Javier Zelaya, MD

We’ve only been to Dr Zelaya a few times and I found him to be cold and dismissive. But when my daughter developed shingles and needed a dermatologist’s care I called his office as a last resort. Dr Zelaya’s office «gatekeepers» are AWFUL. When I BEGGED for an appointment, the woman I spoke with said «if you think this is an emergency then call 911 or go to the emergency room. We’re totally booked.» I will never call this office again. If there was a ZERO star option I’d use it.

Be prepare yourself for the average 2 hours of wait. Respect our time, please !
I won’t go back there anyway

I have posted two negative reviews here about this doctor and staff and they have disappeared so here they are again. Perhaps I posted them on the other office address and they don’t cross reference. First, Ahmed K. the same thing happened to me for a drug they wanted me to use at their preferred pharmacy. The drug was called Picato. Then, Vivian Hom, PA (I never did see Zelaya) finally prescribed a generic that cost me $ 5 as opposed to the over $ 800 co-​pay for the Picato, but, she overdosed me causing severe nausea, diahrrea, and burns to appear on my forehead. When I went to a second physician this second doctor told me the protocol for this drug was twice a week for ten weeks. Vivian Hom prescribed me to use it every day for ten days. (Was this done as retribution for not buying the expensive drug from their preferred pharmacy?) Under my instigation, they are under investigation by the New York State Office of Professional Medical Misconduct. Hom for malpractice and Zelaya for failure to oversee the practice of a PA working under him. Had I any evidence I would also report them to the IRS for «steering» and kickbacks that they are «certainly» receiving from their preferred pharmacy.
STAY AWAY!

Everyone is right on this site. I’ve been coming here for far too long. I’ve had my last visit (you’d thing I would have learned my lesson by now!) There is always a ridiculous wait to see anyone. You never actually see the Doctor, it’s always the physicians assistant. She is actually great and super nice. She does a great job but the wait to see her is just simply not worth it any more. Today I waited two hours. I’m always early for doctors appointments in hopes to be seen earlier but there’s just no point at this place. I have had my last visit! The wait is always absurd!!!

This place has terrible service. I have now been sitting in the waiting room for 1 hour. I have not been called and no one has told me anything. The Doctor is not even here. The PA is taking patients. Completely unprofessional. What’s the point of making an appointment at all if you’re going to be seen over an hr later?

Quite possibly the worst run clinic I have been in. I scheduled an appointment with Zelaya, but instead was seen by a PA (which I don’t mind if I was told this before hand.) The PA seemed nice but unsure about everything. She kept referring to Zelaya in the third person as if he was the wizard of Oz, but never went to talk to him. At the end of the visit she prescribed a very expensive medication that had many cheap alternatives stating it was much better which was a lie. I am in medical school, and have worked in private clinics for years before hand. She was definitely pushing the drug because the clinic got a kickback from the pharmaceutical company.
After leaving the clinic, I found out how large the copay was for the medication she pushed and phoned the clinic twice asking for the common and generic alternative be phoned to my pharmacy. Three days days later I phone for a third time to ask why my Rx wasn’t phoned and the receptionist informed me she phoned in the same (expensive) Rx to some random pharmacy. I reinstructed them that I wanted a generic to my pharmacy and it never happened. Now I am looking at $ 100 bill from their esteemed office.
This office is not a medical establishment. It’s a business to swindle people from their money without even getting anything in return. Zelaya should be ashamed to have an MD next to his name, for he certainly doesn’t deserve it.

I walked in for a scheduled appointment to a crowded waiting room. When I checked in, I specifically asked if there was a wait and was repeatedly told, «we’re moving quickly.» Only after inquiring an hour later about my wait was I called back to a room. Service is mediocre, but service providers definitely have better hospitality than front-​end staff.

I had treatments here once a week for 6+ months. I was always taken late for my appointment, but I came to expect that. I found everyone in the office very helpful and always answered my questions. I would definitely go back.

Can I give it 0 stars?
I waited one hour and fifteen minutes for a confirmed appointment.
My appointment lasted five minutes and consisted of a physician’s assistant giving me three options, non of which were helpful.
I walked out wishing I could get my $ 20 co-​pay and hour and twenty minutes back.
That said, I vow to spend at least 15 more minutes warning you to NOT waste your time. You won’t even get a solution to your skin concerns if you wait over an hour.
Run in the other direction!

I’m glad they can make people look young again here because by the time I am seen I am going to be old.

Yup, I agree with much of below and that he pretty much sucks. This is my first ever Unilocal,so I guess I feel inspired as well.
The main thing is I have a bigger scar than I need to on my back. I had a minor procedure done and he did a horrendous job stitching me up and so I have a big scar for a minor thing. My general doctor even asked to see the results to make sure there wasn’t a complication.
On top of his inadequate job performance and the waiting room time, his lack of interest was also frustrating. I saw him a few times and he never took enough time to really get to know the problem. I had a few questions and he didn’t give straight-​forward answers or seem like he really wanted to be bothered with more than the main thing I came in for.
Please, please, please, don’t give this guy your business.

I’ve gone here because they can get you in same day, so thought it worth enduring the 1 – 2 hour wait. Unfortunately, the $ 500 bill I got later for something that should have been covered by insurance, sure made it not worth it!

I used to come here all the time when I was younger so when I read the Unilocal reviews, I was surprised at all the negativity and made an appointment anyway. Well, let me tell you, the Unilocalers did not lie! The wait was absolutely ridiculous! I had an 11:30 appointment, showed up at 11:15 and the place was PACKED. There was literally about 20 people there and barely any room to STAND. ALL of the seats were taken and I had to basically stand in the door way. I asked the receptionist (who was VERY nice) how long the wait would be and she told me 45 minutes to an hour. Okay, no problem. I finally got a seat and sat for a little while and at 12:30 (over an hour later) I asked her how long it was going to be and she told me ANOTHER HOUR. So, one hour ago she told me it would be an hour wait, but in actuality it would be at least 2! Probably more! I didn’t wait to find out, but rather just left. It was absolutely ridiculous. (Everyone in the office was complaining as well that they waited forever). The doctor (when I saw him in the past) was very nice, but unfortunately I will not be going back.EVER. These people need to realize the PATIENT’S time is just as valuable as the doctor’s time! We have jobs and things we need to do and can’t afford to sit in a doctor’s office ALL day.
I will NEVER go back and if you plan on going here, think again and DON’T. Go somewhere else; you’ll thank me!

Came for 10:15 appointment at 10:00. Office is packed. Receptionist said it would be a 30 minute wait… 40 minutes later they only called 1 person into the office. This is my LAST visit here!

Went there last Wednesday and stank girl is still there! I handed her my cc and she just put it down on the table. wtf. if I hand you my card, you can hand it back to me.

Today’s appointment has left me angry enough to leave a negative review, which normally I do not do. I have seen Dr. Zelaya a few times. The wait is always long (1 – 2 hours), which is normal for most doctors. They do book several people for the same time, though, so don’t be surprised to hear someone walk in saying «I have a 2pm appointment with Dr. Zelaya.» when you also have a 2pm appointment with him. I get it, though — if someone does not show up, they lose money and have staff, bills, etc. to pay. However, they book too many people for the same time slot often. And the billing clerk is rude. I wanted to pay with American Express, they do not accept it. Okay, I’ll pay with CareCredit — no, they do not accept that as payment for «just» office visits. So I paid with Visa. The billing clerk walks me to the exam room and clearly she is annoyed. She fixes the exam table but leaves without a word. Dr. Zelaya tries to keep the appointment to just 5 – 10 minutes max (if you’re lucky). He recommended a treatment last Fall for an ongoing problem I’m having, said if it continues, let’s do it next time. I was there today for the «next time» and he kept telling me to schedule an appointment for the treatment, which is just an allergy test. I kept trying to get it done today, but he would not do it. The technician/​nurse is great, and she talked with me more than Dr. Zelaya. He’s nice enough, but I would like the problem resolved or treated, not to keep taking different prescriptions. I will not be going back to him again. If you just need a prescription, then maybe he’s your man. Otherwise, keep looking.

I had a 6pm appointment at 6:30 I asked how much longer they said they were running 45 minutes behind. At 8pm I finally was called and then I just sat in an exam room for 15 minutes. I don’t think I will ever go back.

If you feel like getting ripped off and treated poorly than this is the Dr. for you. Dr. Zelaya saw my son for 2 minutes and charged my insurance $ 200. He had made me wait for so long in the waiting room we could not stay as we had to leave to get my other child at school. I had scheduled enough time and spoken with his staff about this before. Than when I called and about removing the co-​pay he said that I did not ask in the right way so he would not do that.
I told him he was un-​ethical to charge me for doing nothing and he told me that I don’t understand how valuable his time is. Yet he told me that I should allow 1 & ½ hours to wait to see him when I schedule an appt. I said that my time is valuable too and he should not charge a co-​pay when he did not do anything. He made an entire waiting room wait for an hour because he told me that he took a longer lunch than usual and the office had been closed for an hour already for lunch.
I had checked every 5 minutes during my wait to make sure I would be out in the time that I had been promised than the Dr. told me it was my fault even though he saw me 50 minutes after the scheduled appt.
When I showed up at 2:00 there was one person in front of me. The room was empty. I was not seen until 2:57. He is rude and dismissive.