr. Kivett performed 4 biopsies. They told us we would find out in a week or so, but they called us on Tuesday! She had one skin cancer spot. Mohs surgery was scheduled — first they take tissue, then examine it to make sure they have a «clear margin» otherwise they have to take more tissue — that is an «all day affair». The staff was very kind and attentive to mom, and the Dr. was great. My only complaint is the staff person told me they would call one week before surgery to advise mom when to stop taking her blood-​thinning meds, but they did not call, so I called two days later for the info, and the result was mom should have stopped taking her meds two days sooner.

I have been seeing dermatologists for over 35 years to treat eczema on my legs. All have given me creams, lotions, said not to wash legs as often, or attributed the problem to aging. When I saw Dr. Kivett at this office this summer, he gave me a simple to follow recommendation that solved the problem without medication. I’ve been eczema free for the first time ever!
He was also very helpful in explaining other skin problems like brown spots and tricks to not shower as often to keep the skin from drying out and still smell good! It is easy to tell a good doctor from a mediocre one for all of us. Here’s a good one to consider!

Do not go to this place. They actually deserve no stars. I went there with my kids and they lack even basic customer skills. They had me wait for one hour for a doctor appointment and the doctor never even came. They made up a false excuses as to why it was taking so long and they offered no apologies at all. It’s like they don’t care because they have so many patients they can afford to be rude and waste your time.

Good experience so far. Gina O. is treating a rash and it is under control and slowly going away. Haven’t finished my appointments yet but this place is clean, friendly and on time with appointments. I’m hoping my return appointment in a couple of weeks is successful. I would come back for another visit if I have any future skin problems.

Went in last week to remove a mole that kept growing on my head. I also went to remove a wart/​lump that was growing on my chest. The check in process was typical, fill in applications, and wait time wasn’t bad at all. I went in to a room, the nurse wrote down what I my concerns were. The doctor checked and guided the nurse to begin the procedure. I was injected so we had to wait. Didn’t see the doctor until he burned of the mole etc. The nurse was with me most of the time. I didn’t receive any extra band-​aids or any sample size of anything to continue treating my scars :(
I’ll be getting results in a week. If you have any moles or lumps please get them checked out!!!

I have gone to Pasadena Dermatology for several years when Dr. Knapp was practicing there. He was wonderful and treated many of my skin cancers including doing Mohs procedures. Unfortunately he is no longer there. I went 3 weeks ago to have some areas checked and was seen by Dr. Kivett. He really didn’t do an exam, just froze off the areas I told him I was concerned with. I had 3 spots by my lip and he froze them off with a spray that got into both nostrils, and the tip of my nose. The area is still red and hurts. I spoke to a PA that said that might be a reaction for 2 weeks but 3 weeks is too long and to make an appointment and transferred me to the front desk. The first appointment was July 9^th, another 2 weeks away. Since this would be a follow-​up for an unusual reaction I asked if they could just ask the PA if there is something I could put on it that would help. They can squeeze me in tomorrow at 11am. I don’t trust the doctor and won’t go back to him. I have called my primary care doctor and he can see me tomorrow. Perhaps there is a salve that I can apply that will clear it up.

The stars are for the Dr. Kivett!
I was referred by my primary care doctor. I didn’t pick a doctor from the group, I just showed up at this the appointment. At first, I was annoyed by the 3 terrible typos on the overly copied patient intake form, which you have to fill in by hand. It’s 2015! (A pet-​peeve.)
Anyway, I was extremely nervous; I’m terrible with medical things. I did wait for a while, but Dr. William Francis Kivett MD was amazing! I told him how nervous I was and he was really kind and receptive. He practiced breathing techniques with me and really helped me get through the removal of two moles. He also gave me a good lecture about sun exposure, and I’ve really taken it to heart. I hope I never need a dermatologist again, but if I do, I hope he’s still practicing! I wish all doctors had his gift. Thank you.

The best of dermatology place in Pasadena you can have, i’m a doctor I understand medicine my whole family comes here and we all love this office and specially Dr Kivett, I highly recommend this office great service and outstanding customer service.

I loved my experience at Pasadena Dermatology. I did see the PA (I can’t remember her name), and she was wonderful. The office staff was super nice. I work in the field, so I don’t judge much, I understand wait times, paperwork, why you have to see a PA and etc. and when offices are bad, I know it, and don’t put up with it. To me, this office is great, and they exceeded my expectations.

I am only one visit in, but so far I have no complaints. I called to make my appointment last week and my call was answered before I heard a single ring. I was able to make an appointment within a week. When I came in today, everyone provided me with excellent service.

If I could leave no stars that is what they are deserving of! Now that I see their reviews it explains a lot. I don’t even know where to begin, my 3 year old daughter was referred here… I had an appointment & was seen an hour & half after the time that it was set for. The Dr. who was there just for that day was so apologetic he almost salvaged my experience. My daughter was given a prescription which was supposed to be called in that Friday evening & when I went to pick it up in Sat. the pharmacy had never received anything from their office. Of course they’re closed in the weekend & thank God the Dr. had given me his personal # to follow up, I texted him that day & he personally called the pharmacy. I called the following Monday to find out her culture results which I was told would be ready & a guy who supposedly handles that said it could take 2 weeks… to make a long story short 2 ½ weeks later & I’m still getting the run around & no results yet. They don’t answer the phone, leave earlier than their scheduled hours on Fridays & their customer service is the worst that I’ve ever experienced. I’ve told them this & said that I wished I could Unilocal them.& then it dawned on me. I could. Now I see I’m not alone, Please do not waste your time & positive energy coming to an establishment which is quick to take your copayment & then put you on the backburner. I’m also going to report them to my insurance carrier. Obviously from their reviews they’re not looking to change.

Don’t go near that office !!
On 11/​13, I arrived at the office @ 11:20 AM (for an 11:30 appointment)
I was promptly and cordially greeted by the front staff. I was put into an exam room at 11:40 with Dr. Stein’s «assistant» (I am not certain if that was a nurse or nurse assistant,) who proceeded to take a history of my complaints.
Dr. Stein entered the exam room at approximately 11:50. He did not introduce himself and was quite unprofessional and seemed extremely «hurried.»
He asked me how long the lesion on my leg had been present and proceeded to take out a magnifying instrument to examine it. He asked no other history pertaining to the lesion (ie, trauma, rashes, other similar lesions, family hx of skin cancers, OTC treatment, etc.) While he was examining the lesion, the assistant shoved a clipboard with a consent form, in front of my face; while Dr. Stein proceeded to state: «it looks like a folliculitis, but to be on the safe side, we will do a biopsy.»
There was no explanation of the biopsy procedure given, no post biopsy care instructions, nor explanation of possible bx complications. The area was prepped for 2 seconds with some local cleanser. The area was not even shaven.
While I was still reading the consent form (as the exam and explanation took all of about one minute,) Dr. Stein was already injecting a local anesthetic into the area (even before I had even signed the form!)
While he was waiting a minute for the anesthetic to take effect, he proceeded to ask about the other issue I was having (itching=pruritis)— how long my itching was present. I told him a few weeks and related a similar incident several yrs back, when I had a liver abscess and my bile acids and bilirubin were elevated. He inquired if I had wanted a liver panel done and I informed him that my primary care physician had already done that several weeks prior and the results were normal. He then stated: «you have generalized pruritis, not certain of the cause. I will give you some triamcinolone and OTC Sarna.» There was no other history taking done; such as possible allergens/​irritants, household exposures, current treatment, or soaps and cleaning agents used. There was no explanation of the frequency of the steroid cream, where of how to apply, length of treatment necessary, or side effects of prolonged use of steroid creams. There was no explanation of Sarna or how to use. No follow up offered.
He proceeded to do the shave bx; which took a total of about 45 seconds.
He abruptly left the exam room, with no further discussion with me.
The total time spent by Dr. Stein in the exam room was 9 minutes.
After Dr. Stein left, the assistant wrote out the prescription for the triamcinolone and added some benadryl.
I saw her call another «nurse» (??) into the exam room, as she was «transferring» Dr. Stein’s orders from a sheet onto the Rx and she did not know what to write on the prescription.
She handed me the Rx and it was unsigned.
I gave it back to her and she ran out of the room and returned several seconds later with a scribble, which represented Dr. Stein’s signature.
The Rx (copy attached) had no name of patient on it, nor date
The medications, triamcinolone and benadryl, were spelled wrong.
The following sums up that horrible experience:
1.I have never encountered another physician with such a substandard presentation, as Dr. Stein.
His history taken was equivalent to a first year medical student.
His mannerisms were rude and unacceptable.
His diagnosis and treatment offered were not based on any reasonable clinical decision pathway and most likely were incorrect.
I would never return to see him; nor ever refer any friend/​family/​colleague or worst enemy.
2. His use of prescribing medications is dangerous and against medical code.
He appears to have nursing assistants writing his prescriptions.
The prescription I was given was incomplete.
Stay away!

I’ve been calling this place, for five days now, to try and get an appointment (referral from my HMO doc) and they have NOT ANSWERED THE PHONE EVER! Their voice mail directs one to leave a message, but their mailbox is full.
What a ridiculous way to run a doctors office…
I will go elsewhere…

really bad medical experience.
first, i was only allowed to see the PA. i went several
times with a pretty severe skin condition. each time,
she just prescribed the same extremely potent steroid
and told me to to keep taking it. problem just got worse.
so, finally, i requested to see Dr. and the office said i couldn’t
see her. what kind of Dr.‘s office runs a business where you can’t see the Dr.
avoid if you can… these guys are not professional, not patient friendly, and not good at what they do.

Pasadena Dermatology is absolutely terrible. I was referred to them by my primary doctor for a checkup to ensure I was free of melanoma. They took two biopsies and told me that I would receive a call back in two weeks. Did I get a call in two weeks? Of course not. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore and called them for the results. I was told that Elizabeth would call me to give me the results by the end of the day. Did I get a call back? No, I did not. The next day I called back, and was assured that Elizabeth could call me by the end of that day. Well, she didn’t call back, and I was freaking out that the results were bad, since only she was able to discuss it with me. The next day I called back and told them that Elizabeth still hadn’t called me and to let me speak to anyone who could give me my results. They put me on hold for over a half hour!!! I was livid. When Elizabeth finally picked up the line, she had a total attitude and said that she is BUSY and didn’t have time to call back. She never apologized for not calling back after two weeks, for not returning my call two days in a row, and for keeping me on hold for over a half hour.
If a medical practice is that busy, they need to hire more people. If they can’t call someone back, they shouldn’t set the expectation that a patient should expect a call in two weeks or at the end of a day. Is it acceptable to keep someone on hold for over a half hour? Clearly, not a medical practice that values their patients.
The kicker is that I called back one more time and asked for the doctor (Gina) to call me back so she could have an idea of how the office is being run. Did I get a call back from her? What do you think? Of course not.
Do not use this place. I will be contacting the medical group, and as many online review sites to complain, so that other people don’t have to go through this. This place is completely unprofessional.
I wish I could give zero stars, since this place doesn’t deserve even one star.

I am so disappointed with this place, first off no one would answer the phone when I attempted to make an appointment. I finally got thru on the 3 rd attempt and was told that the girl who sets the appointments will not be in until later. I left my number and waited for a call back which never came (bad sign number 1)
I called again 2 days later and set an appointment. I showed up the next week and was examined by a Nurse practioner who seemed very hurried. I explained my concern with a spot on my chest and she immediately biopsied it (good) she stated that the results should be back in a week or so. She immediately left the room without examining any other part of my body and I was told by the nursing assistant that they would check on my follow up because they were sooo busy. (Bad sign number 2)
It has now been 6 weeks and multiple calls for my results with no definitive answers to what the biopsy results were. (bad sign number 3) I have left my number multiple times with no call back… amazing. Skin cancer is a very serious issue with good prognosis when treated promptly… I have since gone to
Pasadena premier dermatology on Green Street (5 stars). Who diagnosed basal cell carcinoma… treatable but don’t wait
If you care about your health avoid pasadena skin cancer center