If you are looking for a doctor, I highly recommend Dr. Darla Rivera. I moved to Wichita for a new…read morejob in the mid 90's. I was in my twenties and was "required" to find a primary care physician. Then, I had no idea what qualities I wanted in a doctor. I was blessed that someone suggested Dr. Rivera. I didn't know I needed a doctor who was compassionate, who listened to me, who took extra measure whether it be research or referrals over the years when, as I aged, I had various medical needs. When I left my job in Wichita, I stayed with Dr. Rivera, even though at that time the drive to Wichita would be longer. I moved further away from Wichita when I purchased a house after receiving a promotion. Now I was in my late 30s. Again, rather than finding a local doctor in the city I lived (an hour drive one way to Wichita) there was no question I would continue to see my primary care doctor, Dr. Rivera. I had recognized the quality I needed in a doctor. Someone who read my chart. Someone who understood my past medical history. Someone who actually knew me as a person and knew what my medical needs were. Someone who knew the stressors of my job. And if she did not know, she would make referrals for me to be tested, so she could know. In my 40s, my mom became a paraplegic while my parents were living in Colorado. When I moved my parents to live with me (again an hour away from Wichita), no doctor in the city we lived would take my mom as a patient. That was terrifying as my mom had significant medical needs as a paraplegic. But Dr. Rivera willingly took my mom as a patient until my mom could find someone closer. Dr. Rivera provided exceptional care to my mom until my mom could find specialists in town to help her. My mother would still see Dr. Rivera if she could, but the hour drive and my mom's frequent pain requires my mom to have a local doctor, a doctor who my mom doesn't care for because my mom doesn't feel her primary care doctor listens to her. Even after my mom found specialists in the town we live, when I see Dr. Rivera now, when I am in my 50s, Dr. Rivera always asks about my mom. She makes a point to make sure I tell my mom hello from her. Because Dr. Rivera cares about her patients. For me, I know I am beyond blessed to have a doctor who has the qualities I have come to expect in a doctor (even though I didn't know that when I "chose her" when I was younger). When I need an appointment for something I am able to get in to see her without waiting for weeks and weeks. There may be times when I am in the waiting room of the office at Primary Care Associates to see her and time has passed from when I was scheduled to see her. On occasion, if I hear someone complain about the time they are having to wait to see a doctor, I think to myself, I am thankful and more than willing to wait if need be. If I am waiting, that means Dr. Rivera is making sure the patient she is seeing at the time, is getting her undivided attention. I am thankful because when it is my turn, when I am in her office and she walks in, she truly knows my name, knows who I am, my family, my job, and my past medical problems. When she meets with me, it may take more time, but in the 25+ years I have seen her, I have never walked out of her office without feeling "heard" and also knowing Dr. Rivera is doing the absolute best to provide quality medical care to me. For that, I am eternally grateful. Quite frankly, if she is to ever retire, I know with certainty, there will never be a doctor who will be able to provide the quality care and compassion she has provided me over the years. It took me a long time to know what qualities I require in a doctor, I know now I want a doctor to have the qualities of Dr. Rivera. As I was about to post this, on the right of my screen I saw a review from "billie d". calling Dr. Rivera a narcissist for the wait time. Any wait time a patient has, is because Dr. Rivera is making sure her patients needs are met. She puts her patient's needs before hers. This is the opposite of "narcissist." If you want a quick, take a number, fast food style, "one size fits all" approach.... Dr. Rivera is not the doctor for you.

Dr. Darla Rivera has been my primary care physician for over 13 years. I have not always been the…read moreeasiest patient, as I deal with chronic obesity, chronic pain, and several chronic conditions. However, through it all, Dr. Rivera has treated me with kindness, respect, and dignity, while at the same time, never skirting the issues. I found early on that Dr. Rivera is quite different from other physicians I have seen. She is not afraid to run tests or refer to specialists to get to the bottom of the issue. She always takes TIME to hear what is going on, and thus, has many times figured out things that other physicians simply wouldn't have considered. She has a vast amount of knowledge, but still continues to research new treatments and medications that may be most helpful for her patients. I have referred many friends and even strangers to her care. She has raised the bar high for any other physician I may consider in the future. But I plan to continue being under her care for as long as possible! In conclusion, Dr. Rivera is not a perfect person, however, because of her expertise, compassion, and ability to understand me as a PERSON, not just a paycheck, I highly recommend her as a physician.