Derek H Ochiai, MD

His receptionist is awful. Terrible terrible way to treat patients, nonetheless patients in pain! I can’t say much about Dr. Ochiai himself because I never got to see him due to his receptionist. For my first appointment I arrived on time instead of a few mins early due to rain and traffic, and therefore would not let me fill out forms or see the doc. I asked if I could fill them out quickly while I wait, since doctors always take ages to come see you. No sympathy at all. Straight rudeness. It wouldn’t have been half as bad if she had been nice. No desire to return now.

Dr. Ochiai is fantastic. He is professional, polite, and competent. I thought I needed knee surgery but that’s not what he recommended. I was able to leave his office pain free. Definitely knows what he is doing.

If you have straightforward case and extra money to pay for a medical procedure (over and above what your insurance pays him) — Dr Ochiai is an OK choice. Over a year since my labrum repair, the tear is still present — a failed surgical procedure. This is due to an auto-​immune disorder which caused excessive inflammation and interfered with healing. When I had issues healing from my surgery, Dr Ochiai insisted it was normal — it was the ups and downs of recovery. It took a doctor who approached my symptoms, MRI and other evidence in a holistic, diagnostic manner — not a surgeon who could do wrong — that I am finally on track to managing my condition.

(I posted this review on the Nirschl Center’s listing, but it belongs here as well.)
Dr. Ochiai repaired my shoulder better than I could have imagined.
A little over a year and a half ago, I dislocated my shoulder during exercise which caused extensive damage including torn cartilage, torn rotator cuff, broken bone, etc. I went to doctor Ochiai because I had recently been to him for an injury to my lumbar, as well as issues with my knees. Without an MRI or an X-​Ray, he was able to diagnose the full extent of the injury except the bone damage. He ordered and MRI (without contrast) and let me know I would most likely need surgery. He mentioned that he was going to spare me the contrast MRI, and if I would have known exactly what he was sparing me from at the time, I would have shown a lot more gratitude.
When the results of the MRI confirmed everything he had told me, and revealed the bone issue, he gave me my options. I never once felt pressured to choose surgery, and he was extremely clear about the long term benefits and risks were, and he was very thorough in explaining the intricacies of the shoulder to me. I can’t express how patient he was.
My surgery went extremely well. My experience with the Surgical Center he used was better than any hospital. Dr. Ochiai and the staff at the center made me very comfortable. The procedure was done with only two incisions which are now so small and clean that they can only be seen if I point them out to someone.
Post surgical visits with Dr. Ochiai were excellent. He worked me in on short notice during several emergency issues I had (re-​injury). At one point I had to have that contrast MRI he avoided earlier, and wow! That was the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced in my life! I’m glad I only had to go through that once.
I went to the Nirschl Physical Therapy center where unfortunately I was paired with two horrible physical therapists. By a stroke of luck, one of them was out on a day that I was assigned to her and I was temporarily given to Jill (who is no longer there). Jill was outstanding, and my request to be transferred to her was granted. There was a lot of pain, but she knew what she was doing and really motivated my recovery. If I could find her and review her I would. I quit physical therapy when Jill left, and resumed all the exercises at home. Though Jill and the techs that worked there were awesome, the other staff leave much to be desired in terms of professionalism, attitude, and in some cases competence in their skill.
I currently have full range of motion in my shoulder. I could not be more pleased with my recovery. My only regret is that I never really thanked him for what he did to fix me.
I would highly recommend Dr. Ochiai for shoulder repair (oh and knees, hips and lumbar)!