John Muir Medical Group

Love Dr. Duggal! I moved about 70 miles away from Pleasanton and I still refuse to change my physician. She listens to your problems and always asks questions; really takes her time to understand the root of the problem! I just went there a few weeks ago and took a 70 mile bus ride just to get to my doctor appointment!

Complete frustration trying to communicate with this office (Orinda)
Completely unacceptable for a ‘professional’ office. If you phone and talk to someone within 30 mins — consider yourself lucky
My experience:
Phone to make appointment as requested by doctor.
2 phone calls — each waiting over 30 mins — give up waiting.
Had to drive to office to make the appointment (3 weeks ahead!)
1 week later I receive a voice message to call them about the appointment.
3 more times — same thing — over 30 mins waiting on the phone — just automated ‘we are busy with other patients — please hold for next available operator’
– You asked me to call but wont answer in any reasonably professional or timely manner? —
Phoned on morning of appointment to confirm (Actually spoke to a person after 20 mins on hold). The doctor wasn’t working and have to reschedule.
So they find it acceptable practice to let me drive an hour only too tell me my appointment was cancelled.
Rescheduled for 2 weeks later. Receptionist said they have high call volume and only 3 of them working,.
Asked to speak to supervisor. Got voice mail. Explained frustration and asked to call me back. Still waiting a month later…

I live Dr. Duggal and Dr. Carter. I started seeing Dr. Duggal about a year ago when we switched from Kaiser. About a month ago I needed to go in for a same day appt after a cough I had for a few days started turning into more serious respiratory issues. Dr. Carter was the only one with appts that afternoon. She was so kind, nothing like I had ever experienced at Kaiser. She took one listen to my lungs and determined there were some pretty serious issues going on. They have so many services available in office. I was able to do two nebulizer treatments, a lung function test, and oxygen saturation test all without leaving the office. She did want me to do a chest X-​ray, which I had a few options in Pleasanton and Livermore. She prescribed a round of antibiotics, steroids, and an inhaler and scheduled a follow up for the following week. Dr Carter was so compassionate and I felt like she really took my issues seriously. I didn’t feel like an assembly line.
Yesterday, I was back at their office. This time with my dr– Dr. Duggal. I’ve been having this strange neck pain for the last week. And it’s getting worse, not better like you would expect with a strain or if you slept weird. Dr. Duggal let me explain what was going on without trying to cut me off. Then asked me a few questions and did a physical exam of my neck. She couldn’t find anything obviously wrong. She prescribed some muscle relaxers and asked me to get an X-​ray to ensure everything is okay then scheduled a follow up.
So why only four stars? You may show up for your 3’o’clock appt. And the nurse will bring you to the room at that time. But you may be waiting for 15 – 30 minutes until the doctor comes in. This has happened to me twice. Only in the afternoon, never at my morning appts. My guess is someone shows up late at some point and it’s a domino effect from that point on, but it’s still annoying when a 15 minute appointment with the doctor is an hour in and out.
Dr. Duggal and Dr. Carter are two top notch doctors who I would, and have, referred to anyone. Their level of compassion and knowledge shows at every step of your visit with them.