Family Health Associates

Dr. Mahamitra definitely gets 5 stars + (plus). I count myself as lucky being her patient and finding her (recently). Being from the city, good doctors are really hard to come by. I’ve been trying to find a good primary care physician for years now and have been unsuccessful. However, when I caught Bronchitis, it was finally time to give up the Urgent Care physician I normally go to. Yeah, he was nice and all, but he misdiagnosed me several times. With that in mind, I went to my Doctors List provided by my insurance company and found Dr. Mahamitra’s name. Thank God! Not only does she know what she is talking about, she is caring and (truly) listens to her patient concerns. If you are still searching for that primary care physician, make an appointment with Dr. Mahamitra. You won’t regret it. :)
UPDATE: Dr Mahamitra is practicing at a different location. This should be her more recent address.
Walcharee C Mahamitra, DO
Family Practice
1821 Wilshire Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90 403

This office threatened to hurt my credit score due to their double billing my insurance company.
I don’t usually post reviews, but this is so concerning to me, I feel the public ought to know. Received a notice from Family Health Assoc threatening to send me to collections for unpaid bills. I have PPO coverage through Blue Cross, this news was alarming, disturbing & distressing. Called Blue Cross who told me this office double & tripled billed them for the same visit made on the same days. Blue Cross paid the first bill & then returned the multiple billings back to Family Health Assoc. Family Health Assoc. in turn told me these were unpaid & are trying to collect from me, despite my PPO coverage & they threaten to send my bills to collections. I am now trying to get Blue Cross to deal with Family Health Assoc to straighten this out & the Blue Cross representative told me that Dr’s offices always double or triple bill.
Don’t want anyone to go through what I’m going through & receive distressing surprises like this where it’s the patient’s credit score that gets damaged, despite having PPO health insurance.
I truly enjoyed having Dr. Courtney Cheng as my Dr. & am grateful that Family Health Assoc informed me — but double billing is an alarming practice where it’s the patient who suffers in the dispute between the Dr’s office & the health insurance company.
While I liked Dr. Cheng, I can’t chance another double/​triple billing incident & them threatening my credit — so I won’t be going back & hope to find another Dr.‘s office with better, transparent, trustworthy billing practices.
Noticed there’s another reviewer who posted a similar double billing experience below & now I know I’m not an isolated case. Patient beware!

I really like this office. They staff is very helpful and super nice. They always try to do their best and help you. Dr. Fang is super great and very knowledgeable with a great bedside manner. There are a few slip ups here and there but that is life and they always fix it right away. Normally I would give most D offices 2 stars so my 4 stars here is a real good sign as to how great they are. I wish the parking was validated though.

My husband and I both went to Dr. Fang (and saw other doctors in this office –Dr. Mahamitra, Dr. Rose, etc.) for years, until we moved out of LA. The doctors and nurses are always professional and we were never kept waiting more than 15 minutes. They always found a way to squeeze me in when I was sick, too. I love the people in this office and would highly recommend them to anyone seeking a primary physician’s office that will put your health and convenience first.

While Dr. Mahamitra is very compassionate and has excellent beside manner she gets docked one star for being unable to get me the treatments I needed approved, and when approved, failing to notify me quickly. The approval process with Access Med Santa Monica usually took a minimum of two weeks. She gets docked an additional two stars for her blatant refusal to assist me in titrating down from a medication she had prescribed, telling me instead to seek out an urgent care center. Simply unprofessional if you ask me.
If you are a normal healthy person she’s a 5 star doctor. If you have a serious preexisting condition of one kind or another, look elsewhere.

Dr Mahamitra was very nice and helpful, and I would recommend her. On the downside the office service is very antiquated and relies heavily on paper record management. It’s a hassle to fill out pages of forms and obtaining my records was even more difficult. I was offended that on top of all of the hassle I was billed for requesting to obtain my own records.
To me this sort of thing is very unprofessional. Every other industry manages their services electronically, including auto shops. Get with the program.
I won’t go back to Dr Mahamitra until she leaves her 1970s office behind.

The incompetency of this office is mind-​boggling. It took me several days and over 12 phone calls between my pharmacy and this clinic because the doctor have me the wrong prescription. In the en I literally had to conference them on a call together. Incompetency is one thing, mistakes happen and I get that sometimes mistakes on mistakes happen. What has me knowing I will never return to this office is the unwillingness of the office staff to support me in solving the problem.
It literally has me wondering if the problems people are experiencing in the American wealth system are caused by high level breakdowns or the stupidity of the operating the phones in the bureaucracy itself.

The doctors here are great, but getting in to see one when you have an urgent problem is a problem. Also, the wait to see a doctor here is on average 30 minutes. Whenever they answer the phones they seem overwhelmed with tons of calls back to back. Clearly this office has taken on more patients than they can handle.

Dr. Fang is very thorough, doesn’t rush you, listens, and provides quality feedback and follow up.
The front office staff are always happy to see you and cordial on the phone. Surprising for any establishment. Staff have remained through many years I’ve been coming here. That’s always a good sign.
Some people complained about the wait time to be seen. I’ve personally never waited more than 10 – 15 min.
Parking: There’s a pay underground parking garage. Today I paid $ 6. Street will ticket you so be careful if you’re going to park and walk. Not worth the risk.

Dr. Cheng is AMAZING. I went to a very highly-​recommended orthopedic doctor/​PT for runner’s knee for years, with little/​no success. She gave me two simple exercises and I now run with very little pain, and it’s only getting better. Great bedside manner, smart and sharp. She’s the best!

Dr Mahamitra is my doc and she’s great! She is very thorough and listens to everything and answers questions as well as gives you info. The wonderful thing is that she actually calls you back and initiates calls to you if your results actually need further action — as opposed to waiting for you to come in and pay your copay and THEN send you back on your way to someone else. She actually wants to make sure you’re doing ok! Ana the NP is the same way as well. Wendy at the front desk (she deals with referrals) has also been wonderful. I havent seen any other docs there, but Dr. Mahamitra and Ana would be two people I’d recommend to anyone.

This review is for Dr. Fang, receptionists, nurses and their phlebotomist (blood work personnel). I’ve started seeing her since last year and I couldn’t imagine going to anyone else. She’s very good at what she does, straight to the point, gets your appointment done efficiently so you’re in and out of the office. If you have questions, she will patiently listen and give you the best solutions. Her exams are painless and doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable.
Front desk ladies are very nice and courteous. As for the nurses and phlebotomist, they are very good at making shots as painless as possible. I hate shots and I hate needles, especially the sight of the blood work needle gives me the urge to run away from the office. But their phlebotomist is very good at what she does. I felt more pain during my finger prick cholesterol test than the blood works.
What happened to the one star review? Parking sucks. The building’s parking lot is expensive with no validation offered and if your appointment’s over 2 hours, you can’t street park. It’s Santa Monica, so street parking is paid by meter and on a busy day, finding street parking is near impossible.

Dr. Fang is my doctor, and she’s great. :-) I’ve also seen a Nurse Practitioner there, Arwin (not sure I spelled that right), who is also fantastic. They have a great staff as well. I freak out a little when I have blood drawn, and their phlebotomist was really friendly and patient with me. The nurses are really friendly as well.

I have lived in LA for 15 years now. The first 9 years I had about 5 different doctors, all at different locations. I had nothing but awful experiences, from the front office to the doctors themselves. When I started working in Santa Monica, I just randomly chose Family Health as a new place to go and I haven’t left since.
It really starts with the front office, where one is greeted and has to wait to see their doctor. Most of the staff who works in the front office area have been there for a long time and they are all incredibly friendly. They seem to always actually be having a good time at work. Go figure! I always end up laughing when I talk with them, and that is a great way to start any doctor’s visit.
Dr. Fang has always been very thorough and caring with me and I honestly feel comfortable going in for anything at this point.
I live in the eastern part of Hollywood now, so it’s a drive to get there, but it’s totally worth it!

i’ve gone to this doctors office for many years, since the late 90s i think. I’ve seen most or all of the doctors there, some of them for several years as my primary doctor, until they moved on to their own practice. Not every experience was good, which i would never expect, but over all, i greatly appreciate this office and the doctors generally, there are many things i like, and having moved away recently, i’m frustrated by not being able to find something similar in my new area that accepts my insurance plan. My favorite doctors that i’ve seen there include Dr Khalsa (no longer there, my favorite doctor ever in my life), Dr Fang, Dr Miyakawa, Dr Sorotzkin, Dr Mahamitra and Dr Renaud (most recently – the only male ever in the practice, and after only one visit, very much a favorite, A+ communication, right diagnosis, fast successful treatment, friendly and put me at ease).
I am laughing because another reviewer wrote a negative review of Dr Sorotzkin and as i was reading it, i was thinking that i also had a similar experience, but as i kept reading, it was so similar in such specific ways that i started thinking i must’ve written it myself and forgotten about it But when i looked at the name and location on the review, it wasn’t me. Pretty funny. Here is what the reviewer wrote that could’ve been written by me exactly, about Dr Sorotkin:
«I felt that she was overly abrupt and dismissive of some of my concerns and opinions, to the point of being somewhat condescending. We had a disagreement about a couple of issues, and while I understand she is the doctor, it is my body and my life. I got the impression that she not only disagreed with my position that I would rather not take a new drug (as a preventative measure for a situation that I am confident does not apply to me) but actively displeased with me for refusing… To make matters worse, during some parts of the exam, she made comments that were unneccessary and frightening…»
I experienced this when my previous much loved Dr had left the practice and Dr Sorotkin was the new doctor i chose, sight unseen. I was going through something complicated involving needing to take sick leave from work which a doctor had to recommend in writing. It was in that context that i first saw Dr Sorotzkin, and had the kinds of conversations the other reviewer complained about. However, Dr Sorotzkin did help me with that situation, in the end, she did exactly what i needed and what i was asking for, on my own terms, in a way that helped me to get through a difficult situation with enough time to improve and then go on with my life. Dr Sorotzkin and I had a few disagreements about treatment and time frames, but in the end, i like to think she respected me enough to support what i told her i needed.
In addition to that early experience with her, i saw her for another 3 years or more before she left the practice and during that time, she was always helpful with my medical needs, which were very minimal, but compared to some others, she was supportive and made my life easier. I would’ve continued seeing her, even though she doesn’t have my favorite bedside manner and doesn’t share my philosophy as much as some others have, but in the end, she supported me and it was very helpful. (if i had not stood up for what i wanted against what she was insisting on at certain points, then i would not have had such a good outcome, and people vary in how much they will stand up to a doctor, your mileage may vary, and it was definitely not the easiest experience for me).
In addition to what i found to be skilled caring thorough knowledgeable doctors, with a pretty large variety of doctors allowing a patient to find one that has the best personality fit, i also appreciate how the office is run and the way i’ve always been treated by staff. It’s always easy to reach someone on the phone. If there’s a problem with communication, they pay attention and follow through. Appointments are very easy to get because of the large number of doctors, if it’s an urgent matter, same day appointments can be had, and otherwise, if you’re willing to see any doctor, it will be soon, and at your convenience, lots of times available. The waiting time in the office and in the exam room can be normally from 20 to 30 minutes and more, and it is a busy office with lots of patients, but i would say that the wait times improved in the last two or three years, my typical experience has been 5 to 10 minutes.
The parking in beneath the building which is helpful, but if you have to wait very long, it will cost several dollars. If you’re lucky, you can get street parking on 10^th street or on Broadway, but i appreciate having the abundant parking in the building in case i’m running late for my appointment in the middle of a work day.
It’s a doctors office building with other doctors in it, and a pharmacy on the first floor. There is a lab in the building that they use, which is convenient.

Regardless of your age, whether an infant or adult you have cradle cap. Yup, that’s right. No lab tests or nothin’, they just look at you, make an executive decision, and prescribe you something.
I can’t say any of the doctors I’ve seen here instilled any confidence in me that they knew what they were talking about.

I have been coming here for years. My main doctor is Mahamitra, but I’ve seen a number of the doctors at the practice if Mahamitra wasn’t available for a last minute appointment.
If I’ve had any sort of concern, they’ve gotten me in for a same day appointment. Though I’ve sometimes waited a little while in the waiting room, I think that’s expected at any sort of doctor’s office as appointments generally run late.
Each doctor I’ve met with/​spoken to, which include Dr. Miyakawa, Dr. Fang, and Dr. Sorotzkin, has been great, thorough, and informative. They make sure you understand what is going on, what steps to take for treatment, and what the recovery process will be like.
I’ve referred many of my friends to Family Health Associates, and found out a bunch of friends and my co-​workers actually go to them as well.
The nurses/​phlebotomists are great. There’s this one lady who is my favorite because it never hurts when she draws my blood. Some of the less experienced nurses leave bruising and such, but I was done before I even knew she started!
Since this is a general practice office, they have a great referral system to nearby doctors that specialize in different things and also x-​ray & testing facilities.
You feel like they genuinely care and are looking out for your health and well being.

So last night before bed I was having some sort of chest pain. It wasn’t excruciating, but it did get me worried as I work a physically demanding job and I really dont have time to be wallowing about pain.
I have Blue Shield insurance, and called to make an appt for a physical and to check out this weird pain… I made the appt for the physical for 2 weeks from now but went right in to check out the chest pain!
I walked in, filled out the paperwork, was taken in within 15 mins! I was braving for a long wait considering there were a bunch of people waiting who had scheduled appointments. Anyway, the nurse gave me an EKG almost as soon as I got in the room. Then I was introduced to Dr Courtney Cheng, who asked me a few questions, listened to my breath, got some of my history while taking notes in her laptop.
Honestly, I thought this process was so streamlined, which I appreciate because I’m very low maintenance and dont like people coddling me. Dr Cheng recommended I go get a chest xray right away, and referred me to a place on Wilshire and 22^nd, where I walked in, and was out of there in under 10 mins.
Seriously? This was unreal. Granted, I’m still in some pain, but at least any mental anguish has subsided because I feel that Dr Cheng knows what shes talking about.
I await my results!

Dr. Fang has been a wonderful physician! I have been seeing her for 4 years now and couldn’t ask for anything more. She’s friendly, thorough, and even if your physical lasts 15 minutes, she doesn’t make you feel rushed.
The office itself is also great. I’ve never had any problems scheduling appointments and if you have an urgent need and Dr. Fang isn’t available, I’m always able to get an appointment for that same day with another physcian who I am always satsified with.
I really like their technological advancements of using tablets to take their notes, so your files are within an easy search away. Additionally, they recently started interacting with patients over email, which I also love. In the past, if I wanted the details of my lab tests, I would need to go to the office in person to obtain them, but now that I’ve given electronic authorization, they are able to securely email me my results.

Hands down Dr. Mahamitra is magnificent! She is always very pleasant, helpful and overall there to listen to what you are there for. And if I am there for another reason (aside from seeing her), and run into her, she always asks how I’m doing and how things are going since my last visit. I even got some follow-​up calls from her as well, that I didn’t expect! She’s a fantastic doctor and I’ve recommended her to a few of my friends who also LOVE her!
And let’s not forget Ieda (sp?) who works at the front desk! LOVE her!!! She is so wonderful and makes each visit just exceptional!