If you are looking for a doctor, I highly recommend Dr. Darla Rivera. I moved to Wichita for a new job 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. read more

Dr Darla Rivera has been my physician for several years. I could not have a better dr. I was sent to several states for long stints for work and needed to see other physicians, no comparison. I always came back to Darla Rivera. Her wait times can get long but it is because she is addressing your issue and not pushing you out the door. I will wait! She is kind, listens to your issues and will address you very directly with what she thinks we need to do to get better. On top of my normal health care, I also have chronic pain, she has been willing to try different modalities to help me, when other drs just wanted me out the door. I would recommend Dr Rivera to anyone for their health care needs. read more

I started seeing Dr. Rivera 2 years ago. She is amazing. She is thorough and truly cares about her patients. She is one of the few doctors that will talk to me at length about new medications, new diagnosis, and doesn't treat me like a number. I am very thankful to have found her. I would have no hesitation to recommend her to anybody looking for a thorough primary care physician. I have several family members that go to her. She treats everybody with kindness and compassion. read more

Dr. Rivera is a superb physician in her knowedge, her attention to detail, and in her overall exceptional demeanor. When moving to Wichita several years ago, she was very highly recommended to me by long-time patients. Dr. Rivera by far exceeds any care I have ever received. I highly recommend her and consider myself so fortunate to be in her care. read more

The best doctor I've ever gone to! I've gone to her for the past 35 years and plan to stay with her. She has literally saved my life and I will continue to trust her with it. She is always up on the latest research. She has a great bedside manner and is extremely compassionate. read more