Scott Martin, MD

Dr Martin was a great doctor i will be sorry to see him go. Praying for happy New beginnings.

Very bad experience. I was referred to Dr. Martin by Anthem Blue Cross. Dr. Martin was not accepting new patients, so Sharon, the receptionist, scheduled me with a Newport pain mgmt doctor, who was taking over Dr. Martin’s Aliso Viejo patients: Dr. John Michels.
The office staff did NOT consider or inform me before my visit of the following:
1. Dr. Michels does not do procedures locally near Aliso Viejo regularly (one must go to his Newport Beach surgery center). If I wanted to go to his «rarely-​used» Laguna Hills surgery center, I would have had to wait over 4 weeks, according to Lisa, his procedure scheduler (Dec. 19) (My initial appointment was Nov. 17; how am I supposed to bear severe pain for over a month???)
2. Dr. Michels uses a surgery center that is NOT in my Anthem BC EPO network, so I could not even get the facet block and ablation that Dr. Michels recommended.
3. Dr. Michels told me at the time of my initial consultation that I could have the procedure the following Wednesday – Wed. before Thanksgiving – and that his very capable associate, Dr. Richard Paicius, would most likely be doing the procedure. That was fine, so I cleared my schedule (5 appointments) for that Wed. – a major loss of income for me.
Tracy, Dr, Michels’ office manager, informed me on Nov. 20 that Dr. Michels would never have told me I would be having the procedure that Wed. which was infuriating – like calling me a liar! She was not in the exam room with us, so she would not know what was discussed!
Since I would not be able to undergo the treatment (necessary injections) that Dr. Michels wanted to do and should never have been scheduled with Dr. Michels to begin with, I asked Tracy to waive my 20% co-​pay, and she refused!
Now I have to start all over again to find a pain mgmt. doctor, wait for records to be sent, have an exam and pay another high, initial visit co-​pay – all because of a lack of proper decision-​making and knowledge about my insurance from the start. I hope this does not happen to others. My advice is to ensure that your insurance covers both the doctor AND surgery center before making the appointment – and that you will not have to wait over a month for a diagnostic injection.
Pain management doctors give injections; so if they are Anthem BC doctors but don’t use Anthem BC facilities, it’s pointless for them to see Anthem BC patients! It is a waste of those patients’ precious time and money.
I am beside myself with frustration. I should add that my appointment was at 10 a.m., but Dr. MIchels did not see me until 11:15. When I brought this to the Aliso Viejo office manager’s attention (Jody), she was defensive, rude, and unapologetic. No warmth. Way to scare patients away!
I also tried to get help in the matter from Dr. Scott Martin and telephoned him on a phone number given on the recorded greeting. I was agitated while explaining what was going on with having been scheduled with an associate who could not perform procedures in an Anthem-​contracted facility, but in no way hostile or verbally abusive, and I certainly never raised my voice. Yet Dr. Martin twice said I was «yelling» at him!!! Not only that, he claimed to have received death threats from patients, which seemed very strange to me. Yelling! LOL. I am sure if I had actually been yelling, he would have just hung up. Frustrated, yes, and desperate, yes… This is CLEARLY not a man who can empathize with patient dilemmas.
Almost everyone I dealt with in this conflict at both offices, Newport and Aliso„ including Jody in the Aliso office, Tracy in Newport, and Dr. Martin, himself, were unwilling to empathize, rude, unapologetic, and accusatory. NOT RECOMMENDED. STAY AWAY!!!

I found Dr. Scott Martin about 8 years ago after going through 9 other pain doctors. I finally found a doctor who is sincere, compassionate, caring, and knowledgeable. He will take as much time as you need to talk with you, explain everything well etc. He has improved and changed my life 100%. When I first met Dr Martin I was in chronic and severe pain. Many doctors did not even want to treat me because I was so complicated. I was in a wheel chair and on oxygen. Dr. Martin has made me a whole functioning person again. I can drive again, go to the gym, everything a ‘normal’ person can do. I am so thankful and grateful that I found Dr. Scott Martin. I have referred him to 4 of my friends who have all be greatly helped by him. I recommend him to anyone and everyone. He is kind, patient, caring, knowledgeable and the most amazing Doctor I know. I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to feel better.
Jeanne F.

I’m a brand new client to Dr Martain and I can say that he is amazing Dr. He took the time to listen to all of my background and symptoms that I have. He’s up to date on newer anti-​inflammatories and that for one was a blessing for me as a rule I cannot take these meds.
He has great bedside manner in which while doing an injection, for the first time ever, he kept a normal conversation going and before I knew it I was done. It’s so nice to meet doctors who actually still love their jobs and the people they help.
The office staff is wonderful and helpful as well.

I’d give a half a star if it was possible, this had to be the worst experience I’ve ever had outside of the VA Healthcare system for several reasons. First of all I’ve had chronic back pain including 10 surgical procedures and a spinal cord implant which is currently malfunctioning. This set of back injuries was the result of service to our country and injuries sustained in combat which include herniated discs from l5s1 thru l2l3 and severe nerve pain on both sides of my body that have not been helped by the spinal cord implant and pain that is only controlled through opiate medications. My referral to Dr. Martin after I routerred off my left index finger and received outstanding treatment from Dr. Elzik who referred me for my pain management to Dr. Martin. I don’t feel like I’m entitled to free anything, however I don’t feel like I should be treated as a parolee as my first visit to Dr. Martin made me feel, which before ever being seen I was administered a drug test. I was in complete disgust that this was the beginning of my treatment. I was then spoken to by Dr. Martin like I was a junkie, seeking drugs, not an injured veteran with extensive proof of serious pain and injuries. His first attempt I guess you could call it was to take me off of all opiate medications, which I followed, and as a result suffered extreme pain that felt like rebar was being torn from my thighs and hamstrings, I wanted to die. I called his office to express my concerns, all the while being told by his staff that Dr. Martin would see me in the next day or so for a follow up to review my cat scan and try to change my treatment plan. NOT ONE TIME DID HE EVER REVIEW MY CAT SCAN RESULTS OR LOOK AT MY BODY TO SEE THE SCARS OR TELL ME WHAT HE COULD CONCLUDE FROM MY IMAGING. FOR THIS ERROR, I COULD DO NO BETTER THAN ASK FOR EVERY OTHER POTENTIAL CLIENT OF HIS BE URGED TO SEEK TREATMENT ANYWHERE ELSE. I am disgusted even further that when I called to request my medical records, which I payed for when I made my copays, and my insurance was charged exorbitant amounts of money for substandard and terrible service I was told I would have to pay 25 $, and that he had only seen me one time and I had violated an opiate agreement by getting treatment from ONE other doctor, who is my only doctor and has provided me with real medical treatment. This guy and his whole office is garbage, save your time and go anywhere else. If I could go back in time, I would, but you live and you learn, this is one of those learning experiences that he could never be excused for lack of professional help. Lastly, because I am disabled, Social Security was denied my medical record, of two visits and imaging I’ve paid for already to get my disability, this guy had the nerve to tell me that he was a patriot and supports veterans, How? You did nothing to help me?

Dr. Scott Martin is one of the best doctors I have ever seen. I have been seeing him for two years now. And I have seen boatloads of doctors due to having Chronic Lyme Disease. This doctor is very knowledgable, professional, and truly cares about his patients! I have a lot if allergies to medicines and he has been able to help me with my pain and medications. He has made a much easier road for me. He has been able to help me with my issues so much more than so many other doctors. He also extends his time with me and has has helped me with many other issues of which i so appreciative! His staff is also excellent! Very professional and always kind and friendly to me! There have been two times in two years where I have had to wait, but things come up and this doctor truly cares, so I understand. Also, this doctor is really hip and knows what’s going on on the world, very relatable! Thanks Dr. Martin and your staff too!

Disappointed. My wife is no longer a patient.

I’ve been a patient of Dr. Martin’s for one year now & because my care has been so FANTASTIC, I just wanted to leave an update. I am so much more functional and happy than I was when I first met Dr. Martin and his staff one year ago. It’s amazing! His approach of treating the patient’s mind and body has changed my life. I’m on less medication than I have ever been on, but I am coping better with the chronic pain & the roller coaster it can be. Letisha & Sharon both interact with the patients in such a kind and empathetic way. Jody returns calls promptly & consistently handles any requests efficiently! My only regret is that I didn’t find Dr. Martin & his excellent team many years ago!!!

I have been a patient of Dr. Martin for a little over a year. Within this year he has reviewed my records from my Neurologist who had been treating me for Neuropathy and Fibromyalgia and at the beginning started off low with some new pain medicine options (as the Meds my Neurologist were giving me were barely reducing the pain) and in the beginning it seemed like it was a long road, as he listened to me and adjusted meds with each visit (which I totally understand starting off low on new meds as you do not know how you are going to react and what dose will be right for you) and finally got me to a point where I have good pain relief and no longer feel the daily despair of chronic pain that had me at times just wanting to crawl out of my skin as I cannot take it anymore.
I read the other reviews both good and bad and as I was not part of any of the other reviewers treatment I cannot judge. BUT I can say that Dr. Martin has always taken the time I feel is needed during our appointments, taking me back to his office, shutting the door and truly taking the time to talk with me not only about my medical issues, but has always taken the time to ask about life and all the hurdles I am trying to get through and taking the time to give me advice on how to get help or people to possibly contact to get through trying to Short Sale my home of almost 20 years, looming Foreclosure, new management at work which resulted in a job demotion and a 25% salary reduction and the challenge of children with multiple diagnosis of their own. And as he takes these moments to check in with me, offering sound advice, and I feel caring about all the moving pieces of my life, because we all know that life stressors can only increase and complicate our pain threshold and I really feel that he takes all of that into consideration of how he can help me by decreasing my daily pain down to a bearable level which gives me some peace and one less worry as I deal with all of the other chaos currently going on in my life.
And in addition to Dr. Martin, I have found his front office and nursing staff to always be kind and helpful.
Lisa C.