Gustavo Calleros, MD

I went to Dr Calleros yesterday for the first time and found him to be very personable and friendly. Despite everything I’ve heard about HMO insurance docs, as this was my first experience on new Obamacare insurance plan, he spent a good 20 mins with me going over my symptoms and explaining the diagnosis and recommended treatment. The nurse seemed friendly enough too. I got there early and they took me in early. Total time there was probably one hour. Good job team and hopefully this will be my family’s experience each time.

So I have been a patient of Dr. Calleros for about 3 years now. I initially started going because I wanted a specific procedure done that required frequent check ins with a GP. Everything went fine at first. I followed a 6 month routine of monthly visits, saw all the specialists he’d send me to and finally had my surgery done which I was and still am very happy with. I was generally satisfied with his care. Over time however, he struck me as a little bit of a pill pusher — which isn’t that big of a deal.
I am writing this review due to an incident that occurred today. Here is the situation: I was out hiking this weekend, only wearing a t-​shirt. With the bad weather and my poor choice of clothing, I knew I was going to be up for a cold as my back is very sensitive to temperatures. The cold air took its toll on me resulting in a considerable amount of discomfort in my kidney area.
I called in yesterday (Monday) morning and asked to see the doctor asap as my kidneys (or the area around them) were hurting so bad that I had barely been able to close an eye the night before. The office lady offered me an appointment next Thursday, 10 days from now. 10 days! Who offers a patient in pain to see a doctor in 10 days? I asked her if there was another appointment, maybe even one for the same day. She goes (and I quote) «Absolutely not today. No way!» I asked her if there was anything available sooner than 10 days from now and she put me on hold. Then… nothing. She kept me on hold from the time I had left my driveway until I was on my school’s parking lot (10 mile drive/ca.15 minutes) to offer me an appointment today (Tuesday afternoon). I have 2 questions: Why could you not give me that appointment in the first place and why would you keep me waiting on the phone for 15 minutes? I would have hung up had I not been in so much pain. If I would have been the person handling a customer (not to mention a patient in pain!) I would have offered to call him back as soon as I have figured something out to accommodate the situation — but they lacked to do that.
Moving forward to my appointment today. My appointment was at 3:30PM — I got to see the doctor at 4:17PM. I understand that they can’t plan each visit to the minute and there is always some waiting but come on already. Anyway, he walks in saying the following without even greeting me: «One day when I am going to perform as a stand up comedian I am going to have quite a program. I have seen them all, from the patient who claims that his arteries tighten up when he drinks a soda and/​or brushes his teeth and now the guy with the cold kidneys…» Honestly, I didn’t know how to react. My doctor just made fun of my feeling bad. He went on with how you can’t feel your kidneys yada yada… pretty much telling me that what I have has nothing to do with my kidneys. Be that as it may… you don’t make fun of your patients or discredit their conditions. I told him that I am not a hypochondriac and that I have better things to do with my time than seeing a doctor when there is no need to. He then gave me a referral to an ultrasound ordered some blood work.
While my overall care has been OK so far, today’s incident inclined me to look for another GP.

I had to get a referral to a specialist. Three phone calls to remind them, each time I was told they would try to get it done today. THREE WEEKS later it comes in the mail. I sure hope I my estate doesn’t have to sue them for wrongful death, negligence and failure to practice medicine at all, after I die from a fast growing cancer! Some things shouldn’t wait, but Dr. C’s staff doesn’t care about patients.