Linda Assatourians, MD

If you are willing to pay out of pocket, look no further.
Dr. Linda is by far the best primary care physician I have ever had (I do extensive research before seeing doctors and have lived all over). Most doctors rush through appointments and provide stock responses to questions (often having nurses call you back rather than themselves, so if you have a follow up question you have to again wait for another call back from the nurse). Dr. Linda sits you down and covers every aspect of your health care during check ups. She does her own blood tests. She follows up within a couple of days herself and explains everything about your results (often calling in the evening or on a weekend). She returns my calls personally rather than having a nurse call me back. When I was hospitalized at a hospital at which she didn’t have privileges, she followed up with the doctors I saw there and reviewed my records from my stay there so that she could ensure that there was a consistent plan that took everything into account. I never have a problem getting in to see her if I am sick and need to come in.
That said, I supposed I should have known that this style of medical practice doesn’t fit within the insurance model. That is why other practices that take insurance operate more like a factory, trying to maximize the appointments and minimize time taken per patient. So, she has stopped taking insurance. That is my only quibble with the practice. But if you are wiling to and can pay out of pocket (and deal with your own insurance company and reimbursements), then by all means, she is the best you can find in the area.

I consider myself lucky to have Dr. Linda Assatourians as my health care provider. She is kind, approachable and knowledgeable. She readily made me feel at ease during my first visit and she has personally returned my calls at least 2 times and I dd not feel rushed. Even on the Tuesday after a long holiday when I thought I wouldn’t hear back because she would be swamped, she managed to call me before 5. I wish more doctors were like her.

Love, love, love Dr. Linda! Unfortunately she recently made the business decision to drop BCBS patients. Sigh. What’s worst is the only insurance she’s accepting is only offered to Foreign Service employees. So I’m bummed and having no luck in finding a new doctor. Anyone who can pay out of pocket… she’s worth it!!!

As of January 1, 2015, she will no longer take Blue Cross Blue Shield, or pretty much any other type of insurance. This is a huge blow for me because if i want to continue to see her, I’ll have to change my insurance and submit her for reimbursement for otu of network expenses. I really don’t know what to do — it will be a SIGNIFICANT cost increase but she really is the best doctor I’ve found…

I moved to this area in October and needed to find a regular physician. I heard good things about Linda so I figured I would give her a try.
Her location is great and really close to my office and the receptionists are friendly and welcoming. I didn’t have to wait very long to be called in, and Linda took me to her office first to chat.
She was super relaxed and funny, but sounded confident and intelligible. I liked that she did all the blood work herself, and she made me feel very comfortable, especially since I usually feel faint after getting blood drawn.
After the appt, she called me three days (only three days!) later to discuss the results and left about a 10minute voicemail describing everything. I’m so happy to have found her and I look forward to seeing her for future checkups!

I had recently left my previous job, where I had been insured through a major insurer whose service was very efficient with everything being scheduled like clockwork and my encounter with my PCP being an «in-​symptoms-​treatment-​out» thing. So, it felt very impersonal. I later found out that the physicians, like robots, only had 30 minutes allocated per patient and that they had to follow this rigid regimen, with not a minute over allowed per patient.
On my first day at the new job I was happy to find out that I did not have the old insurance plan. I asked my coworkers for a recommendation for a new physician through my new plan. I very quickly found out that my whole group had… «Dr. Linda! «My new co-​workers were raving about how good she was, but being skeptical myself, I thought of waiting and seeing. I was warned that it would take me a long time to get on her schedule, but it took me about 3 months to schedule a physical with her.
On Thursday, the day of my physical, I went to Dr. Linda’s office and was very quickly ushered in for the regular procedures. Then, I sat across Dr. Linda, a young and very friendly lady. The first thing that struck me about her was her very friendly and caring approach. Dr. Linda went over my entire history and I was amazed at how thorough she was and how much time she spent listening to me. Nothing was rushed — there was Dr. Linda talking with me about my medical history. She made several follow up recommendations and we were done. The following Sunday night, I noticed I had a voicemail — it was Dr. Linda! She had left me a message at 6pm going over all my results making recommendations and giving me a plan of action; she was extremely thorough. I immediately made lifestyle changes as a result of her recommendations which tremendously improved my health and well-​being. What really motivated me was Dr. Linda’s caring and friendly attitude.
A couple of times I have had to make follow up calls and she has always been very prompt returning my calls, often in the evening or on weekends. For the first time ever, I have felt that I have a PCP that genuinely cares about my health and well-​being, and for whom I am not a number or a «patient».
Now, I have moved on to a new job and one thing I am worried about is whether I can keep Dr. Linda. I really, really hope so!

I am so lucky to be a patient of Dr. Linda and my husband sees her as well. I have been seeing her for about 6 years and have never had a better doctor. I brag to my friends all the time about the care and concern she has for her patients and how she goes above and beyond.
She spends a significant amount of time with me every time I come to see her and I never feel rushed. She is happy to answer questions and make recommendations. She does a full blood panel every year and walks you through all of the results, telling you where you are and where you should be and recommending diet changes or vitamins when needed. I am a vegetarian and it is nice to have a doctor that understands some of the particular dietary needs of vegetarians.
Dr. Linda has come through for me in many pinches, but one story I will never forget is when I got into a bicycle accident and had a very bad concussion that caused me to temporarily lose my memory. I called her in tears and she calmly told me to wait and she would call me back. She called me back within minutes and had squeezed me in for a CT scan appointment and had a recommendation for a neurologist. She talked me through how to get to the CT building and followed up with me throughout the entire process. She really goes above and beyond and if you are lucky enough to get into her practice, I highly recommend it!

I began seeing Dr. Linda in 2004 and was so thankful to find a primary physician who invested time getting to know the patient AND my patient’s history. Each visit begins with a conversation in her cozy office, where she catches up on your recent health events and offers relevant medical advice. Whenever I’ve presented health concerns, she’s always accommodated my questions without ever making me feel rushed or as if she’s working the clock. I actually look forward to visiting Dr. Linda for our chats!
I’ve also found Dr. Linda very accessible between office visits. Whenever she has test results to provide, she always provides a follow-​up phone call with comprehensive details about the results. And whenever I encounter a health hiccup and leave a call requesting her medical advice, I can reliably count on a prompt and courteous return call.
Other pluses about her practice: it’s a family friendly office (her father who is also a practicing doctor is in the same practice and her mother works there as well), the office is near the Foggy Bottom metro station, and appointments run on time… I’ve never noticed an appointment starting more than 3 – 5 minutes late if late at all!

I tried to make an appointment here for myself and my husband. I was told she wasn’t taking new patients unless I paid out of pocket. I have BCBS, why would I want to pay out of pocket?! So much for finding doctors that are in the business for helping…

i had heard such great things about Dr Linda, but when I called to make an appointment, I was asked about my insurance. When I said Aetna PPO (great coverage that lets me go to any doctor with a larger amount to pay if out of network), after a long time on hold, I was told Dr Linda wasn’t seeing anymore new patients. When I asked if it was because of my insurance, I was put on hold again. The receptionist, said i could make an appointment, but told me that I would have to pay in full with each visit and get reimbursed by the insurance company. And the next available appointment was at least 2 months out.
I understand the challenges that doctors have in getting paid, but to flat out deny a patient service based on their insurance is pretty sad.
i sincerely hope her care is better than her administrative policies.

She is the best doctor I’ve ever had and ever will have. She’s young, funny, meticulous and caring. She has an amazing ability to make time to see me when I’m sick and puts me at ease immediately. I love the sit down office time she makes with patients, and I am devastated to move lest I have to find a doctor half as good

I consider myself very lucky and grateful to be a patient of Dr. Linda’s.
3 days after I first moved to DC almost 3 years ago, I was unfortunately hit with a UTI. Naturally, I didn’t even have a G.P. in the area yet. I was in a lot of pain and didn’t want to go to the ER, so I called around to a bunch of different doctors in DC if anyone could see me that same day. Nobody could, except for one doctor. Yup. .. you guessed it. Not Frank Stallone, but Dr. Linda.
Dr. Linda is like no other doctor that I’ve had in my entire life. She is young, hip, caring, considerate, attentive, funny, and fantastic at what she does. She really takes the time out to discuss your health concerns during appointments, something that I wasn’t used to at all. Most doctors I’ve had popped in with a clipboard, kept their eyes on it while they went through the motions of asking me routine questions, then left ASAP.
With Dr. Linda, I’ve had the pleasure of sitting across from her while she sits at her desk in her office (her personal office is great and feels so warm and inviting), listening to my concerns. I never feel rushed or that I’m not worth her time, and I really appreciate that.
Dr. Linda really puts the «care» in health care. To echo what many patients have already written, one of the reasons why I wouldn’t want to move away from DC is because I wouldn’t want to move away from Dr. Linda!

I’m very very fond of Dr. Linda, and am always pleased with her availability, demeanor, level of knowledge, treatment plans, referrals and suggestions. She is truly the best primary care physician I have ever had.
The reason she is not getting 5 stars from me is her staff. The receptionist (s) is rude, dismissive, and curt. She is relatively unhelpful on the phone and in the office. I almost dread calling in because I have to deal with the staff. Get rid of the mean lady at the front desk and I guarantee 5 stars from me.

Dr. Linda listens and that is the most amazing thing about her! I actually enjoy sitting down and talking with her and that makes me open up more about what I need to do to be in the best health possible. She also is ALWAYS there for you! If you are having an issue but just need to speak with her, she is more than happy to simply call you during the day to discuss and then determine whether or not she needs to see you. You are never rushed with her which I find amazing, I am not sure how she does it given how busy she is! Plus she has a great list of wonderful specialists to send you to. If you can’t get into her right now as a patient, ask when you can call back. It is worth it to keep after it to become her patient!

Dr. Assatourians is top notch! She gives you all of the caring and time of a country doctor, here in the capital city. What a gem! I echo the positive comments here. She has also referred me to specialists who have worked well for me. Nothing but praise from me, and I do not liberally dole out stars! These five stars are well earned!

I had a decent experience when I went to her for primary care like checkups.
However, when things were wrong, her responses were all over the board — she was dismissive of me calling over something pretty major one day — didn’t want me to come in and be seen, and didn’t refer me either — I told another doctor and they were shocked she didn’t follow up on the issue. On another issue, she reacted really alarmingly and I felt like she was afraid I was going to drop dead in her office. Don’t get me wrong, the issue required follow up, but it’s the hit or miss that bothers me. I changed doctors because I need someone more consistent and even handed when responding to things.

I called today to schedule an appointment and was told that no one at their practice is accepting new patients.

First, let me say: Dr. Linda is amazing. She is the most thorough doctor I have ever been to, so friendly, and it’s a family practice in that both her father and mother are also a part of it. She really takes you and medicine seriously, and will call you back immediately if you have a problem. She recommends amazing specialists and truly cares about her patients.
The reason I didn’t rate her as five stars is that the receptionist is possibly the worst receptionist I have ever encountered. If you are calling because you are sick and need to talk to Dr. Linda, she may be fine, but if you are calling for yearly physical, you might be better off just calling and asking to speak to Dr. Linda herself. They do not send out appointment cards, so you have to remember when to make your yearly appointment, and you also need to call months in advance. For example: my yearly physical is supposed to be in September, but I couldn’t get it scheduled till February; and, when I needed to change this appointment due to a work schedule, I couldn’t get in until June. Not only did the receptionist get incredibly snippy about this, but she made me feel like it was my fault for having a job in which I do not have a set, regimented schedule (and, who does, really?). So, while it may seem counterproductive, it will work better if you call and leave a message and just ask to speak to the doctor. Kind of negates the reason to having a receptionist, but maybe if enough people do it, they’ll get the idea.

She really is fantastic! She has called me Sunday to help me out, and always fits me in whenever she can. She is thorough, caring, and does not rush you.
Also, great location for those without a car! So close to the metro :)

On a recent visit to Dr. Assatourians, I found myself sitting in the chair in front of her big desk and thinking to myself that I simply can’t ever leave D.C., because how will I EVER find another doctor who takes care of me as well as SHE does?!!
It’s a legitimate question. I’ve seen a few primary care physicians over the last several years, and none of them even came close to providing the meticulous level of care you get from Dr. Assatourians. She takes the time to sit down with you and discuss every aspect of your health. She also calls you personally with the results of routine tests to explain every measurement and help you go about making improvements where needed. Plus, she’s just cool and fun to talk with, which is not something you find every day in a physician…
So, if I ever do move elsewhere and find myself looking for a new doctor once again, she’ll leave some very big shoes to fill!