This is a review left on Google Reviews about another inhumane experience at Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside, and specifically Dr. Uppal, the same doctor allegedly involved in using automotive parts for surgeries.

It is disheartening to hear these stories, and to know 10 years after my horrific experience with this medical group, they are still at it.

My deepest wish (well after winning the 1B Lotto, and finding my Ms. Right) is that people would do more research on the medical professionals they are going to trust to work in their best interest.

What most people don’t realize is that you have the right to choose who you work with.  You can refuse care from a physician and even in an HMO setting, they will provide different doctors.

The original review can be found here.  Except for formatting and minor edits for clarification and ease of reading (which appear in [ ]) this is exactly as written.

I was referred by My Attorney and [Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside] are not the best!

Avoid them!!!!

[Wait times are] over an hour to get seen with an appointment… Today I filled out My paperwork 10 mins after I was due to be seen and didn’t get seen till an hour after I had My Appointment! And didn’t get out till 11:45am appointment was @ 9:30am.

[Dr. Uppal] lied to me saying my rehabilitation would more than likely be [around] 1 1/2 [years], yet released me at barely 13 months. So, I’m still in pain and he’s released me so I’m no longer entitled to any benefits!

They seem to side on Workers Comp instead of a Patient that is a referral from an attorney.

The Office Manager is never available to talk!

Oh and if you do decide to be seen here, don’t even schedule an early appointment with Dr. Uppal he’s always in late because of his Hospital duties in the early AM at least that’s what I was told!

Once you agree for them to operate your stuck with them and you’ll go from being a Patient to being Paperwork!

I feel like they gave me the bare minimum they could just to move on with the Next 💰 Paying Patient!

I’m NO Longer getting my Workers Comp benefits thanks to both these Dr’s but they’re getting paid every time I’m in!!!!!

Do your research People, it’s your health what matters not their per$onal Benefit$$!!!!

I’m losing out on my monthly income and medications!!!!

They know who I am… This is NO way to treat any patient especially not a Vet!!!!!!!

The one star is for the lady at the front desk she’s always overloaded with work! & does seem to care but can only do so much!!!!!

Most would agree that attention to detail is a fundamental attribute necessary for handling matters of greater importance. If someone cannot handle minor responsibilities with care, how can they be trusted to navigate the complexities of important matters?  Especially one as important as surgery?

On a recent deep dive into the credentials of John Gonzalez of Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside we attempted to verify his certification with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).

His name did not come up along with a list of possible reasons for his absence.

In my opinion the reason is irrelevant. His absence is just an extension of the disorganization and miscommunication of his office, and further demonstrates why you should avoid him, and all doctors associated with Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside.

Those who are unable to handle the minutiae have not earned the right to be entrusted with the critical responsibility of surgery and follow up care.

As I read this review, it took me back 15 years when I had to deal with Dr. John Gonzalez at his Orthopedic Practice in Riverside.  I literally cringed as I felt for the writer of this review.

There are so many people that over the years have shared their experiences, and they all have a common theme, it astonishes me that anyone still goes to him.

YOU HAVE THE RIGHTS TO BE ASSIGNED TO ANOTHER DOCTOR…. don’t risk your health and your sanity.  Just ask to be transferred.

Here is the review (author unknown) from webmd.com.  For ease of reading I have reformated the post and where the text has been changed or altered (for ease of reading and so search engines can index properly), I have added [ ] marks around changes or editions for clarification.

John Gonzales is a great doctor, are words that will never leave my lips.
Long story short….work place injury .need a sooner emergency appointment due to major pain. Female on phone, “you can’t wait 2 more days for your appointment?”
Get to appointment, wait forever, as usual, in exam room with requested paperwork for “him”. He comes in [and Dr. Gonzalez], barely looks at me.
I ask question and get a hand in my face to shut up.
He leaves while saying someone will be in to schedule therapy. He never comes back. Female walks in with paperwork while I’m holding back angry tears. Doctor never looked at paperwork and I still had questions and my pain was not addressed (remember emergency appointment due to pain?).
I end up at his office, door was open, he wanted nothing to do with me. [Dr. Gonzalez] angrily came to the door and pushed me with his body. I called him an a-hole, he says, thanks for the comment. I tell him I want another doctor and then I leave.
No yelling, at all. Go to car [and] forgot paperwork and now I’m mad. Go back in, ask for doc, he never shows up. I ask again and state that if I don’t see him I’m calling police. Remember the push with his body? Manager comes out claiming I’m causing a scene,
I’m still bot yelling or even being loud. She orders me upstairs. I see [a] lady that was just laughing and talking to “his” staff and she’s supposed to make thing right or whatever. I decide that’s not gonna work for me and leave. I go downstairs to a small enclosed waiting area and write up what just happened.
Call cops. Get one with a bad attitude.
Next think I know, I’m getting written up at work for causing a scene and calling the doctor a f-Ing a-hole (which all of his “witnesses” claim is the truth and it’s not. I chose my words very carefully ) and all of a sudden all his staff happened to witness what happened.
So much more to this story that I’m not able to share.
It’s great to see that some people don’t have issues with this man. Most people I talk to are not happy with him.
I even had a coworker ask me about him, because she had a similar experience. I don’t care if he’s some kind of miracle man, it’s not worth it for treatment that you’ll receive from his staff and from him.
There’s so many more doctors out there that actually care and will take the time to talk with you and that actually care about you. Don’t waste your time with this man. He’s not worth the hype.
And the paperwork that I went back to get, conveniently disappeared within the few minutes I’d walked a short distance to my car and back to the office. Somehow, though, the X-ray that I brought in with the paperwork ended up in the computer.
I called multiple times for the paperwork, but it was never located.
I’m not a fan of liars and this person and his staff are nothing but liars and cheaters.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he paid them off to stick up for him. He can’t be a pleasant person to work for with the way that he treats patients.
See at your own risk!
  • April 5, 2021

Below is a screenshot of the original review.

 

Regularly I stalk the ratings and review sites to locate other patients Dr. Gonzalez and his crew have mis-treated and the news sites to see the latest scandal that Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside (and its various doctors) may be involved in.

On this last scour for news about OMGNET (Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside), it appears that OMGNET has started to employ fake reviews (wow.. now they are almost up to 2 stars; LMAO)  I am truly surprised it has taken this long for them to do that.

I could also be mistaken.  Maybe it was the daughter of a good friend so she received preferential treatment, and then couldn’t believe all the true things people said about this orthopedic practice because her experience wasn’t the same as genpop (general population).

But I lean toward the reviews being completely fake based on a couple of things.

Look at the reivews of  Delaynee W. (https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=vjiK6EZ8Da7c6mjBik1HhQ) one of the people to leave an outstanding review of these doctors.

She claims that she was a patient of Dr. Gonzalez’s at Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside and left a 5 Star Review for him.

Here it is:

She states that Dr. Gonzalez did surgery on her feet (plural) not foot. Three months later, she leaves another review for a spray tan business. This is her before and after photo (from yelp.com).

Do you see any signs of surgery on those “feet”?

There is some discoloration on the left foot, but if you zoom in on the photo it looks more like a blister healing not scarring, especially if Gonzo the Clown, I mean Dr. Gonzalez does the surgery (Dr. Gonzalez left what I believe is an unnecessarily huge scar on my hand at least 6 times bigger than the doctor that performed the same surgery on my other hand. For this and other reasons I do not believe he is a skilled surgeon).

Delanynee then goes on to leave the identical review for the other doctors at the practice

The Review for Gurvinder (Sunny) Uppal M.D.
(Please note Dr. Sunny Uppal (who I believe now wants to be known by Gurvinder Uppal, because Sunny Uppal was the name he went by and was in the news story when he was charged for accused of using NON-FDA approved devices in his surgeries).

Review of Dr. Gurvinder (Sunny) Uppal

And then she left the exact same review for the practice itself.

When you see tons of 1 star reviews and a single (but maybe more on the way) 5 star review, and you see an entire website dedicated to exposing the horrible experiences of those who were patients here, believe the pattern not the anomaly.

Based on my first hand experience with Dr. John Gonzelez and Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside, I would absolutely avoid all doctors that are associated with the practice including Neil J. Halbridge, M.D., Stephen P. Suzuki, M.D., Donald D. Kim, M.D., Gurvinder Uppal, M.D., Richard Biama, M.D., Abraham Argun, Psyd, and Bryant Leung, M.D.

 

Below is the review of Orthopedic Medical Group that was left on Google Maps by Gloria Gullien.

Sloppy clerical work has long plagued these orthopedic doctors, and my opinion is that it puts patients at risk.  Dr. Gonzalez of Riverside failed to inform the surgery center that I had sleep apnea.

With so many great orthopedic surgeons in the Riverside and the Inland Empire area, why settle for this?


Gloria Gullien Review of Dr. John Gonzalez Orthopedic Doctor

 

They [Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside] have you on hold for 15 minutes then come on phone to tell you hold again.

Oh no this place supposed to be doing my surgery?

Got a authorization for wrong body part as well….

Oh Gee What kind place is this !!!!!!

See original review for Orthopedic Medical Group Riverside

 


 

Have you had an experience with OMGNET that you would like to share with others?  If so please comment here or reach out to me and I will give you all of the room you need to share your story.

 

David Alter had an 8 am appointment to see John Gonzalez MD at Orthopedic Medical Group (their website is OMGNET.COM).

David Shows up at 8 am to find the doctor not even there and 5 patients ahead of him.

At 8:40, Dr. Gonzalez rushed in, told me to find a second opinion, and left! I waited 45 minutes for that?

His arrogance was overwhelming. I will certainly find another doctor who cares whether Ii heal or not!

The above review is a synopsis of a review left by David Alter.  You can find the original text at David Alter’s Review.

Author’s Commentary:

John Gonzalez MD came in and saw the patient. So Orthopedic Medical Group of Riverside will get to bill the insurance company for an office visit. Because Dr. John Gonzalez is considered an “orthopedic specialist” he receives more than a regular doctor for an office visit, probably around $140 a visit (my estimation).

So, let’s say the whole visit (and after dictation) took a whole 5 minutes… this puts Dr. Gonzalez’s hourly billable rate at $1960 per hour.

Nearly $2,000 bucks an hour to just be a prick.

Now you understand why Dr. Gonzalez requires frivolous appointments and runs his business like a cattle call, forcing patients to wait hours to be seen for just a few minutes.

Is this the kind of individual you want to support?  Do you want to support an organization (OMGNET) that knowingly allows the to continue?

Vote with your pocketbooks and find another orthopedic surgeon!