Encompass Family & Internal Medicine Group

This clinic is first and foremost a for-​profit center. During my last annual physical, Dr. Lockie ordered an EKG, cardiac ultrasound and carotid artery ultrasound tests for me because my mother died of a heart attack at age 63 and «because my insurance will pay for these tests» (his words). Fair enough. However, this demonstrates one of the central problems with health care in the USA; there’s little accountability when the patient isn’t at least partially responsible for their own health care costs. That’s the way the insurance companies like it. This ensures that they can keep ratcheting up the costs of health care. This is illustrative of why the USA spends so much, per capita, on health care to such poor effect.
The PA’s at Encompass aren’t very good at phlebotomy. Two separate PAs recently hurt me when they drew blood. Furthermore, they have consistently (two years running now) failed to draw blood for a comprehensive metabolic panel during my annual physical despite my drawing this fact to Dr. Lockie’s attention prior to the second time they drew blood for my annual physical.
Dr. Lockie’s receptionist, Maria, is sometimes rude. This morning I arrived for my 11 am appointment and she asked if I could return at 2 pm because Dr. Lockie himself had an appointment. I said okay, but asked her if she couldn’t have called to let me know. «It’s been really busy here», she said. «It’s a phone call for you, but a round-​trip drive for me», I protested. «Aw», she said, very sarcastically.
The La Mesa clinic is difficult to enter by car off Interstate 8 and is even more difficult to exit. It’s very difficult to trigger the green light that let’s you go left, or straight, as you exit their parking lot. This is extremely frustrating because, by the time I’m ready to leave, I can’t get out of this place fast enough.
The only saving grace of this clinic is that Dr. Lockie himself is a really good guy.

This review is directed towards their billing department. I received a bill that was almost 3 years old. Date of service was for 11÷28÷12 for $ 6.86. Confused I called them to see if it was for real. It was real. I asked them why it took so long to send me a bill. She said they had trouble finding my new address and they had to contact my insurance to find out my new address. I moved in January 2014. I caught myself before I said something mean and paid the bill over the phone. Then she said, «Would you like me to email you your receipt?». I was then dumbfounded and at lost for words. I then asked if you have my email, then why didn’t you email me for a new address. «We have over a thousand patients and we don’t have the time do that. «, was her reply. Soo… The billing department has time to contact my insurance for my address but no time to email me? Oh and my phone number has never changed. The also had the balls to charge a $ 2 late fee because they didn’t receive payment within 30 days. Even though it was the first bill I received.
A couple years ago this same billing department took too long to bill my insurance so the claim was denied due to statute of limitations. They tried to bill me the entire amount. They had to write it off since that’s a no, no. I guess some things haven’t changed.

Great clinic, staff, providers. All in all a great place!

I actually like the doctor, but he will tell his staff to get you something and to call you when the item/​medicine is in and… crickets. This has happened several times. You call them and leave a message for the doctor or his staff regarding the medicine/​item that was requested for you by the doctor and… crickets. Then the bills start coming. If your insurance didn’t pay in full, then you are responsible. Do you have $ 300 for a doctor bill? Especially since they never finished treating you because no one would call you. Yes, I could have went back for another appointment. Oh wait… I didn’t have another two hours to spend there to get the same service. Oh by the way, the office has moved and they are now an Urgent Care Clinic, so if you have an appointment it is like being at a Nail Shop. Yes you have appointment, but wait we must take walk in. Don’t even bother if you have an issue that requires managed care. There is nothing management about this office.

Very impressed with the facility. I was seen quickly by the nurse practitioner and was very happy to be in and out pretty fast. She actually suggested I get my eyes checked, since I have diabetes. By chance, the eye doctor was there that day, so I was able to get seen by them as well! They really want to make sure you are taken care of.

I’m a healthy 24 yr old who doesn’t have much need for a regular doctor. I do my girly stuff with planned parenthood and if anything crazy comes up, I hit urgent care. So, when I woke up looking like sloth from the Goonies (ingrown hair in my eyebrow gone horribly wrong), I headed to this pathetic excuse for a medical doctor because they were close and on my insurances list.
My first red flag was when the nurse came in the room, before the doctor had even seen me, and announced that the Dr wanted me to have a ekg. When I protested and asked for an explanation, she told me not to worry, that my insurance would cover it. I refused the ekg, Dr. L came in and was more concerned with pushing his acne treatment on me than worrying about my infection. He finally wrote me a prescription for an antibiotic and sent me on my way.
Flash forward about 5 months, I receive a 90 dollar bill in the mail. Willing to pay, but curious about the length of time, I call them. They explain that because they recently moved, a lot of billing was delayed. No prob. I pay.
Today I receive ANOTHER bill, this one for $ 176. I call them again and am told «it looks like your insurance is putting all the charges on you» I’m not satisfied so I continue asking questions. Girl on the phone tells me she’ll look into it and call me back. Just got a message from them… Lo and behold! A billing error!
I will never go back and neither should you!

Dr. Lajavardi (sp?) is great, though I usually see Colleen Brown. I’ve been being seen by Colleen for a few years now and I’ve had a really good experience. She’s compassionate, understanding, witty and very bright and knowledgeable. Quite honestly, she even helped me make a major decision in my life when I was upset. Great staff, Nia, is awesome. I’m terrible with names so sorry everybody but all I’ve had is good experiences. Thanks, –ward

The receptionist who works and answers the phone for the office at Dr. John Lockie’s office is very rude. I’ve had issues with her multiple times — she is short tempered, I’ve had issues with her faxing over paperwork to another office, she lost track of my lab results and took way longer than expected. She is definitely NOT the Sharp Experience!

I bought a groupon for laser hair removal here. Both PA’s are really nice and the treatments are done well. The reason this place doesn’t get 5 stars is because once I came here and the machines were broken. No one called me before my appointment to cancel. Instead I waited 40 minutes to hear I had to reschedule. The ladies at the front promised I would be the first they would call when the machines were fixed. I didn’t get a call for 3 months and finally called them myself. Also even with an appointment, the PA doesn’t get around to seeing you for about 30 minutes. I guess It is a doctors office after all.

I want to say so much here, but I will leave it short and sweet.
I was in extreme back pain and I got an appointment at the office very quickly. Karen Lappas saw me and started with the basics. She did a thorough evaluation and organized an MRI for me (which I got an appointment immediately). She was quick to follow up out of her own volition. Ms. Lappas even pushed forward an appointment with a spinal specialist even though the specialist’s office would have been difficult to get into.
I beyond impressed with the amount she cared for me, and how she arranged for my subsequent appointments with record speed. She went out of her way to check up on me. I would definitely recommend going to see her.

I have to agree with the other reviewers. Dr. Lajvardi is the rudest, most unethical physician I have ever encountered. Wish I would have checked these before going to his practice. I am deciding if I should take him to the medical board. Didn’t supervise his PA, ordered duplicate tests, and treats females as if they are subservient. This guy’s license needs to be pulled. I also waited over three hours and then had him send rude emails and notes when I left because I needed to get to another appointment at the three hour mark and couldn’t wait anymore (no he didn’t have an emergency – his staff told me he does this all the time). I was over an hour just sitting in the waiting room and another two in the exam room with nothing more needed than a routine physical for an insurance form. No one seemed to even know why I was there. His PA represented herself as a doctor (one of us was and it wasn’t her!). Somebody needs to do something about this guy – he is dangerous. Now trying to double bill my insurance after he sent a letter «terminating» me from his practice for being rude because I left and sent me an email stating I «absconded» from his practice? Loose cannon. Wouldn’t send anybody to this place.

For starters they charge a flat rate fee and since we just moved and didn’t have insurance that was a plus, not to mention they were on the lower end for price in that area. They properly diagnosed my wife and even discovered a forming case of strep throat we did not know about. After leaving we discovered to our dismay that one of our prescriptions was $ 180 and the pharmacy said they best they could do was $ 70. We called the doctor back to see if there was an alternative, she took the time to call the pharmacy, find a different yet more afordable pharmacy, she negotiated them even lower, called us, and said to mention her name and call her if they gave us any issues. That prescription ended up being $ 26. I tend to be tough on doctors, but I have to admit, I was blown away! The only thing that kept this from being a five star review was the wait time of two hours; however, it was REALLY busy when we came in. Also they are only open until five pm which is a personal pet peeve of mine. I was, though, truly impressed! If you are in La Mesa and need an urgent care, go here!!! My Dr’s name was Brittany.

They bought my doctors practice in La Jolla, where Ive gone for 17 years. It is so poorly run with a horrendous staff. They are the most unprofessional people I have had to deal with in ant medical practice ever. The Docs are good but my husband and I went on different days and both of us hear the staff talking about our ailments to the staff right at the desk where all the patients waiting and ones in rooms can hear. The STAFF is the worst and neither of us will ever go back. Just like the other reviewers. I had the same experience with the same office manager-​HORRIBLE–

Let me first by saying that the Doctor is amazing and so is the PA however the medical staff manager at this place is the rudest person I have ever meet! I went in to get blood work done and they MA asked me to call her the next day for the results due to the fact that they get really busy. So I gave them an extra day. Called the following day after that and the MA I got sounded a lil frusterated. she said she would call me back because the results wernt in my file yet. Well started to tell her that it was important and the other MA thatworks thier said she would call for me. Well of corse she wasent available! So she puts me on hold and the manager gets on the phones as says Christine… we cant just stop everything for you! We have six lines going and whats your number? I insisted that the MA that did my proceedure said she would call of find it if it wasent in my file. She continued to tell me she dident have time to stop for just me, that they other things to worrie about! AND HUNG UP ON ME!!! I I could not believe what she had just done. so now. I look like one of those patients that bug, and how i know is when i called back to get an appt for the doctor, the girl who was nice wasnow as rude as the office manager! The regular MA went on maturnaty leave shes a sweet heart! Girl they dident know what to do with out you hope your back AND READING THIS! because it was apperentLY they needed YOU!

I have being a patient of Dr. Lajvardi’s for about 8 years and all I can say is he is the best, hands down! His office staff are great and Dr. Colleen whom is new to the practice is an asset. The latest and greatest news is that they are also opening an Urgent Care in the same office, they have more rooms and are gonna be open Saturday’s so if you are anything like me and cant wait for the weekend to see a Dr. now we dont have too. All I can say is thank you to the Dr’s and staff for taking great care of me and my family :)

a wonderful practice with a great and personable staff. I am consistentl impressed by the efforts they take in explaining things to me in terms I can understand. I find the Dr to be patient and warm and his staff go out of their way to remember details about something I’ve mentioned in prior visits.
I’m a bit jaded when it comes to doctors and I’m happy to report this practice completely restored my ability to trust the medical field (tho I’m still leery in general).
I’d imagine old-​time doctors offices were once like this. Geniune, caring, and absolutely focused on the health and well-​being of their patients.

Dr. Lajavardi and his staff are wonderful! I took my «pre-​teen» there for some issues she was having. acne, weight gain. She was scared and the staff made her feel welcome. The PA that saw her was so personable and made my daughter feel like she understood just why and how she would treat the acne that had gotten so out of hand. She spoke «to» her and not «at» her like I find at so many Dr.‘s offices. They made me feel like my daughter wasn’t just a medical record number, but an actual human being, that say’s a lot in this day and age. I will continue to bring my daughter there for her care. The office was neat and clean! Thank you Dr. Lajavardi and staff!!!

This is about as nice an experience as I’ve had at a doctors office. The staff is great (not to mention cute) and the doctor is very kind and knowledgeable. Highly recommended.

I have visited Dr. Lajavardi’s office on numerous occasions. The staff has always been very friendly. Scheduling me in has never been an issue when I needed the appointment. When having lab tests done the staff actually calls (a live person) to deliver the results. They dont just call if something is wrong, they call either way. I have had a lot of experiences with doctors offices I must say, this one is the best. I will be going to Dr. Lajavari for a long time.

A license to bill.
This «doctor» took over my previous M. D’s practice after he retired. My experience with this Mr. Lajvardi has been less than impressive. Test after test after test to the extent that my insurance company started rejecting the claims. Flags went off and I wasn’t going to go back. My mistake was not finding a new doctor.
I went back to Mr. Lajvardi for some pain I was having. Again with all the tests I ended up getting an MRI on my own when Mr. Lajvardi said the pain would «go away» after injecting cortisone into the area. MRI came back showing some issues to the area. The results went to Mr. Lajvardi and I never heard anything from his office. All I got was a bill for $ 500+ for completely unrelated tests he performed (rejected by my insurance company again). I won’t be returning to him unless I have some extra cash I want to give him. Not likely.