Liu Yong MD

I had a such horrible experience today with this doctor office stuff. I normally hardly write any review unless I felt really unhappy and someone treated me really bad.
The office is always booked too many patients and I always need to wait at least 30mins to 45 mins every time I visited. I haven’t been their office for 2 years (the main reason). Since my company changed our medical insurance. and I have to put down 1 – 2 primary care for the reference.
I called in and made an appointment at 10:00am today. I went there 5 minuts early as usual. and after 10:10. and I got up and told the front desk girl I had another appointment and I have to leave on 10:30. Is possible I can get it done by the time? since I main reason to visit the doctor and asked her for referral my information to another doctor office. The front desk girl said the appointment can’t happen on 10:30. She suggested me reschedule another appointment. But while I was having conversation with the front desk girl, another women who seat at the corner of the front desk office jump out and said «If you want to see the doctor right way, you shall call 911.» What the heck of 911? Why I shall need to call 911 for my 10:00am appointment? Does you guys shall work on the time management? Why everytime I came to the office on time, and I have to wait at least 30mins for my appointment? That is so unfair for all our patients. Why you guys booked so many patients and you guys can’t handle it? I never have a such experience to come to any doctor offices (even in San Francisco, small and big doctor’s offices (UCSF.)… any office I had been to, I never have to wait such a long time) and I got a such unprofessional responded while a patients asked a advice and need? Does you guys shall apologized the appointment was delay before to ask me to call 911?
(One thing I want to mention: actually the front desk girl was nice. I did’t know her name. She suggested me to book the first appointment at the afternoon to avoid the loooooooog waiting time)
Even at the end I took her advice (from the front desk girl) reschedule my appointment. I am not planning to go back. That is it. I am DONE!!! There are so many great and professsional stuffs and doctor office around at Sonoma. Why I need to go back? Such wast my time!!!

I’m 64, and I’ve had quite a variety of health issues. I’ve had a lot of doctors. I believe Dr. Liu is the best I’ve ever had.
As I understand it, she was a pharmacist before she became a doctor. She seems very knowledgeable about medications.
She is often late, but not often very late, and I attribute this to the way she treats each patient. She is extremely thorough. She spends a couple of minutes going over my chart before she even addresses my issue, checking medications and past issues. She has addressed several potential conflicts between medications prescribed by other doctors. She is able to explain medications and potential benefits and detriments.
I’ve heard people complain about her bedside manner, but I appreciate her frankness. There is no sugar coating, but neither is there any condescension or judgement.
I have heart issues and have had heart attacks. During hospitalization and subsequent appointments, I realized that I trusted Dr. Liu more than my cardiologist. She explained, frankly, the damages my heart had experienced, what the drugs prescribed would or could not do, and what I could do to avoid further problems. She visited me in the hospital exactly twice as often as my cardiologist, who seemed more interested in reassuring me than in telling me what was happening to me. Again, no condescension.
I went to her with an eye infection, and she sent me to a specialist. The specialist performed a very painful exam, and prescribed an ointment. In the space of two days, the infection rapidly escalated. I called Dr. Liu, not the eye doctor. She fit me in on that day. After hearing my experience and looking at the ointment I had been prescribed, she just said, «Hmm», and prescribed something different. My condition improved radically, and the infection was gone completely in 3 days.
I experienced essentially the same thing when I had inflammation of the skin at my ear canal. The dermatologist prescribed something that seemed to make it worse, then Dr. Liu prescribed something that made it go away.
Though she knows a lot about pharmacology, she often doesn’t prescribe what I want or think I need. She prescribed a niacin drug to increase my good cholesterol but told me that the only proven successful treatment was more exercise. Not what I wanted to hear, but correct.
To Jami J., who experienced insurance problems, I would like to point out that it was the inaccuracy of the Blue Shield website which was at fault, not Dr. Liu.
After I have diagnostic tests and bloodwork, Dr. Liu takes the time to explain what the numbers mean and to show me the comparison (improvement or deterioration) to previous tests.
She assessed the conditions and prognoses of two of my relatives with her usual clarity and frankness. They were angry and changed doctors. It turned out that she was completely correct, and one might still be alive if she had followed her recommendations.
I don’t usually write evaluations online, but when someone is exceptional and does her job extremely well, I feel somehow insulted if her ability and performance is not recognized.

If I could give no stars, I would. The woman at the front desk said they would not take my Blue Shield Plan even though it says that they will on the Blue Shield website. I wasted my time filling out all their info and made an appt. with this specific Doctor based on her reviews. Then the woman behind the desk asked if I wanted to pay cash for the appointment? So why do I have insurance? This is a very deceptive and misleading policy on the part of this office. I wish I could bill her for my time! No, I would never recommend this practice, beware!

I’ve been seeing Dr Liu for a few years. They always run significantly late, but once my turn does come, I never feel rushed. There have been staffing changes since I started and I feel the changes are for the better. I really like their current team – Linda, Allie & Amanda.

Thank you, Dr. Lui!
Last Friday — the Friday before Christmas — I was down with a horrible cold and an ear ache. She stayed in over lunch to make time for me even though the rest of her day was over booked and she was short staffed.
I have known Dr. Lui for years and regard her as a thorough and brilliant doctor.

«Sorry, we’re open half a day today and all booked up» is NOT an acceptable answer when you call your doctor’s office with an medical concern. I’ve been a patient here for three years and this was their response when I called this morning with an emergency situation. Not a broken bone or sudden high fever, but the kind of thing you expect your family doctor to allow time for in her day. Not here. I’m disgusted with this practice. I started going to Dr Liu because she accepts my insurance. Not a good enough reason anymore. The office staff is flip and uncaring, and I expect more from medical professionals. I would not recommend this practice.