David W Chow, MD

Went to the Brentwood office and it seemed like a nice enough building. As I walked toward the door of Dr, Chows office a young man stormed out in an obvious angry mood. After sighning in there was another angry middle aged woman who, seemed to be waiting for an answer to her problem while standing for a long time. After following the usual protocall I waited for the Doctor in the exam room for approx 45 minutes. Without going into too much detail Dr. Chow was more interested in checking his phone than hearing any details concerning my health. Once again he was not very thurough in his examanation at all, and yet he was ready to refer me to a physician for surgery, WITHOUT ASKING ME. He seemed to be very apathetic, and arrogent concerning my health, and yet eager to get me into his «Pain Management Contract». This was accompanied by a urine test as if I was part of a methadone program, or a parolee. You work hard, play by the rules, pay your taxes, open doors for little old ladies, and end up dealing with characters like Dr. David Chow. Think about it «HEALTHCARE» without the care, never again, and would recommend that you look elsewhere.

I have read all the reviews here and feel sorry for these unfortunate experiences the patients endured. My experience has been very good, as long as I see Dr. Chow and not the PA or NP (seems to me that they feel that they have «Dr. syndrome», it’s like they own the place and that includes You). So, that’s my advice on that part. Dr. Chow is very fair. His bedside manner is different because he is humble and quiet. However, he is listening! For me, I have had several procedures that helped tremendously, you have to be patient. It’s either that, or «Surgery», which was not an option in my mind or Dr. Chow’s…thank goodness. He has kept me «comfortable» throughout it all and now after seeing him for about 8 – 9 months (yes, that long-​but it’s worth it) we are still working «together», yes a doctor that will actually «work» with you to taper off your meds when it’s time. I don’t really know what happened to all these other people? Maybe they should have stuck with him a bit longer to see how it played out? Also, isn’t it possible he may have learned from human mistakes? I have been to many doctors before him, and all of them were Very Poor! All I know is that I can finally sleep at night KNOWING that he has my back! Thank you Dr. Chow. Sincerely, Chandra.

How this place even is operating is a miracle. You can not even get through to the receptionist she is completely incomp. She has no brains whatsoever its amazing she even is employed. I have requested medical records and have been waiting over two months. If i could give this place zero stars i would. NEVER set foot in this place.

i would give Dr Chow zero stars if i could. i have never dealt with such incompetency and horrible follow-​through. i went to see Dr. Chow for severe pain in my back and hip. Dr Chow was very unhelpful and uninformative when i asked questions. His team MULTIPLE times forgot to call in my MRI to the MRI center. It drug on for WEEKS while i was in severe pain. Eventually, the MRI center called their office for me to get it scheduled. On top of that, Dr. CHow requested the MRI to happen at a specific center, so that my insurance would ONLY cover the MRI at that particular center which had a very long wait list so it was MONTHS before i could even get the MRI. i have since moved on to another doctor and have had MUCH better experience.

I have had 3 neck surgeries and my ortho physician for all 3 is retiring/​leaving the state. Despite the reviews I have read here, I would call and have a go. Well, I phoned to see about an appointment, I was greeted with a not so friendly person with an attitude, and rather than help, she only asked me about what insurance I had! I said I have a ppo, and she asked again, so I’m done with that office. I guess reviews do have merrit!

Doctor Chow is a GREAT doctor that is very helpful and accommodating. The office staff in the Brentwood office are very friendly and between them and the doctors they form a relationship that is different then most doctors. Although every once in a while there is a PA that is not too easy to get along with or doesn’t know any answers to your questions. Just the same there are PA’s that know just as much as Dr. Chow and are completely a pleasure to see. My real only complaint is the office staff at the Walnut Creek office who often speak to you in a condescending tone or treat you poorly.

I am very surprised by all the negative comments here. I, fortunately, was able to see Dr. Chow for about 5 – 6 years before he pulled away from John Muir Health Network. I LOVED this doctor and miss him terribly. He listens, explains what he recommends and why. He also does a fantastic job with his back injections. If you had a poor experience with another of his staff I would only ask that you leave a poor review for THAT doctor and not blame Dr. Crow.
He does not condone misuse of pain meds, for that you will need to see a pain management doctor, they usually have no problem prescribing pain meds. I would suggest that before you do that however, that you see Dr. Stalcup in Lafayette as he will prescribe what is actually needed and what works vs. many pain mngmnt docs who just like to write prescriptions, unless you don’t care about being screwed up all the time. Dr. Stalcup can write prescriptions for meds that other docs can’t unless they want to take additional clases and they usually don’t want to do that. There is a fantastic med out there calledd Suboxone that helps addicts get off opiates but is also a fantastic PAIN medicine that works wonderfully and won’t leave you in lala land.

I waited in the examination room for 70 minutes before being seen by the doctor. The doctor examined me for about 5 minutes. He was not very descriptive with what he thought was the issue. On the other hand, he must have decent medical skills because the office was busy and clearly he’s not winning patients over with his bedside manner.

Horrible experience! Terrible doctor. Does not listen, nor does he seem to care about patints at all! Widh I had checked here 1^st. ABSOLUTELY would NOT reccomend!!!

I have been going to Dr. Chow for a long time. I have chronic migraines and arthritis in my neck, back, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles and toes. I have nothing but good things to say about him. He is a good diagnostician and has helped me manage my pain with a series of steroid injections, rhizotomies and medication. I do not feel that he either overtreats nor undertreats painful spinal conditions. I am quite satisfied with his care, although I will agree with most posters that the waitingroom is often crowded and visits rather short.
I also have to agree with the complaints shared by other reviewers about the office staff. However, they are doing the best they can with rather limited resources.
Janet W.

This doctor and his office provide the worst patient care I have ever experienced — and that is saying a lot. Chow himself is incredibly uncommunicative; he does not appreciate questions and he provides almost no information or advice. He did a procedure on me recently and he gave me NO information regarding likely short-​term effects or how to care for myself afterwards His office picks up where he leaves off – they will not provide radiologist’s reports by e-​mail, U.S. mail, or by reading them over the phone – only by fax. One of his people told me they are «not qualified» to reads a radiologist’s report over the phone.
Stay away from this guy.

The same thing happened to me with injections. When I hesitated about having them, it was like he was done with me. I had an appointment card in my hand and they still denied making it at that time. Saw the dr. only once, very briefly and gruff and when I told him the medications I had previously been taking which worked well, he told me right on the spot «you’re not getting them» without any questions or information.
The only person I ever saw was a snobby lady who thought she was above everyone. She ended up telling me to go to detox because I took more than the prescribed 4 pills a day. Steer clear of this office, people. Sounds like a money grubbing doctor with a very uncaring assistant.

It sounds like from these other reviews and my own recent experience, his suggestions are frequently going straight to the steroid injections. I have always been weary of corticosteroids and have already received 3 this year from my primary physician when I hurt my back.
After months on waiting for an MRI and finally seeing him, he even began telling me that my symptoms do not match his diagnosis. Umm… sounds like maybe the diagnosis is wrong because I know when pain I am feeling!!! His next suggestion was that he wanted to do ANOTHER steroid injection in my hip when I am explaining to him my sciatic pain. I ask him why and he thinks I have a joint issue in my hip. I would hope that a doctor would check to make sure there is truely an issue in my hip before injection steroids into it!
Things just felt very shady… the front office seems fairly inefficient but I don’t really blame them… looks like he has a TON of patients and the number of staff he keeps is so few they can’t keep up! (I had an appointment and still had to wait a hour in the waiting room that was completely packed…) It felt like I was being swarmed in, injected with a quick fix and pushed out… no real relief or long term healing…
A side note: When I was waiting for my appointment I heard the staff at the window telling a woman that they would not write a note confirming her appointment that she could present to her employer to verify the appointment… made no sense to me.

My Mother has been experiencing excruciating pain in her shoulders, Went to this doctor for the first time today, and He has suggested Epidural (Corticosteroid)injextion which should be administered at another location. Have mixed feelings. Has anyone tried this?