Joy Liu – Family Practice

What a Joke! Dr. Liu has been the Dr on my medical card for years, but I have only seen her a handful of times, and for that– by choice! I have never been to an office that INSISTS on me coming to see her for regular routine check ups when I specifically told her and her office numerous times that my GYN calls for blood work and does my physical, I don’t need to pay another $ 30 for her to do another exam. This concept she does not get! So I get a random call telling me that if I wish to be her patient, I need to come in, Well guess what, I am finally done with her and I changed my insurance card and regular Dr over to Dr. Christopher Olsen in El Dorado Hils. What a change for the better, and because of his office staff and his caring demeanor I will be getting a routine physical from him every year, Patients don’t mind seeing a Dr when the Dr is good at what they do. I remember one visit with Dr, Liu and she told me I need to lose weight. I am 127lbs, 5 – 5. Really? I am fat? What a joke! I can understand if I was grossly overweight, but insulting patients is probably not the best business practice, SO glad to be done with her and so happy I found a wonderful Dr,. Would not recommend this Dr or office to my worst enemy. (and the topper, even when I told the office I was changing my provider they still called me leaving me voice messages to tell me I need to come in,

I can only start by saying the following. I think most businesses begin with the intention of living up to their mission statement. I have not seen one yet. that has not faulted on at least one of their well intended statements
That is until the first and last day I walked into Dr Liu’s office. Every word and I quote from her site starting with «our care team is always here for you». Absolutely everybody that works with Dr Liu are a fantastic group of hardworking people. And no matter how busy they are each and every one of them will smile listen and take care of the patients needs excellently. Secondly I would like to refer once again to the Mission Statement on Dr LIu’s website: We promise to listen to you.
We promise to apply the latest proven medical practices to your care.
We promise to assist in attaining your desired quality of life.
We promise to apply a holistic approach to treating you, taking care of your physical as well as emotional well-​being.
We promise to provide excellent customer service.
Now a promise is a hard word to live up to. I see a promise as being a word that requires honor, a guarantee that what we say will be applied to every person that comes through the doors. I know with full clarity in every ounce of my being that this group of doctors adhere with ethical and moral principles to all of us clients that were fortunate enough to be a part of their practice with honesty and integrity.
Thank you and I will miss you all very much.
Carmel

My whole experience with this office and Dr. Liu was difficult. For starters, I made this appointment and paid for this visit to see a Doctor, not her assistant. I have been out of work because of an injury and self employed… meaning, I needed services and MRI’s done quickly so I can get healthy and get back to making money to figure out what is wrong with me. Their staff, Brittany specifically, continually screwed up the approval from my insurance because of lack of knowledge in her job position. It was brutal, spent 12+ hours on phone with this doctors office and my insurance because of them… to only get to my MRI two weeks later finally and be told I could not get it done because of a mistake in Dr. Liu’s office on the approval. Had to wait another two weeks in able to get the MRI after I figured out the problem myself with more hours spent on the phone. Then came to Dr. Liu’s office to speak with anyone that could make it right, and at the end of the visit, finally saw Dr. Liu for first time, and she told me it would be best if I found another primary Doctor… Some might have a different experience, but this was mine.

I came to this doctor’s office because I was looking for a physician in my network who offered a more holistic approach to health care. I scheduled an appointment with the other doctor because Dr. Liu was not accepting new patients. I was disappointed and almost switched to a different doctor’s office.
Today, I was seen by one of the physician’s assistants, Diane, and I have decided to stay! Diane was very helpful with with all of my concerns and addressed my questions in a very mindful manner. I told her that I was looking for more holistic options and she respected my decision and provided me so much helpful information.
I found out that she is here only part time, so I will be sure to schedule my appointments on Mondays and Tuesdays from now on.

The phone systems have gotten a lot better and I love the fact that this office allows you to check your medical history and chat with their medical staff on the online portal. I’ve also had great experience getting immediate medical care when needed. Even if it’s non urgent, they get me in within 48 hours if requested. Their nurse practitioners are professional and are not the type of gals to just prescribe you with antibiotics for no reason. The only reason I give them 4 stars instead of 5 is due to the unprofessional experience I had with one of their staff members about a year ago. I had gone in for a raging bladder infection and was trying to get my paper work to run over to the pharmacy and the receptionist told me «your a big girl, you can wait». Um… When you can’t stand to be away from the bathroom for more than 5 minutes, you kind of can’t wait! I received a private email from this particular person a couple days after the incident and she did apologize for her rude behavior and made excuses of how stressed she was due to the busyness of the office. Unfortunately, this lady still works here but luckily is not the one poking you with needles. Needless to say, I would recommend this doctors office.

It’s been a pleasure having Dr. Nguyen as our Dr. The staff are helpful and scheduling is easy.

I’m in my mid-40’s and never had a huge «medical» condition where I needed to be concerned with about having a caring doctor, but I found Dr. Liu’s office on Unilocal when I was looking two years ago and went off the positive reviews and I am so thankful I found them!!! I’ve seen both Dr. Liu and Dr. Nguyen, and have been truly AMAZED how thorough and caring they are! Easy parking and caring docs are hard to come by!

Ever since my favorite doc sold his practice I was in search to replace him, I found a doctors I didn’t like and 1 that I did, but the office staff was horrible.
After a few years of searching I found the office of Dr. Joy Liu
The doctors Dr. Liu and Dr. Nguyen, are awesome, knowledable with an excellent bedside manner.
The staff for so helpful and supportive it’s truely amazing.
Thanks to N.P.-C Lauren, Britney, Deanna, Heather, Karen, Ellen and many more, I get same day appointments, authorizations and so much more.
I always recommend this practice to all my friends, family, and the random Facebook person looking for a good doctor with an excellent staff.

I’ve been a patient of Dr Liu’s since 2010. I have always had great experiences in her office. A few years back I was asked to see one of the Physician Assistants because Dr Liu was out of the office. I was reluctant because I prefer to stick with one Provider. However, I was VERY pleasantly surprised with my experience with Diane Asmuth! She was so thorough and spent a good amount of time explaining my recent labwork. Since then I have also met with Loran Killar (her other PA), as well as Dr Denise Nguyen; every last one of them is fabulous! They all have obviously adopted Dr Liu’s vision for healthcare that entails a caring and sincere relationship between patient and provider. I always feel important when I’m there. Sometimes they run behind schedule (like all offices sometimes do), but once it is my turn they spend quality time with me (as they obviously did with the patient before me); I never feel rushed. I frequently recommend them to friends and family. I’ve had nothing but positive experiences in their office. They’re a great group! Totally 5 stars!

Very displeased… will likely find another doctor’s office in the area.
I scheduled an appointment for a regular check-​up as well as some consultation for my upcoming trip to Tanzania. Took a week, which is fine.
When I arrived, I was told about a $ 100 co pay (which I’ve never had to do with other my other doctors) due to having PPO insurance? They said I would get a deductable back, but I dont have a deductable plan. Anways, I didnt fight them on it, and I still need to figure out how to get my hundred back.
My appointment did not go very well. Besides the basics of checking height/​weight, nothing else was checked or mentioned or asked. Felt like they were trying to get me out and onto the next patient.
Regarding the Tanzania aspect of it, seemed like the nurse/​dr was reading off of google search on what vaccines and medicines I needed. I asked for a presciption on diamox and anti-​malaria, and she said I needed typhoid pills too — didnt explain what or why… just that I needed them because «its says here you need …»
They said they would send over the prescriptions to the pharmacy, and would followup to let me know. Did not happen. Never got a call. Never got my pills.
Thankfully I went to a travel clinic whose staff had 9 years of experience, knew exactly which vaccines I needed and stocked them all onsite to prick and shoot me up, provided a booklet of info as well as full explanations on everything, including malaria and typhoid pills. Well everything except diamox… needed a dr note.
So I called JOY LIU office on mon at 5:30pm, telephone prompt so I left a message. I called the office on tue at 5:30pm, telephone prompt so I left a message. They advertise being open until 6pm, so thats not accurate at all.
Wed they called me back, I explained I came in over a month ago, requested diamox prescription for high altitude sickness, but never got it. And that I needed it asap since I was leaving soon. The representative said they would resend it over to the pharmacy right away.
Fri, day before my trip, I go to the pharmacy, pay $ 85 (with insurance) for what I thought was Diamox. It was not. It was some sort of high dose anti-​biotic that was completely irreavant to my request. Pharmacist double checked but thats what it came in as… got my money refunded but NO DIAMOX. Even the pharmacist was confused why it was prescribed to me.
I am frustrated because I saved up alot of money to climb Killimanjaro, tried to prepare a months ahead of time, and am likely to fail because of the inability for this office to fill out a simple prescription. Twice. My current plan is to buy diamox in africa, without the security of knowing its legitimacy.
Ok so in summary — TLDR:
–Complicated $ 100 copay for PPO.
–Nothing gained from a regular checkup.
–Phones go to (very lengthy) answering machine during «business hours».
–Took two days to answer voicemail.
–Failed to prescribe original request, twice.
–Not reccomended for any travel knowledge.
–Very displeased.

I am very happy with Dr Nguyen! I’ve been seeing her since February of this year as a new patient. She covers almost anything and everything. Wait time is not long. Also can usually get same day appointments. Very easy location to find too.

I completely agree with Ashely P.
I experienced the same frustration when trying to call or get a hold of my doctor/​staff. They never return your call, and you get tired to call and leave messages. On top of that, they billed me twice and it was very difficult revert the charges.

Although I have only seen her a couple of times so far, Dr. Joy Liu is by far the best doctor I’ve had. I was blown away at the time she took to get to know my circumstances and me as a person and patient – that never happens anymore these days! She was incredibly thorough, detail-​oriented, and was able to answer all of my questions… and without having to look up the answers in a book right in front of me like the last nurse practitioner I was seeing did every time I came in! Dr. Liu seems super bright and intelligent and it feels like she makes it a point to address all of the aspects of my health involving whatever issue I’m having, not just solely the problem I’m in for. I LOVE that. She also actually listens and problem solves and doesn’t just throw medicine at you without working on solving the root of the problem… we need more doctors like her! I am so happy to have found her and highly recommend her.

After a bumpy start I am now happy with Dr. Liu as well as Dr. Nguyen. Referrals are now not a problem and very easy to schedule an appointment. I am actually surprised in a good way that things have improved to the point that my initial review is no longer applicable.

I have been unhappy with the customer service since they switched offices. It feels like the practice is growing faster than they can keep up. I didn’t want to switch doctors because they are really good and we are comfortable with them. I just can’t take the wait and lack of communication between office staff and the patience. And listening to the message on their phone system is getting really old. I think they are working as fast as they can, maybe they need more staff.

I started seeing Dr. Liu when she first opened her practice here in Folsom. I have never regretted that decision. Over the years, I have had various issues/​concerns and she has always taken the time to listen, answer my questions, make necessary referrals and on quite a few occasions called me afterwards to see how I was doing. I trust her with my health and know that she is conscientious about checking my medical history and medications each time I see her. I trust her enough that I moved my teenage daughter to her practice and have had no regrets. Her PA is also very good and takes the time to listen when you have a concern. Thank you Dr. Liu and your staff!

UPDATE:
I am leaving Dr. Liu’s practice after having SO many issues in the years since first reviewing. Her location and staff have changed for the worse since 2012. I have had multiple issues with their incompetent billing lady. I can never get a hold of her during business hours, she codes things wrong, and when I try to have her fix it or my insurance tries to fix it, she ignores the calls. Due to a change in who they accept for insurance, I ended up in a loophole. They will keep already established patients of that insurance, but the insurance won’t pay out because they are no longer providers. So how to fix this problem? The insurance rep and I try to call her together since it’s such a wreck. That was a year ago. It’s still not been addressed to my knowledge. last time I was in, Dr. Liu looks at my chart and says insurance hasn’t paid them in over a year. I explain what happened and told her that Miss Billing can give me a call when she’s ready to deal with it because I’ve spent HOURS at a time trying to fix it. I can’t. Insurance won’t pay for a doctor that isn’t a designated provider. They don’t want to be a designated provider. I don’t have any control over that.
This office referred me out when I got pregnant and I saw that doctor for the duration of my pregnancy. Upon my return I’ve got nothing but RUDE from Karen.
My husband has been to the office once and said he’ll never go back. Found a new doc. DONE with Liu and the decline in friendly care at her practice.
P. S. Just read other reviews and the office response to the telephone system being fixed or being worked on. I’ve left voicemails on the «non urgent voicemail that will be returned within 2 hours». Sometimes it’s days before I hear back.
ORIGINAL:
I am so happy to have switched to Dr. Liu’s practice! I saw her MA the same day I needed to be seen and I won’t be going back to my old doctor. She listened to my history, addressed all my concerns and the office made a follow up phone call the next day. After being frustrated with doctors for about 2 years, this practice is a godsend. A standing ovation for the Doctor and her hard working staff!

Quick and appropriate care. Dr. Liu is very attentive to the patients concerns and takes the time to not only listen but also understand the concerns of the visit. Dr. Liu has been our physician for a number of years and has our complete trust in our health care.

I have worked in healthcare for twenty years, so I am very picky about my doctors. Dr. Liu has always been wonderful in her approach and very knowledgeable. I now bring my teenagers to her office, and she has made them both feel very comfortable.

Dr. Liu has been a wonderful family physician for my two teenage children and myself. She is sensitive in her approach and a very good listener. She is quick to accommodate our family’s needs. I trust in her abilities and trust her opinion. She takes the time to understand her patients and that is why our family appreciates Dr. Liu!