I do not recommend this office. I was a patient there in 2021 for a knee injury looking to get some scans done. I saw Dr Toma who kept pressing me to go on a plant based diet even though I was in there for knee pain from a skiing accident years prior. I left that office knowing I didn't want to see this specific doctor again I moved out of the area 2 months later hadn't seen her since 2021 and i get a bill, dated for August, in my MyChart saying I owe $75 for a no show appointment in March. I never made an appointment, I never got any kind of 'you have an appointment' reminders from the office or anything and got billed. I called the office to clear things up and one woman said she'd follow up with billing regarding this charge. A day later another woman from that office called me to tell me its a valid charge and got hostile and told me I owe the $75 even though I never made an appointment. 0/5 stars read more

HIGHLY RECOMMEND Dr. Christopher Simmons & Dr. Karen Tinder NOTE: there are 6 different doctors at this location! I've been a patient of Dr. Simmons (PCP/internist) for over 10 yrs & have been seeing Dr. Tinder (ob-gyn) for a couple years now. I'm a female, in my early 40s, and healthy, so far. Both are very knowledgeable, attentive, excellent listeners, and personable with fantastic "bedside manners". It's hard to find skillful doctors that are reliable, comforting and most importantly provide high quality healthcare but these two particular physicians do! So much so that I now travel from SoCal to see them. And if I need anything immediately they can get me the proper help and oversee it all right away with no issues! I can't praise or thank them enough for being so good to me and my family (also patients). 5 STARS Dr. Simmons and Dr. Tinder read more

Dr. Toma is one of the worst physicians I've ever had the displeasure of working with, and this is coming from a physician myself. She is rude, arrogant, and often wrong. She has only provided hurtful medical advice and refused general duties within her scope such as prescribing birth control. She is incredibly judgemental, which is honestly impressive given she only has five minutes with you. The absolute worst in bedside manner and clinical decision making. I have no idea how she became a physician in the first place. read more

DO NOT GO HERE. HORRIBLE STAFF, SO RUDE AND INCOMPETENT. I wouldn't trust my health in the hands of these idiots. Front desk staff is intolerably rude and simply put, dumb. Then the doctors are under qualified and have no bedside manner. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. read more

I have enjoyed going to Dr. Toma for the past few years. I'm a very busy working Mom who loves Dr. Toma's approach - she skillfully sifts through a lot of information about me and diagnoses in lightening speed. She gets to the heart of the matter quickly and is clear. read more

I wish I had an option to give zero stars because I would. My 16-year-old daughter woke in the middle of the night complaining of severe pain in her abdomen. I was worried she might have appendicitis so I took her to the John Muir Emergency Room in Walnut Creek. She was diagnosed with a UTI and given a prescription. The charge for this visit which took less than 10 minutes was almost $5000. When I called to complain and get the fees reduced it took FOUR MONTHS and many messages to get someone to return my call. When Margaret McGinn finally did return my call I was told there was nothing she could do except offer me a payment plan. Do NOT use this ER unless you are prepared to deal with extortion and you feel good about contributing to a corporation based on immoral GREED. read more

I saw dr. Toma a few years ago for a regular check up and Pap smear. I mentioned I was having severe nightmares and stress and told her it was because I was assaulted at college. All I wanted was her to reference me to a therapist. I don't remember her even getting me a reference and what I do remember was that she proceeded to argue with me in a demeaning tone and say if I hadn't gone to a bar it wouldn't have happened and I shouldn't be drinking (I was 22 at the time) or trust anyone at college. I left the office and had a legit breakdown. I trusted her with an unbelievably difficult experience and she belittled me. I later received a ptsd diagnosis from a doctor at my college (which has one of the best medical centers in the world) but now I get severe panic attacks going into doctors appointment/offices because of this experience. It was truly disgusting and I hope no other person who is a survivor has her as a doctor. Even then, no patient should be treated with such disregard. She was my sister's dr as well and had a terrible experience. Stay away at all costs. read more

Dr Toma must have missed her training session on patient bedside manner. She is rude and callous and I am surprised she still practices medicine. She is not an attentive listener which makes the patient feel unrecognized. Based on my last visit, I have decided to switch to another internist. read more

This rating is just for Dr. Toma and to warn anyone from seeing her. My regular doctor is Dr. Ure and he is the best. I have given him a 5 star rating under his name here on Yelp. But last week, I got very sick and had to make a doctor's appointment. Because it was so last minute I was willing to take any doctor just to be seen. It ended up being Dr. Toma. I arrived on time and checked in and was taken back to a room. I then had to wait for a half hour for her to arrive while I sat in the chair miserable, hacking up a lung and fighting off a 102 fever. All I wanted to do was lay down and go to sleep. When she arrived a half hour late her first comment was "sorry my last patient was an elderly lady". I don't understand how that is an excuse but here I am sweating from 102 fever and feeling horrible and I didn't feel that was an apology. I felt like passing out about 4 times in that half hour. I'm glad I didn't. She then went on to ask me what was wrong and I never felt that she was listening to me. I had been sick for two weeks but two days before I started to get a fever and I knew that it was something serious. However, I didn't feel like she was taking me serious at all. She kept saying to drink lots of fluid, to do the steam bowl trick, rest.. I know all of these things and have been doing them for two weeks. I'm looking for something other than what I can find on a quick search on webmd. I don't go to the doctor's office unless I know it is really bad. She then ordered x-rays which I had to drive over to Rossmore for but later got a call that confirmed I had pneumonia. Later when the nurse called she let me know that Toma wanted me to get a blood test. When I asked why and what for, I never really got an answer. I went to get the blood test and the next day they called me back to say it was all fine. and to set a follow up in 1-10 days. Here is the quickest breakdown - - made me wait for 30 minutes with a fever and made me feel that I wasn't as important as the older lady before me - bedside manners seriously lacking - did not feel like she was listening to me at all - did not feel like she was taking me seriously - would not listen to me when I said Nyquil is not helping me sleep - and I went on to not be able to sleep for another week - gave me medicine that I was supposed to take before bed that ended up making me throw up the three times I tried to take it - did not feel like she gave me any answers or helped at all If it wasn't for Dr. Toma, I would be giving 5 stars for the reception ladies and Dr. Ure. I have given Dr. Ure 5 stars on another Yelp page. My family has gone to him for a long time and when I went to see him for my follow up, he immediately shook my hand when he came in, made me feel welcome and listened to what I had to say. I feel he truly helped me. Some of my family also uses Furnham at this location and I hear he is good too. Just avoid Dr. Toma read more

Dr Toma was everything I could have wished for in a Internist, caring but now bossy. Dr Toma really took her time with me during my first visit and I left feeling that I had finally found a a Dr that I can come back too for anything and it doesn't take all day to get through to her office for an appointment. I'm a nurse my self. Her office staff is great too. read more

Doctor Toma is so Rude! I have been going to her this past year and my visit yesterday was my last straw. I was there to get a Pap Smear and other tests. She began to get upset and said that my appointment was not for that. Meanwhile the front desk said I had had one this month. She began to tell me that my life is a mess and I need to get my health under control!! Why I'm being proactive and coming to her!!! Meanwhile the front desk had been over charging my copayments all year! Now they are trying to tell me I owe for a hospital visit! I have never been to a hospital. I wish I would have read her reviews prior to making her my new doctor. I give he negative 5 stars. read more

I am not going to go into a lot of detail because there are many other reviews on the subject, but Dr Toma was exceptionally inattentive, rude, and actually hurtful to my elderly mother (I was also in the exam room so I heard everything firsthand). My mother would not go back to Dr Toma so we changed to Dr Ure who is much, much better. The office as a whole is not that user friendly - very slow responding to requests from pharmacys to approve renewals, poor i responding to telephone calls, difficult to get a timely appointment with and eager to just sent you to urgent care. I would switch but they are conveniently located. Choose wisely... read more

I am surprised that I can not Email my Dr with questions like so many other health organizations have the ability to do. I do not want the whole organization to read my mail ONLY MY DR! Very disappointed with this issue. read more

This review is specifically for Dr. Toma. She is rude, dismissive of the concerns of patients and family members, and doesn't look at a patient's overall health when making medical decisions. After years of being disabled, she denied my father a disability placard saying "he needs to walk to get better", but also declined to provide referrals for physical or occupational therapy to try and improve his mobility. She is easy to get an appointment with, which is the only reason she gets 2 stars, because after 6 months of frustrating appointments we have now switched to seeing Dr. Ure. read more

I believe Toma at John Muir Medical Group, Lafayette is in a wrong profession. In medical practice, good communication between doctor and patient is very important to understand the symptom of the illness correctly and to produce a proper prescription. Doctor listens, explains and guides the patient. Doctor encourages the patient to ask questions. However, she complains about too many questions from patient. She does not want such a patient. In January 2019, I saw Dr. Toma to show her my skin problem and to get a referral. At the end of the visit, she said that she did not want me for her patient. Reason? She said that I had asked too many questions. I was shocked. Her reason was not the usual excuse, "too many patients" she had. It was my second visit with her. I saw her a year before when Dr. Fruman, my primary care physician then had retired. She was his substitute. During the session, she agreed to accept me for her patient. Subsequently, I notified my insurance company of this change of the primary care physician. Asking too many questions. It is the reason for her refusal. I do not know how many are too many. I am somewhat shy person and usually quiet. I really did not think that I asked too many with any measure. After all, all the topics we talked were about the symptom. How many questions can one think out of a skin problem? Should I not ask if things are not clear to me? The January visit was a very humiliating encounter. read more

This is a wonderful place with friendly efficient staff, especially Bob. I'm very happy that I switched my primary care doctor to Herbert Ure. read more

Only saw her twice and is the worst doctor I've ever had. She is a horrible human being and has no business being a physician. She has an awful bed side manner and treated me without care or respect. She was rude and bossy. She gave me prescription for a controlled medication "we had both agreed would be a one-time-prescription", and when my pharmacy called her, she didn't approve it!! She didn't call me to explain the reason for her denial and refused to take my insurance company and pharmacist calls. I also called her and she also refused to take my calls. I never talk to her and will NEVER go back to her. Had an appointment scheduled for next week, and I canceled it. Will write a letter to the office manager. She is the worst. read more

I've only seen Dr Maha Toma, and she's the worst - nasty, careless, unsympathetic and no help. I went in for elbow pain and she sent me to Urgent Care instead - hello? read more

I chose this group for our family when we relocated to Lafayette. We were surprised to easily be able to get appointments with Dr Toma to establish ourselves, but now I see why! She wasn't easy talk to, and didn't seem interested in learning about my medical history and what my doctors and I had finally found that was working for my chronic condition. She referred me to a pain management clinic for the small amount of pain medication that is part of my monthly migraine and severe dysmenorrhea treatments that I have been taking for years because, according to her, I am " too young." I guess I didn't realize menstrual pain and migraines only happened at certain older ages? I wonder what age she allows patients to have pain? She ordered many expensive blood tests and imaging tests, all of which I had done in the last year with my previous dr. I told her again that I don't have insurance so I would really rather have the least amount of testing possible, and I was not even sure what she was looking for. I did the testing and still, months later, have heard nothing back about them. My partner went in for follow up for bloodwork from his last dr and some concerns about depression. She ordered the blood work, never followed up. A man seeking medical help for depression is not an easy step, and in response you totally leave him hanging? That could be a dangerous for someone unstable. Overall, she was pretty cold, and after dealing with 16 years of throwing up and passing out from this pain monthly, suggesting I drink more water or take an Advil is downright insulting. Needless to say, we switched to another medical group. If you are looking for compassion and someone with a heart to help people, keep looking. Dr Toma is not the woman. read more

A doctor's office nurse told me that Dr. Toma has a good reputation so I went to her and made her my primary care doctor. I believe she is a good doctor and wanted very much to stay with her. I've seen her four times now and each time she is in a hurry or seems to be in a hurry, doesn't appear to listen even though she's looking right at me, and is abrupt. On one visit she did an EKG and said it was normal and then told me that it didn't mean though that I wasn't having a heart attack. I assumed she knew I wasn't or she wouldn't have said that and then done nothing. I asked her if I should have a chest x-ray and she agreed I could have one. It turned out to be fine but my level of pain wasn't my imagination and not feeling like my doctor was concerned was concerning to me. I wrote to her and asked her if I should have the second type of pneumonia vaccination and she said I should come into her office to talk about it. So I made an appointment and went in and she said that, yes, I should. There are apparently two different pneumonia vaccinations, one ending in the number 2 or 12 and the other ending in the number 23. I'd only heard about the one and just happened to discover the second one on a medical website for professionals. As she left I asked her if I needed another one after this one and she said I should get another one in six months. When her PA came in and gave me the shot I told her I would see her in six months and she told me I didn't have to have another one. I told her what Dr. Toma said and she went back and conferred with Dr. Toma and then came out and told me I didn't have to have another one. This was disconcerting but it happens. Recently I sent her an email, since that is supposed to be of of the benefits of being connected to the John Muir Healthcare system. Her answer to me was that I should make an appointment and come in. I did. The first thing she said to me was a criticism of the lengthy email I sent her. I thought more rather than less information would be beneficial. When I told her she didn't have a very good bedside manner she became insulted and I wound up apologizing twice. Her response to me was that I didn't have to stay with her that there were other doctors I can go to. So, as much as it pains me to do it, I'm now looking for another Internist. I work so always having to go to her office for things like even finding out if I should or should not have another type of pneumonia vaccine is very inconvenient. I also don't feel like she likes me and it may be that we just aren't a good match. I don't have anything terrible to say about her as a doctor. As far as I know I'm leaving a very good doctor for another doctor maybe not so good. It's hard to tell whether or not one has a good or very good doctor anymore. I've spent four hours looking on the Internet, comparing doctors, and trying to find a good one. I finally chose one who has medium ratings on this site but was recommended by the receptionist in her group office and I'd rather try one who is recommended than not. Don't decide not to choose Dr. Toma because of my review but, if my review is one of several similar reviews, then there is a pattern that I think should be noticed. read more

I took my dad for an appointment here today, 8-26-16. He and my mom have been patients at this practice for 15 yrs or so and my sister and I have been telling them to get a new Dr. for a long time because we felt they were not being taken care of correctly, and today was the final straw. My dad is diabetic and had cut his foot, so we wanted to play it safe and get it checked out. His regular Dr, Dr Ure was not there today, so we had an appointment with a Dr Toma. My dad also has dementia, and we were late because he became confused and forgot his way, (he usually remembers older information) so I pulled over and called my mom for the address. By the time we arrived, the receptionist told us we were too late and had to reschedule. I asked if we could wait and be squeezed in between the next client and was told "no, we are too busy and are booked back to back all afternoon" I looked around the waiting room and thought, that's funny because we are the only people in here!! The receptionist was cold and didn't even make eye contact with me. My dad is almost 80 yrs old! This is not how you treat a loyal client of 15 PLUS years, let a lone an ELDERLY MAN WITH DIABETES AND A CUT ON HIS FOOT. This is patient CARE???!!! NO IT IS NOT!! This same practice, DR URE, did a disservice to my mother 9 yrs ago when she had diarrhea for 2 weeks and he told her to drink Imodium!! A few days later my sister took my mother to the ER, my mother was immediately admitted to the hospital, spent 10 days there and was diagnosed with Crohn's disease!!! And this place is supposed to be a geriatric facility!!!? If you have elderly parents, don't let them go here, I WOULD NOT GO HERE. My folks are finally finding a new DR. and we are taking my dad to the urgent care for his foot. SHAME on this place. WHAT place that CARES for their patients would turn away an elderly diabetic man with a wound???? Boggles my mind! read more

This is specifically on Dr. Toma. If I could give less than one star I would. I confided in this doctor about a traumatic event in my life that was preventing me from sleeping and eating. I explained that I was telling her about the event because I recognized I very much needed therapy to help with these issues. After explaining what happened to me she literally blamed me for what happened and told me not to go out and to not trust anyone at my school (I was in college during this time). Her tone was demeaning and cruel and I left the doctors office with zero help for what would be diagnosed by a subsequent doctor as PTSD. The experience with her response was traumatizing in and of itself and I still deal with anxiety when visiting doctors offices because of it. She acted like she had never met a patient who had dealt with a traumatic experience. Someone with such little consideration for the emotional wellbeing of their patients should not be practicing medicine. read more

I have been a patient with John Muir for the past four+ years. This time i decided to change my physician and decide to go with Dr. Maha Toma. On September 11, 2015, I visited Dr. Maha Toma' office for my first visit with her. Doctor asked me if it was ok to do a complete physical at the same time, to which i agreed. The doctor generated the lab orders for the same. But instead of the annual physical checkup she generated the bills and lab tests under some other code. i have received bills from the doctor's office as well as the Labs. I understand that this could have been a mistake. I have called your office about 9 times, to ask for the doctor to correct the billing code. Every time i am assured that a message will be left for the doctor who will look into the matter. I have also spoken with the manager Mr. Robert, and he assured that he will discuss the matter with the doctor and will get back to me with a resolution. To date no action has been for the same. I am surprised at the level of service as well as their (ir) responsibility for the care provided. read more

Have been a patient of Dr. Toma for a few years without much to complain about, but at the last visit for an unrelated issues she said I needed to get a mammogram, especially since I have no children. Umm. I do, and it's not like I expect her to remember much about me since I don't see her often, but I would like live births would be part of my record. I told her I had dense breasts and the level 1 mammograms are always inconclusive; can I go straight to ultrasound or higher rez? No. She tells me the machines are better now. So, of course round 1 is inconclusive (as always) then I go to round 2, which is also inconclusive; then I need a biospy. So I go through that, and I get a message from her saying I need to see a breast specialist the next week (she hasn't seen the biopsy report). So I call the imaging center and ask if the report is ready; they say yes and I respond "great! I'm coming to pick it up." They are ready for me at John Muir. I open the report, which to me looks like I don't have cancer but maybe possibly something to watch. (This whole process is a joke, from my perspective). So I show the report to 2 people with knowledge of such things and they say I don't have cancer; I might have something worth watching long term, but not to worry. I email Dr. Toma saying "thanks, I don't have cancer and I'm not seeing your specialist" and she admits sending me to one since she isn't sure what my report says, that's why I need to see a specialist. All I got out of this was a whole lot of unnecessary stress over three weeks, and useless information presented in a condescending way. I'll never have another mammogram again, and I'm not happy that I was made to have that first screening, and in the end, all she could do was send me to someone else. She tells me my biggest problem is that "I worry to much." Gee I can't imagine why. read more

I was in need of a new primary care physician and was lucky enough to find Dr. Toma. I found her to be friendly, thorough, thoughtful and professional. She took time to learn about me and my health history, asked relevant questions and answered mine. She is approachable and accessible. I look forward to a long association with Dr. Toma. read more

Dr. Toma is terrible. Please read the other reviews. I read them, but thought they must be from a few disgruntled patients. I even went back to her again and again thinking that I got her on a bad day or that I being too difficult. But no, I am simply asking her to help me resolve a chronic condition and she will not take it seriously. She gave me the same medication that I've had before and which does not work, she tells me to go to urgent care instead of bothering her and she refuses to let me see a specialist. If she can't solve my problem, then she should let me go elsewhere. When I try to explain my concerns to her, she cuts me off and talks over me. She seems angry that I have questions and dismisses them without an answer. I can't even call her with a question without being told to make an appointment. I finally realized why -- she wants my money. She still won't answer the question, she won't even let me ask it, why bother making me come in for an appointment if she won't listen and won't answer either way??? Money. She doesn't care about me and she won't care about you. Save yourself the time and trouble. Go elsewhere!!!! read more