Mei-Ling Fong, MD

Dr. Fong is a fantastic, responsive and empathetic. She has helped me solve a number of long term health issues. I really appreciate the care that I’ve received.
Also, I’ve had no issues making an appointment and my experience with her staff has been much smoother than other practices I’ve gone to.

I became a patient of Dr. Fong almost 10 years ago and am grateful to have such a knowledgeable physician. If you want a cheap doctor, don’t expect much time from the doctor. I gravitate to doctors that limit the number of patients they see, and naturally then need to charge more for their services to make up the difference. I believe doctors who spend more time with their patients are worth paying for and Dr. Fong is worth every penny.

Called for an appointment. They charge a membership fee over and above insurance that equates to $ 1000-​$ 3000 annually for the privilege of their services. I had to laugh at the ridiculousness of it! Based on the other reviews I can’t see how that justify the premium. I’ll find another doctor that doesn’t expect me to bend over and take it.

For a place that has an annual fee like premier credit cards, gyms, or exclusive clubs… I would expect a bit more than a suboptimal reception. The doctor may be awesome but you’d have to get through the receptionist to find out. Not sure if it’s worth it when you have to pay a premium… What if I don’t want to stay, do they eat my annual fee?
My experience thus far:
Called to make a new patient appointment. Was placed on hold for over 5 minutes (stopped counting after that). When I was finally helped, I asked them to hold for a second because I had to ask someone, that was physically in front of me, a question. They hung up on me in what was literally less than half a minute. When I called back, they tried placing me on hold again. Um… no thanks.
Doesn’t seem like they’ll need nor appreciate your business, or any new business for that matter. Good luck if you still want to try!

Can’t rate zero stars? Receptionist answers the phone. I say we’re shopping for a new doctor on our plan and without hesitation, she replies «if you want to pay extra over your insurance, you can come here.» She didn’t even know which insurance we have! So I pursue with this info and ask why, how much, and what for? Why are you listed on our blue cross directory if you are going to charge over what you’ve agreed to with the insurance? She transfers me immediately to doctor’s assistant (I though you were her assistant, lady???) and I gave it a 5 minute ON HOLD just to see what would happen. NOTHING did. No one came back to the phone. If I had the time, I would have called again just to bug her, but it wasn’t worth it. Don’t know the doctor, apparently, never will with that kind of reception. Too bad, so sad.

Newsflash:
Dr. Fong is leaving the Richmond Medical Group and branching off to her own practice, leaving people with HMO– like myself, to find a new Doc. Lame.

she has been my pcp for a little over 2 years now and i have not met her once. when i go there i usually see the PA or the nurse practitioner. on one occasion i did actually get to see a doctor but it was not dr. fong.
but i do like the staff and although seeing everyone else other than my doctor, i guess i’m okay with that…

I’ve been seeing Dr. Fong for about 8 years back when her practice was in Corte Madera. I just so happened to be moving to SF when she moved her office to join her twin sister (also a GP) in the Richmond area. Needless to say, I continued to see Dr. Fong whenever an ailment popped up. And, for a hypochondriac like me, that was sometimes often. I never had a problem with appointments or getting into the office for a more urgent matter. Not only is she professional and responsive, Dr. Fong is also incredibly friendly and caring. She really pays attention to you, asks a lot of questions, and gives you the individual attention that you should be getting from your doctor, but usually don’t. I have also seen the other doctors in the practice, including her sister, and they have all been wonderful.

She has decided to basically abandon her patients in order to focus on profit by switching to a retainer practice partnership with her sister. Those who can’t afford the thousands per year (billed on top of whatever they charge to your insurance I believe) for the pleasure of keeping her as their physician get left to whomever they have at the office for the common folk I guess. This ‘concierge’ movement is a blight and violation of the spirit of being a family doctor there to help everyone equally.
So basically, Fongs but no Fongs here.

Great doctors are really difficult to find these days. I had experiences where you go to the doctor’s office. You are told to undress completely and put on a paper robe that opens in the back. Your cold as heck and sometimes they have you wait for what feels like an eternity. Then, they prod around you for a few minutes, talk to you for maybe two minutes, prescribe you some type of antidote, and ta-​ta/​see you later.
It’s impersonal.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t expect my doctor to be my new BFF. And I understand that doctors are busy and they probably see more urgent cases than what I came in for. But, geez, they see you naked, poke you, and good-​bye? Sounds worse than a one night stand and they’re getting paid! (Disclaimer: I’m a good non-​practicing Catholic girl and never had a one night stand, but I’m just saying… awful.)
I’m fortunate to have good health coverage, so I expect a little bit more attention than these 15 minute sessions. Honestly, I feel sorry for the patients that have not so good health coverage or none at all. I don’t want to imagine what they are treated like…
My experience with Dr. Mei Ling Fong has been stellar. She actually looked me in the eye and asked questions about me. Enough to actually make me feel like she really wants to know what’s going on with «me» and my health situation. She repeated back everything I said, told me her analysis on what I said, described her next steps, and what I would expect to receive upon leaving. She’s amazing! I wish she was my big sister! I would follow her around, dress like her, and maybe even grow up to be a doctor. Okay, let me wake up before I’m slapped with a restraining order.
The staff at Dr. Mei-​Ling Fong’s office is great, too. They are kind, detailed, and don’t laugh at you when you turn away while they draw blood.
I think I’ve hit the jackpot in finding SF’s best doctor and staff. So, get sick and check them out! You won’t regret it.

Dr. Mei-​Ling Fong and her sister Dr. Mei-​Lai Lucas are amazing! I feel very lucky to have them as doctors. They are identical twins and (not to say they are not individuals), but one is just as nice and professional as the other. I love the staff there too. They are very responsive and caring. You never have to wait on the phone for very long to get a live person. Whenever I’ve had a medical question for the doctor and I call in, I usually get an answer back either same day or the next day. My sister and her husband recommended this office and I’m going to get my husband to come here too. They’re the best!