I give a five star to Dr. Lee but only one to me for not making appointments more often. I can say I feel in great hands with this doctor. He has breadth through experience to have perspective in assessment of, say, a wonky lab result that you googled and freaked yourself out about. He is clearly very intelligent--and combine that with seeing his patients as people, making astute recommendations and being up on the latest tech and advancements--we are feeling pretty confident in Dr. Lee supervising our healthcare. My husband (who sees him too) and I also love the "optimal" mindset and enjoy the tweaking of vitamin protocols. If we remembered to actually follow the protocols consistently I'd feedback on the efficacy of said vitamins but we do feel good so there's that. Also, on a side note he cross-checks lab results with your 23&Me (or other) info which is pretty cutting edge I think. read more

Dr. Richard Lee is the best. He'll spend the time to make you feel listened to. I hear this about him all the time. His vast knowledge of medicine shows if you become a patient. He can think outside the box if it means taking care of your health. I feel cared for by this doctor more than any other. This is a unique quality in this period of medical history. The guy is a gem of a doctor. Every person that I have referred to him has thanked me. Rich is the doctor you want if quality of care is something you value! One added note here. Rich has changed his practice recently to limit the amount of patients he sees. There is a fee to be part of his practice, if you can swing it, I can't recommend him enough. read more

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Rich Lee has been my primary care physician for the better part of two decades. and there is no one better! I come from a medical family and maintain an EMT certification, so while still a civilian, I know what to look for when it comes to excellence in health care, and Dr. Lee really tops the charts. He is an excellent (and patient) listener and dogged sleuth when it comes to chasing down the root cause of elusive complaints. And he stays absolutely up to the minute on the latest research, which he tempers with his long experience. Honestly, I can't think of a better primary care doctor anywhere. As another reviewer put it, he is truly a gem! read more

Totally called up, excited by the yelp reviews, find out he is accepting new patients, and then the person says, by the way, he's part of a network called MDVIP, and you can pay a quarterly or annual fee... You've got to be kidding me. No, I will not be paying his membership fees, that's something he needs to pay himself. Frickin scam. read more

'Let me get the nutmeister's information for you'... 'I'm gonna send you to my vampire for some blood work'... If you guessed that these phrases were uttered by my physician, you have a much more intimate knowledge of medical jargon than I do. My best friend referred me to Dr. Richard Lee back in 2002 when he worked at Stanford, and he's been my physician ever since. A few years ago he left Stanford and started his own practice (Hometown Healthcare), and if anything, his quality of service has gone up. The last time I went in for a physical (November 2007) I was there for almost 90 minutes, and spent very little of that time (less than 5 minutes) sitting around waiting. In addition to administering the standard checkup tests, Dr. Lee takes the time to listen to all of your health questions and concerns (it's always a good idea to bring a list) and addresses each and every one. Besides being a great physician, he's a cool guy to chat with and has even provided me with information on items as varied as the following: - A recipe for a great blueberry smoothie - Cool vacation ideas (especially if you're into outdoorsy or adventure excursions) - General health recommendations (websites, documents, etc.) - The best way to get laid If you live on the peninsula or are willing to drive down to Palo Alto (I live in the city and make the drive), give Dr. Lee a call...you'll be happy you did! I know after reading this review most of you want to know the best way to get laid, which is... Go to Hawaii. (ba-dum-bum...crash! Thank you, thank you...I'm here every day at 2:00 and 4:00...please tip your waitpersons generously) read more

Dr Lee is absolutely amazing. It can be difficult to afford the extra, but if you cut back on one Starbuck's coffee (or beer) per day, that's the cost right there. (If you have FSA, it is an eligible FSA expense, so it can be a bit cheaper if you use pre-tax dollars) What you get is totally worth it! Everything ArtD says is true... Appointments the next day, people who know you, appointments that answer your questions, ALL of them. Paying the extra allows Dr Lee to spend more time with each patient than what the insurance companies want him to. He still takes and bills your insurance which some doctors have stopped doing to stay in business. He's great about balancing traditional and natural medicine, finding the best individual solution for you. He has solved problems for me that left other doctors scratching their heads. He does too, but he DOESN'T GIVE UP! He also is looking out for the health of your whole life, how is your work? Social life? Sex life? He gets that these things all affect your health and can give you great advice. He's also great at outdoor activities and safety and prepares me for all of my trips. He's like the best combination of doctor and life coach. I recommend him wholeheartedly to anyone and even more so to cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts. :) read more

Dr. Lee is a great doctor, although he has now joined a group called MD VIP in which you need to pay $1800/year to be his patient. He will reduce his number of patients to 600 by doing this. The $1800 will give you a yearly physical but you still need your normal insurance to pay for the visit. He is probably the best doctor I have every had, but since I have not been sick in 2 years, it will be hard to justify $1800 more to health care after I have already been paying for the premium insurance in order to see him. Too bad. read more

An excellent, EXCELLENT doctor. He'll listen to your problems, no matter what they are, and treat you as a person - not a problem Dr. Lee is a shining example of what primary care in America SHOULD BE. I've visited many offices and Dr. Lee is a rare find and a gem amongst all doctors. The office is cozy, the staff is kind and efficient. If you're tired of the lackluster, half-assed care you've been getting thus far in the medical field, Dr. Lee's is a worth a refreshing try. The only drawback is the $1800/yr extra you must pay directly to their office as part of their office's partnership with a novel insurance company MDVIP. This annual flat rate fee does include an annual physical, visit with nutritionist and open line to Dr Lee's cell, even if it's 3AM in the morning. He spends 30-50 minutes on your annual visit, approaching from all angles regarding your health; from sleep to diet to exercise, even your hobbies! And he's never tired of it. Lastly, his practice emphasizes prevention rather than intervention. He prefers to take you OFF medications and not put you on more. And if he doesn't know, then he'll be HONEST with you. read more

Dr Lee is a gem in the healthcare landscape. He's the rarest type of doctor: one who has a combination of intelligence and sensitivity; he's a great listener as well as an innovator in the field of medicine. His homeopathic knowledge of herbal and vitamin remedies is vast and he supplements these recommendations with traditional Western Medicine so you get the best of both worlds without any patronizing lecture. There's a feeling that he respects his patients as people and a mutual medical decision is made--driven by results from lab work and/or cutting edge gene testing--and he's great at explaining the scientific foundation to support his recommendation, which doesn't always involve a typical pharmacy prescription. And FYI-- (since I've been on the periphery of healthcare for over fifteen years I speak from witnessing this trend first hand) all of the best family medicine doctors will eventually be in some type of "concierge" service....whether that involves a membership fee or a yearly fee for service, because of the financial squeeze of health insurances. Most patients don't understand how they operate and their strict tiers for medications, prior authorizations and reimbursements for procedures, labs, etc. all declining, yearly membership fees will eventually become the only way for a great doctor to survive without joining a mega-monster like Kaiser where they time each patient visit, push "evidence based medicine" which is based on the generic patient just like the generic meds they mandate. read more

I love Dr. Lee!! I've had to see him for a variety of issues, and he (unlike my past doctors) listens to what the problem is, takes time to discuss the diagnosis with me, and prescribes natural medicine over prescription. He spent 30 minutes with me yesterday when I was worried about breathing problems and really explored possible scenarios in depth. Final diagnosis? Stress. Remedy? A vacation and melatonin (for insomnia). No scary pills thrown at the problem with this guy. I'm a Dr. Lee convert for life! read more

I visited Dr. Lee 15 years ago when he was working at Stanford and can honestly say he is an amazing man an Dr. His mix of knowledge, personality, and just his good nature has provided me with trust and good health through the years. His assistant, Cindy, has been with him since I saw him 15 years ago and remains with him today. I think that too is a testament to how everyone feels about this man. Highly recommended. Great doctor and an even greater person. read more

The doctor has employed a very rude nurse/receptionist to answer his calls. I am surprised to receive such poor customer service by a supposed healthcare professional representing a family practice. It's unfortunate to leave a poor Yelp review based on the front desk's behavior, but it needs to be called out. Especially when people who feel unwell are calling and they deserve warmth - not attitude. read more

He will not see you unless you pay out of pocket $1,800/year on top of the insurance. I had picked him because of the great reviews and he is a preferred provider for my insurance. Now I am looking for another doctor. read more

Dr. Richard Lee, who heads up Hometown Healthcare, is GREAT! He takes a unique approach to your health combining medicine with natural remedies. When I was diagnosed he could have easily medicated me with prescription drugs but instead decided to refer me to his in house nutritionist who has recommend a vast array of natural remedies and vitamins to put me back on path. I appreciate the fact that he does not force prescription meds if you do not want them. He is pretty easy to get into and take a wide variety of insurance. read more

Dr Lee is the absolute BEST!!! You don't find this kind of doctors anywhere these days! He takes the time to figure out the solution to any and every issue you can have! You always leave his office feeling great and in control:) My entire family sees him including our girls and we all love him! The extra fee is so well worth it, one less restaurant bill per month will take care of it:) Nothing is more important than investing in your heath. read more

Great doctor. Very personable. See his profile at: http://www.mdvip.com/NewCorpWebSite/PrimaryCareDoctors/Dr_Richard_D_Lee_MD.aspx read more

hands down, as good as it gets. no doctor I've ever been to anywhere (even Canada) takes this much time or cares as much. Bonus: he's an athlete, and understands athletes and performance at an exceptionally high level. If you want to find out what "optimal health" feels like, Dr Lee is your guy. read more

Having trusted my life 24/7 to Dr. Lee for several months straight, I can without hesitation recommend him to anyone needing a competent and thorough doctor. Though most people will not need an Expedition Doctor with experience on Mt. Everest or watching over a polar explorer trekking solo to the North Pole, his expertise, communication, and approach mean that everyone gets top-flight care. I've yet to meet or utilize a more capable physician. Dr. Lee's open and knowledgeable approach, incorporating the best technologies and methodologies, whether it be natural remedies or state-of-the-art technologies, are unique among his peers. Dr. Lee will spend the time necessary with you to address any medical concerns you may have (current illness or preventative and on-going). You are indeed lucky and fortunate if you can have Dr. Lee as your primary physician. read more

Dr Lee saved my life from frustrations and suffering which no normal doctor could do. Most of the people whom I have seen showed signs of frustration at me. I had a neck injury due to which the neurotransmitters in the brain came down. I was in a lot of suffering and was considering suicide at a point. Someone referred me to Dr Lee saying he is an expert in medicine. The very first day I saw him he explained me what the different components of the nervous system along with a list of all the neurotransmitters and how they could be synthesized. I recovered pretty well and am leading a normal life right now. I owe all of this to him. He knows his subject and what exactly problem is. He is thorough with what he does and treats patients like a human and not like a customer at a showroom. The MDVIP is worth each and every buck. He is very dedicated to his profession and interacts very well with patients. I pray God that Dr Lee lives another 100 years to reduce the suffering of patients like me. If you have any questions you can call me and I can explain everything. read more

The doctor tells me that he will not take a TOP class medical insurance program which a PPO. He wants me to be a member of his "buddy" club of doctors and pay an annual subscription - which is not covered by insurance. So what is racket ? Do these guys have any ethics in business ? BTW I told him I need to see a doctor soon and so it feels like they are taking advantage of a patient. No wonder Obama needs to make all these silly medical plans to cover for doctors who care about their bank account more than lives of people !!!! read more

Dr Lee was great when part of Stanford Medical and is even better here. He has a great little downtown office with plenty of parking and more importantly, he spends the time necessary to get to know his patients and does a great job diagnosing and treating conditions. He is not about over-medicating, rather about finding the most beneficial solution. He is a wealth of information, has a great network of professionals to refer patients to, and is a great guy. I highly recommend for a primary care physician. read more

Dr Lee is an outstanding doctor. He is amazing person both professionally and personally. Dr Lee is a wealth of knowledge and extremely personable. You feel that you are getting the best possible care as his patient and that he will fight for you. For the past ten years I have been searching for a great GP and now that I have found Dr Lee he will be my and my kids physician forever! read more

Dr. Lee is a caring wonderful doctor. i love his focus on prevention, and wellness. His comprehensive annual physical is fantastic, perfect for a busy exec like me. I need to stay healthy, prevent illness and God forbid I do get sick, I need to find it early. Check out his website- www.RichardleeMD.com . He is worth every penny! read more

Dr Lee is an outstanding general practitioner, who treats his patients with kindness and respect. He listens carefully and is empathetic. He takes a holistic approach to medicine. His extraordinary memory and intelligence make him more qualified than any other GP whom I have seen. read more

Dr Lee was a good doctor. I followed him from stanford to his private clinic when he started Hometown. However, when he started charging $1800, I had to go find another doctor. In this economy I cant justify paying the money read more

Dr Lee takes full stock of your health right at the outset. He takes a first read of your health upon meeting you, brainstorms every possible cause that might lead to the symptoms you describe, and confirms his theories my taking tests and measuring everything. It is very scientific, and almost "House(the TV series)" - like. Before Dr Lee, I've had annual exams for 7 years, and no other doctor made such an improvement to my general health and well being as Dr Lee has in 3 months. This is the kind of care we should all be looking for, and I'm happy to pay extra for it. read more

I have been a patient of Dr. Lee's for over 10 years. I even joined him when he became a MDVIP provider and have paid the $1,800/year for membership. As far as doctors go, he is knowledgeable. But, the practices of his office are inexcusable! The women working there are very rude, do not want toaccomodate, and fail to call in my needed prescriptions for days on end! In December, there was an issue with billing, and I was told by the PHARMACY that I was dropped by the doctors office! After 10 years, they couldn't bother to call me and discuss the billing issue! And when I called to confirm with the office that I was dropped, the woman simply said "yes" and then became silent! I requested my medical records be immediately sent to me, and the woman said it would take 7-10 business days. Well, this occurred Mid-December, and I am STILL waiting for the records! Also very disappointed that DR LEE did not call me back personally as I had requested. read more