Dr. Ricardo Rivas-Plata, MD

I had an urgent appointment which was scheduled very quickly from the front desk and was accommodated by the schedule. The doctor himself was very rude and condescending and didn’t give me proper care. He said no doctors at the office do women’s exams and I called the front desk and they were able to schedule me an appointment at the same office for a women’s exam… He then went on to ask why I was on birth control even though I am celibate, which is very concerning considering women are on birth control for multiple reasons. Ignorance in health care can be extremely dangerous. I walked away confused with labs and was told to see a different specialist. Overall he made me feel like I was neglecting my health when in fact the health care system has failed me multiple times trying to find the help I need. Would not recommend him or the doctors at his office.

Rivas Plata has been my doctor for several years. I like that he has been thorough and has followed up when issues were present. He has listened to me and does not rush me when I have concerns. i appreciate that he wants to address all your concerns and takes the time to explain things to you in a way that you understand. Getting an appointment or referrals is always really easy. My in-laws and husband are his patients as well. And as of 1-2024, one of my brothers is his patient. I would recommend him as a primary physician! He is not there to make friends. He is there to do his job and provide patient care, which he does really well.

As others have stated, he does not have empathy. I believe he has an Idea of what is going on, and builds his treatment on this Idea. There is no attempt to get to the bottom of an issue. I suffered incredible back pains for more than one year. The most I could get was an x-ray of the hip, I paid for my own MRI ( a kind chiropractor wrote the order) and found invasive cancer of the spine, a metastasis of breast cancer 20 years earlier.

I have a new primary care physician who actually examined me today, and his genuine care has prompted me to write this review. Dr. Rivas-Plata stood across the room, barely made eye contact and didn’t touch me once. When my new doctor today asked me pertinent questions about the GI issues I’ve been having and others that I had sought answers for from Dr. Rivas-Plata, as well as actually felt my esophagus and other affected areas, I thanked him profusely, moved by the fact he actually cared. From what I gather, Rivas-Plata worked in research/epidemiology. This man should not be dealing with the public in any sense and should review the hippocratic oath in detail (or maybe he missed that part). My sense is that Rivas-Plata never wanted to have to “deal” with patients in the first place.

Dr. Rivas "examined" my right knee from across the room. Wrote me a prescription for pain cream and instructed me go have it x-rayed. He said he would call me after he sees results. After he stepped out, his nurse came in to give me the cream prescription and told me to wait for the doctor to return. 30 minutes later, i saw the doctor in his office and when i asked if i still had to wait, his response was 'no, you can go'!! I got my knee x-rayed immediately after leaving his office on a Monday, results were avail by Wed but his staff couldn't "find" them until the following Monday when i made the 3rd call....told me results looked ok and gave me the orthopedics office number. Doctor had never spoke to me after the initial visit. The only response was from the lady who answered the phone!! An email i sent to the doctor was eventually answered TEN DAYS later by a MA!! Not a good experience at all.

I found a breast lump on Christmas eve and the on-call physician set me up with a phone appointment with Dr. Rivas the following morning. It was quick and efficient: he immediately sent referrals to my PCP's office, and told me that given the circumstances I could expect to go to the top of the line for a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. He inquired whether I had an oncologist, and what was his name. He recognized him and said I should see him as soon as he receives the results from Hill Breast Center. I very much appreciated the phone appointment because it saved me so much time, and I could talk with him first thing this morning. He knew all of the important questions to ask me. (I only gave 4 stars because I can only speak of this one encounter.

Dr. Rivas plata was very unhelpful when my Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer. I would NOT recommend him ever.