I’m new to Irvine and I’m looking for an internist and a pediatrician.  Any recommendations? I have Blue Shield HMO.  Thanks for the help!

The Coastal Kids practice in Newport Center (near Fashion Island) is one of the best pediatrics practices, IMO.  Dr. Abelowitz is very good, as are his associate doctors.

Check with your insurance provider to see who is contracted with them.

Irvine Pediatrics is a popular choice and is a very good practice.  My favorite doc just left, but Danielle Winkler is also great.

We go to Irvine Pediatrics as well.  I also think Dr. Winkler is one of the better doctors there- although I think in general I am not wildly enthusiastic about the practice (and I don’t have many options with our healthcare so I can’t change practices).

ditto on coastal kids.  if the drive to newport beach doesn’t bother you, then it’s a great option.  we have steven abelowitz as our pediatrician, he’s been great.

ipoplaya - 04 February 2009 09:15 PM

Irvine Pediatrics is a popular choice and is a very good practice.  My favorite doc just left, but Danielle Winkler is also great.

IPO - who was your favorite doc that left Irvine Pediatrics?  Kind of curious, we take our kids there as well.

I think Dr. Stenbeck (sp?) isn’t there anymore.  There was also a male doctor there, but I don’t see him listed on the website

Thanks for the pediatric recommendations!  Any family practice or internist recommendations?

Thanks!

Family Practice - I am very pleased with Dr. Anita Liu (off Barranca)

lorim - 05 February 2009 02:46 PM

Thanks for the pediatric recommendations!  Any family practice or internist recommendations?

Thanks!

I like the Woodbury Medical Group in the Woodbury Town Center. They have a Hoag-affiliated family practice. The reasons I like it is because they take both appointments and walk-in, when you are a walk-in they always seem to have a short wait… they have an on-site lab… they do bloodwork there… they also can do ultrasounds and other types of imaging there. Plus they see patients 7 days a week! AND they have an urgent care. I love it!

My wife and I go to Dr. Sharon Bae in Newport.  She is awesome.  She really listens, which many doctors have a hard time doing.

Irvine_Lurker - 05 February 2009 10:39 AM

ipoplaya - 04 February 2009 09:15 PM

Irvine Pediatrics is a popular choice and is a very good practice.  My favorite doc just left, but Danielle Winkler is also great.

IPO - who was your favorite doc that left Irvine Pediatrics?  Kind of curious, we take our kids there as well.

Alyse Baron.  She’s having another child herself I think and isn’t there at Irvine Peds any longer…  Doc Winkler reminds me of her though so we are all good.

They cautioned us to wait a bit longer on ear tubes for our kids although the ped ENT specialist was pushing them last year.  Not a single ear infection yet this year, knock on wood, so we are very happy we didn’t do the surgeries.

ipoplaya - 05 February 2009 05:25 PM

Irvine_Lurker - 05 February 2009 10:39 AM

ipoplaya - 04 February 2009 09:15 PM

Irvine Pediatrics is a popular choice and is a very good practice.  My favorite doc just left, but Danielle Winkler is also great.

IPO - who was your favorite doc that left Irvine Pediatrics?  Kind of curious, we take our kids there as well.

Alyse Baron.  She’s having another child herself I think and isn’t there at Irvine Peds any longer…  Doc Winkler reminds me of her though so we are all good.

They cautioned us to wait a bit longer on ear tubes for our kids although the ped ENT specialist was pushing them last year.  Not a single ear infection yet this year, knock on wood, so we are very happy we didn’t do the surgeries.

My daughter had the tubes put in TWICE. They fell out within 3 months both times. I don’t know if that is a common experience but it was a hell of a lot to put her through for nothing. She hasn’t had an ear infection for almost a year now without tubes (knocking on 10 pieces of wood).

We really like our pediatrician Dr Curtis of Bristol Park Medical Group in Woodbridge.  We interviewed a bunch of doctors before my son was born and we found Dr. Curtis because he was named on a “Best Pediatrician in OC” list.  I am usually skeptical of these lists, but in this case they are right.  He is a great listener and always takes his time with us (my wife always has a LOT of questions but he is very patient) and he is VERY good with our son.  If you care about this, he went to Harvard Medical School and did his internship and residency at UCI.  His location in Woodbridge is also very convenient to us. 

http://www.bristolparkmed.com/provider_display.asp?id=46

There seem to be a lot of good recommendations here. Any recommendations for primary care physicians? I’m looking to find a new one.

For primary care,  try Jocelyn Won in Newport Beach (Family Practice), or Richard Patragnoni (Internal Medicine), also in Newport Beach.  Both are great.  Another option who is also great is John LaLonde (Family Practice) at the Newport Medical and Wellness Center in Costa Mesa.

I know and work with just about every doctor in Newport Beach. IMO, if you want a great PCP with exceptional knowledge and a great bedside manner, give Dr. Dennis Jordanides a call. He’s been in the area about a year, prior to coming to Hoag he was a practicing internist(internal medicine) in Palm Springs and Aspen, CO.  He just started a new outpatient practice and you can reach him by calling 949-645-8600(General Hoag Hosp operator who can then forward you to his office).

I concur regarding Dennis J.  I like him as well.

What’s the difference between family and general practice?

I’m looking for a doctor too in the area and it’s just for myself… any recommendations? It seems like most of the doctors recommended are in Newport Beach.  For some reason I can’t find these doctors that are covered by my PPO health plan.

i recommend that you find yourself an internist, not a gp or fp

mine is in the ‘greater newport physicians’ group out of hoag.

tmare,
My little one (10 months old) is seeing an ENT for potential ear tubes (4 infections in 4 months!!)  Other parents I’ve spoken to didn’t seem to think it was big deal but you seemed to have had a different experience.  Was it that bad?

We also go to Irivine Peds and haven’t had any negative experiences.  They always return phone calls and your able to go into their walk-in at 8AM and see someone within 30 mins.  During off hrs and weekends/holidays you can go to Urgykids in Costa Mesa.  Life saver over Memorial Day weekend.

why an internist? thanks for the response.

freedomCM - 10 July 2009 03:54 PM

i recommend that you find yourself an internist, not a gp or fp

mine is in the ‘greater newport physicians’ group out of hoag.

better training.  particularly to treat adults.

almon - 04 February 2009 11:41 PM

ditto on coastal kids.  if the drive to newport beach doesn’t bother you, then it’s a great option.  we have steven abelowitz as our pediatrician, he’s been great.

I’ll pile on for Coastal Kids as well.  Have had both our boys there and seen the whole staff at one time or another.  Good practice. 

We do miss the original doc who brought us in - Dr. Leilia Irvani.  She went out on her own so if your looking for a smaller office you can look her up.  Great bedside manner with kids and parents, very good medically and down to earth in her reccomendations and treatment. We miss her, but like the convience of the larger office so stayed w/ Coastal Kids when she left.