Leah Nakamura's Online Review Report Card

Like many reviews here, this is for the office staff, not Dr. Nakamura. I have been seeing Dr. N. for a few years and have been satisfied with my treatment.  My complaint is, I was given a follow up appointment a year in advance. A little more than a month before my scheduled appointment,  I received confirmation of that appointment via e-mail. After I received the notification, I called to see, if by chance they had another appointment around the same time. - Meaning within a couple weeks.  I could make it to my appointment, but it wasn't the most convenient.  I informed the person who took my call if they didn't have anything else, I wanted to keep my appointment as it was. She then told me, we have to cancel it because she's not going to be in that day. ( I wonder when they were going to call me and let me know and why did they send out confirmation of the appointment.) They didn't have anything for 6 months!  I find that to be unacceptable. Even more unacceptable, she did not even apologize. She acted like she was doing me a favor.

Awesome doctor. She's very good and has a 5* bed side manner. Highly recommend to all.

Dr Nakamura might be a nice Dr but you can not get in touch with her or the office I have been trying for almost 2 weeks and still have not received a response This is very frustrating

I hate to write this but must due to the idiocy of the staff who scheduled the appointment. The appointment was for 4:40PM but the admin kept on insisting for us to show up early a 2:00PM. I repeatedly said we can't change the schedule but the admin kept on insisting for us to come early at 4:00PM. Which part of we can't change the schedule did she not understand? All she wanted was to go home early for Labor Day weekend. Patiences' schedules were not important enough for them to care. F*** this stupid biatch, we are going to another doctor.

It does not bring me joy to write this review. I have not been to see the Dr. because I couldn't get in.  In July 2020, I made an appt for Aug 2020.  2 weeks before my appt the office called and said they didn't accept my PPO insurance.  I was caught off guard and let it go.  Here I am with the same problem 1 year later and I looking for a FEMALE urogynocologist in Fountain Valley.   So far, I have found Dr Nakamura is the only one. I called my insurance to make sure she would accept it then I cled the office.. After numerous tries, I get the office.  The girl who answered the phone was quite apologitic..Dr Nakamura isn't taking new patients.  I wouldn't be a new patient if someone had done their job correctly.   A LOT of people are singing her praises and I would like to join them.  At this point I'm just to frustrated to care.

This review is much overdue. So on the prodding of my admin assistant here goes. Back in May 2019 I was editing a manuscript to upload for publication in an APA journal I had this atrocious juan in my groin and lower abdomen. A friend took me to the small Mission hospital in So Laguna. Diagnosis was a 2 mml kidney stone--I have no family history on either side of kidney stones. The first urologist, a male, ordered a battery of tests, his conclusion need to drink more water, 3 liters a day, and a bottle of salt citrate. After reading the dude effects if these pills that could interact with my current medications I told the doctor after thinking it over and speaking with my primary care doctor to not take the pills. Fast forward I was at my endocrinologist who recommended Nakamura as she is an gynecological urologist, and based on my previous history (I had 2 lower abdominal surgeries, one of which was a complete hysterectomy, and might have adhesions/trauma as I suffer abdominal pain from time to time and all check out by two gastroenterologists, so not related to the colon, and my gynecologist could not find anything either). Looking at the patients in the office of the previous male urologist he disproportionately treated more men. So, my first visit with Nakamura was less than remarkable, she basically nodded when I told her that both I and my primary care dr.    thought it was overkill to take the citrate medicine as I never had a history of kidney stones nor my family'. She walked out, just agreeing with me and see me in 6 mos. Not the kind of second opinion I was looking for. A year later I experienced  pains similar to the kidney stone, and scheduled a videoconference w/ Nakamura. She doubted it was another kidney stone as it had been too soon--really? A year later. She wrote a script for a CT which results showed a small hazy Mesenteric panniculitis but nothing remarkable with liver, kidney, bladder, stomach, etc. I consulted a kindly Mayo specialist on the mesenteric panniculitis he basically said to watch it and submit CT scans to him every 2 years. Nakamura asked me to schedule another appt. This is when all the fun starts. To say her office is nightmarishly disorganized is an understatement. An asst texted me an appt date but failed to give which office as Nakamura sees patients at a few different offices.I texted the asst back that I preferred the Irvine office as it is much nearer to my home in So Laguna than Fountain Valley, which is where she had tried to place me. She later called me back. It was like she was reading from a script, and if I interrupted her to just pinpoint which office she completely ignored me and made a snotty comment. Still no confirmation on location. I called Nakamura's office the next day to complain about this asst, and after equally rude treatment I asked for the office manager who was on recall Diane B( something). She acted accommodating and agreed that I should not have been treated rudely . She turned out to be back stabber, and reported our convo to Nakamura who in response unilaterally terminated her relationship without calling me to get my side of the story. I then called back asking for copies of all my records ( by law any physician  who terminates a patient must keep copies of their records and cannot forfeit them) . I have excellent relationships with all my doctors, and those I don't I just don't return as in the case of the first urologist. As Nakamura's office is not the most professional I did not want her to badmouth me so other physicians would not take me as a patient). Most doctors I know try to work out amicably a bad customer service problem. So I ended up getting my copies of my records but that was not without a struggle. The racist woman in the office's  medical records dept could not get my last name straight, Shammas, ( an Arab surname),and seemed to being butchering it on purpose. Also, I hold a PhD, and to get a little respect I will on occasion with very disrespectful and dismissive people I will say this is Dr. Shammas. The medical  records person refused to call me by this title, and was so unpleasant from the start I would not wish Nakamura, her office, and her lousy customer service on my worst enemy. I agree with Celina's review Nakamura is just interested in the dough as a significant number of her sterling reviews are from women who had prolapse surgery. What I understand insurance does not always cover this surgery and if it does very insignificant amount --treated similarly to cosmetic surgery--I this rakes in the bucks for Nakamura. On my father's side all our first and second cousins are physicians in Lebanon and California across all specialities Nakamura's horrendous bed side manner and how she manages her office through other unprofessional employees is not what I am accustomed to-most if my physicians are extremely caring and if they lack a warm personality are professional and are thoughtful diagnosticians.

Melina Bates is a wonderful scheduling surgical nurse, she is extremely kind and accommodating. Highly recommend the doctor as well as the staff.

I can't say enough about Dr. Nakamura. As a nurse, I've been an observer of excellence as well as incompetence and everything in-between in health care providers for over 40 years. Dr Nakamura definitely falls into the first category. Her technical skill level is exceptional, yes--but, almost just as important are her listening skills, her kindness, and her lack of a superior attitude. She has performed surgery on me twice--and to a person, every medical professional to whom I mention her name, extols her expertise in every one of these areas. I feel privileged to be able to call her "my" doctor!!  And, Melina Bates, her surgery coordinator, is wonderful, too!  She keeps track of all of the doctor's surgical patients to ensure that the patient experience is a smooth one. Thank you so much to both!!

I love Dr nakamura and the staff. Everyone from the front desk to the nurses to the doctor were incredibly nice and made me feel comfortable and cared for. Dr Nakamura was so sweet and really wanted to help me. I came in distressed and helpless with my situation and she really listened and wanted to get to the bottom of the issue. I'll continue to come here!

My mother tried different urologists till she found Dr. Leah Nakamura who she says is the "best". She always talks about how caring and professional she and her team are.  Thank you, Dr. Nakamura and staff for taking such good care of my mom!