Dear Reviewers: I'm the Provider. I do appreciate you taking time to do my reviews . My apologies for what is perceived as being not so nice to my staff. I'm glad you care enough to take me on that . I have been doing my best at being conscientious with how I treat both patients and my staff. My staff have been with me for 20 , 6 and 3 years. Behind the scenes they are well treated and well compensated. We enjoy each other's company and I admit they are a very efficient staff. However each time a patient is in the office I try my best to address all concerns and I get behind. My boundaries been broken many times. ( ie asking for the siblings at home, unrelated questions about themselves etc) The next patient is upset .. but if I rush a patient they don't get the personal service I am known to do. For the last reviewer. I would like to tell you that I am a physician and not a counselor so my apologies if I did not use the right words. Family Health Care offers Mental health services. For my staff: I promise to do better as i am proud of all of you. 2026 is a new year. We love the patients who have been with us for a long time and we try our best. Except that most people who are upset would " yelp" and most people who are satisfied don't really bother writing reviews.. because they're not driven by strong emotions. But i do appreciate both positive and negative reviews. We will have a better year. read more

Hello my name is Sandy Cheeks and I want to say that I am not happy with Dr. Rusch's services. Why? Because she never has appointments available for my kids every time I call she is always full. And every time I go in person her lobby is jammed pack. She always is constantly raising her voice not just at the poor girls but at us parents. I can ask her a simple question and she'll have a meltdown raising her voice. She can't see anybody fat because right away she wants to put my kids on weight loss pills. She may be a doctor be she needs to have some lessons on how to talk to people and stop talking fast. Also when she leaves voicemails on my phone I do not understand a word she is saying and I always have to call back to the office and ask what she said. I know it's not the employees fault because they just work there but she needs to consider to lower down the amount of patients she has because damn! I always have to go to the urgent care or ER! I can't give her my opinion on something because if I do she will start to studder and be like "no no no" she always has to be right she don't like to be wrong. She looks down on you like if you were to be a nobody read more

Dr. Rusch is not compassionate at all. I had taken my child twice for depression seeking help from a professional doctor and she does not have the right words to comfort someone who feels sad. I think I have better words to tell my child to cheer her up. Not only that but she is mean to her staff. She yells at them and she humiliates them in front of the parents. She will call them inside the room and tell them there mistakes in front of the patient wow that's embarrassing. Dr. Rusch has no sympathy towards the patients and her staff. I never had issues with her staff they are all great! She needs to calm down and treat her staff better we all have a limit and one day one of them will walk out that door and leave. If Dr. Rusch thinks she will hire better MA's she needs to think twice about because these new generation employees are rude and they have attitude and they talk back to u and they don't care if ur the boss. The times I've been in the lobby waiting forever I can see that the girls get along really well. Anyways Dr. Rusch is mean and has no heart towards her patients and employees read more

Dr. Rusch needs to learn how to appreciate her staff. Why? Because she yells at them, I hear and see they don't tell me. When I take my baby for her shots and she will be all like " Doraaaa" or "Gracielaaaaa" and she yells at them more than once. I'm thinking she wants them there at the moment she yells their name. Maybe buy them roller skates then? Dr should be thankful the girls don't answer back in a mean way because this new generation is meaner and ruder they do answer back with attitude and I know because when dr Rusch doesn't have available appts I take my baby to family healthcare or sequoia family medical and those MA's are mean both front and back. I once witness a provider requesting lab results on a patient and the MA literally told the provider "why don't u get it yourself?" And this was at sequoia. So if dr Rusch decides to fire her current girls and hire new younger MA's good luck with that. I'm surprised these girls don't walk out on her with her attitude read more

Rumor has it that Dr. Rusch will be closing her practice to go to work at Sequoia. Dr. Rusch I beg you not to close your practice. I love you and your staff. You guys are amazing! Please don't leave I left my kids pediatric doctor to switch to you and your leaving? Nooooo!!! Where do we sign or who do we talk to for you to stay. I don't mind the long wait times, I don't care if u arrive late I will always wait for you. The girls at sequoia are mean because I went when you didn't have openings and they are mean. When they asked me who my child's PCP was and I told them your name they just rolled their eyes like they were annoyed. And your staff are nice. Yes one of them is always serious and dry but she is not mean. I had gotten to conversate with her and deep down she is nice. So is Dora and Andrea. Are you taking your staff with you too? Please don't leave Dr. we love you, please continue having your office all to you and your amazing MA's read more

Dr. Rusch is evil, eeeevil I tell yah! Have u heard how she talks to her staff?! How she talks to the parents?! She talks over u, doesn't let u finish ur question or concern. Is she aware that us as parents go to her office because she gives us what we want? If we want our child to be absent for 1 week or 2 weeks she will give it to us with no hesitation. FMLA or referrals or antibiotics, even if it's not needed if we ask if we want it she will give it us she is the only doctor in Porterville that's likes to kiss butt lol. But no for reals she is nice to us but eeeeevil to her staff. She looks down on her staff and throws them under the bus when they are not listening. If I say her staff was mean to me even though is was not true, she will believe me more that her staff poor girls won't eve be believed by there own boss read more

The best pediatrician. All 3 of my boys see Dr Rusch. They love her. She's so sweet and makes sure to provide the best patient care. She always takes time during appointments to talk with the kids and make them laugh. I recommend her to everyone and they end up loving her as well for their children. She is focused on her patients and makes sure their needs are addressed. Her staff is amazing and have been her same staff for years. They are all very nice, helpful and caring. read more

Dr. Rusch has been my kid's pediatrician for over 20 years. She provides outstanding care, she is always thorough during her visits explaining everything. Her staff is always helpful and accommodating, one of which has been there for as long as I have been taking my kids there. I feel like the whole office goes above and beyond for patients, they are always empathetic, understanding, and helpful and I am extremely thankful to be able to take my kids there. read more

Love Dr. Rusch. She is a great doctor. She cares about her patient's. I love taking my kids to her, she is great with them. She takes the time with her patients and she doesn't kick you out in 2 min like other doctors do. She actually takes time to listen to you. She also takes the time to call me back whenever I have a concern about my kids. Her staff is great and they are always friendly. I would highly recommend Dr. Rusch. read more

Dr. Rusch is the best pediatrician locally. I was fortunate enough to be able to get my kids in as she's always been in high demand and has had a waiting list. She has a great personality and her high energy and positive attitude is something the kids appreciate. I would not take my kids anywhere else. read more

We have been going to Dr Rusch for 20 years and doctor and her staff has been nothing but professiona, respectful, and caring. Doctor takes her time to see what the problem is and find a solution before we leave. Yes it might take a while some times but what doctor doesn't. read more

Dr. Maria Rusch has THE best care for my children! Always is there when we need her and has taken four of my kids for over 20 years. She is so caring, loving, and knows how to talk and understand kids. By far the best pediatrician in Porterville CA. read more