Sophia Mirviss, MD – Pacific Family Practice

I’m not surprised by the mixed reviews, because the front office staff at Pacific Family Practice really undermines Dr Mirviss’s great service.
However, those complaints should be posted on the Pacific Family Practice page.
Dr Mirviss is honest, funny, and incredibly reliable. I feel completely at ease trusting her medical advice.
She is an especially great choice for female patients because she pays a great deal of attention to women’s health and her pap smears are painless.
I convinced my mother to start seeing Dr Mirviss and after her first appointment she called me to tell me how thrilled she was to find a permanent doctor.

Dr. Mirviss stayed after hours with me, something like 30 minutes extra, to go over a problem I was having. She followed up with me a week later, completely aware of everything that was going on. If it weren’t for her care I wouldn’t be the happy, healthy person I am today, almost four years later. She is in the right field as far as I can see. She’s smart, focused, efficient and a genuine advocate of health.

Sophia Mirviss is the best doctor I ever had. She was willing to listen to me and work *with* me instead of dismissing the research I did on my own condition (more than any dr would have time for). I saw her for many years and never had anything to complain about, but had to stop when I was forced to change health plans and moved to the East Bay. If I was back in SF and able to change back my health plan, I’d be back with her in a heartbeat.
More information based on many more ratings can be found here:

Dr. Mirviss is great. Front desk office staff not so polite or professional.

I have been living in San Francisco for three years and could not find a primary care doctor. I given her name by a colleague at work and was so happy that she was taking in new patients. It was great as there were several tests I could not have done without a primary care doctor. She handled everything and am on track with my yearly follow up appointments.
She listens to what I share with her and she educates me on how to improve my health. If you’re looking for a good doctor — please give her a try. I have given three other friends who just moved to San Francisco and they are also going to her!

Waiting at least 30 minutes. What’s the point of me arriving on time? I should have been late, so I could be seen right a way. Time is Money

I have been seeing Dr Mirviss since 1992, my 19 yo son, my 17 yo daughter, my 15 yo daughter, my 4 yo daughter and 4 of my friends and colleagues see her as well. I am a Nurse Practitioner, my husband is a doctor, and my friends that see her are all either NP’s or MD’s. We all love her. She is attentive, she calls me back, she is knowledgeable, she performs numerous procedures on site, and she is caring.
Yes, she is sometimes late, but you know what, I am sometimes even later with patients, she uses a computer, which requires sometimes burying her nose in it so that she can make sure all of your very important patient information is in your medical record. Medical records are in the computer, and when you see 13 – 15 patients in a half day, you sure better enter everything in there while you are in the room with them. It would sure suck to have one of your very important problems or concerns not entered into your record.
I recently moved to the east bay, and would not consider in a million years transferring care to EB. I am grateful to have had her in my life for so many years.

I’ve always found Sophia Mirviss to be the 3 things I want in a primary care doctor:
1) Accessible – she (or a colleague) have always been able to get me into the office either on the same day or within 24 hours.
2) Knowledgeable – Dr. Mirviss has always provided excellent care for the ailments I bring to the office.
3) Collaborative – She takes into account my preferences as to how to I want to pursue treatments.
The office staff is for the most part courteous and pleasant. They call me back, respond to refill requests and give me lab updates. I
I’ve had no billing issues.

Dr. Mirviss and the entire staff are wonderful. I recommend them very highly. If she runs late, it is because she has taken a lot of time with someone. She has never rushed me; she is very thorough.
The computer is for your benefit. No more scrawled notes. All medication — including vitamins — will be listed clearly. This is a new system, and what is surprising is that doctors did not do it sooner. I congratulate her office on doing this.
My prior doctors’ office refused to see me even with an appointment because I was 5 minutes late. (I was too sick to drive, and my cab just didn’t come). I sat in the office with a temperature of 101 degrees and was told to go somewhere else. This was after being a patient for many years. This would never happen in Dr. Mirviss’s office.

Dr. Mirviss is professional, knowledgeable, and warm.

It’s an emotional roller coaster when your doctor’s nurse calls you to discuss lab work, but can’t actually say anything because she claims that the doctor wants to call you herself. Then you wait all morning to get a call but it never comes, same with the next few days, then you wait out the holiday weekend, then over a week for her call and it still hasn’t happened, so your family has to start calling the office along with you everyday to get some sort of information (reception is no help). My mind has been going a mile a minute, wondering why does the doctor need to discuss the results? Then you finally get a call from the nurse again saying that you have to come in for another appointment to talk with the doctor in person, but you have to wait ANOTHER day to get any clue as to the reason for this suspense. The thoughts that run through your mind are pretty awful and distracting. I’m changing my doctor — never have I felt so neglected and tortured by my own mind.

Unfortunately, Mirviss’s attention to your medical needs is hit-​or-​miss, established patient or not. Whether care is taken — or given — seems to be more a question of personal preference. And simply put, she is just not a good enough doctor to afford her — and her staff — the crotchety attitude that some patients get. Presence is everything.

I’ve been a patient of Dr Mirviss’ for over 10 years. Whenever I see her its like seeing an old friend. She remembers my medical history more than I do. She is genuinely concerned and wants to do the very best for me. I cannot recommend her enough.

This review is for my mother who was misinformed by the office that her insurance would cover her visit. Well, they were wrong and they billed her (probably ten times what she expected to pay which would be a third of her monthly income). She is now in collections over it as they wouldn’t even negotiate with her on the bill. It might seem inconsequential to the office, but it is not to her.
As for myself, I’ve been going there for years and once went for a broken rib after being hit by a car while riding my bike. The office referred me for an X-​ray but when I went for my follow up, I was asked why I was there and they didn’t have my X-​ray, so the entire appointment was pointless. This was after taking half a day off from work and waiting for them to be late for my appointment by nearly two hours.
Additionally, I had a biopsy in about 1997 and I never received my results. To this day in 2010 I have not received my results even after requesting them numerous times.
The one star is for the good on call service I’ve had after hours and didn’t want to go straight to ER. Mirviss is okay and the office staff are nice enough but overall, these experiences make me regret not choosing a different office long ago.

Dr. Mirviss is amazing! She is knowledgeable, kind, ask all the right questions and more importantly allows you to ask questions.
ON THE OTHER HAND… Her office staff is rude, unkind, and very short with patients. They never have a smile on their face, frankly they act as if they are a luxury for patients and we should be grateful they help us at all.

I’ve been a patient of Dr. Mirviss since 1992! She’s a great doctor. Yes, there are often long waits in her waiting room, but when it’s your turn she spends the time to ask questions and listen to your answers. Occasionally she’s been rushed, but on most visits she takes her time discussing the issue. She’s also referred me to good local specialists when necessary. And, she’s not shy about being proactive. For example, I had a weird mouth lump (a mucocele) that my dentist was too nervous to fix, and she fixed it no problem on the spot. And, when I went to see her because of vertigo, she diagnosed bpv (very common) and did a procedure to fix it right then. If Dr. Mirviss is accepting new patients, I highly recommend her. Her staff is also awesome, and will get you in to see her same day if the situation merits.

I have been going to Pacific Family Practice in the Western Addition for 3 years now and a couple of weeks ago it was a privilege to meet Dr. Mirviss. She is the first doctor that actually spent time with me and asked questions both health and personal. I didn’t have to wait to see her. She was on time, very insightful and helpful.

I feel bad for the previous poster for not being able to see Dr. Mirviss because she is simply awesome. She takes time to talk to patients and really explain things and plan your treatment. She also treats my friend and her mother. Dr. Mirviss actually paid them a house call on Thanksgiving one year when the mom was sick with cancer. How’s that for caring?!!
She’s in demand which is why there is a long wait time to see her but I think it’s worth it to have her as a doctor.

Called to schedule a appointment and she couldn’t see me until April. Saw the nurse practioner instead and waiting 1hr 15min! Changing my doctor!

It seems this doctor favors her established patients. From what I can hear through the walls, she sounds attentive and helpful. BUT if you are looking for a new PCP, I wouldn’t recommend her.
I recently had to switch from my much beloved PCP who was no longer seeing patients. Dr. Mirviss just doesn’t compare. Not only does she consistently run late (even for the FIRST appointment) but when she finally graces you with her presence, she buries her nose in her computer making no eye contact and hardly any acknowledgment that she’s actually listening to you.
I have been spoiled by quality doctors who sit down and actually listen and talk with you but I’m afraid Dr. Mirviss just left me feeling as though she’s not trying to get the whole picture and doesn’t really want new clients.
If that’s true, she’s doing a good job.