Alameda Centre Physicians

The front staff are not helpful. I told them I was diagnosed with COVID and they said I should email the doctor. They would not even pass a message to him. I was referred to his website which said do not email any personal information. I called back again to let them know about my issue with their website and they said he could call me back. No call so I was not offered any preemptive medications as I missed the window.

A few weeks later I was still having difficulty breathing and weakness so I make an appointment. He was over 2 hours late and suggested that I get an Xray and labs but that he would not call them in to the lab. I reminded him that I do not have a car to which he replied I lived only 5 blocks away- not true I live 1.5 miles away. So he would rather a person having COVID symptoms take a Lyft/Urber or ride their bike 1mile when he could make a simple phone call. Clearly, COVID is not the national emergency everyone is saying it is based on his response.

The visit started okay until I asked to have an allergy test done. I came to see this office as I was advised by an ER doctor to see an allergist due to an allergic reaction I had to the 1st COVID vaccine. James Kong suggested to go to a place where they're able to administer the 2nd vaccine in 3 parts. Okay. I asked for an allergy test including food. James Kong stated that I didn't need it; the allergy test wouldn't really determine at which form of the food I tend to have an allergic reaction to; that it is not the food, but the way it is served/cooked.

I proceeded by saying that my friend had a food allergy test and identified which food those are. After my friend avoided those food she's allergic to, she lost a lot of weight. So I would like to identify those food in order to avoid them. James Kong stated that, "You haven't listened to anything I said earlier." Just avoid those food. How am I going to avoid those foods if I don't know I'm allergic to them outside of the ones I already know to avoid?

He finally agreed to order a test for me, but not without letting his frustrations show. So I said, never mind. Thank you for your time and I left. 30 minutes or so after I left, I received a call from his office stating that they ordered an allergy blood test after all. I have not called them back. I am going to see another allergist. It was a wasted visit and a wasted co-pay of $60.

The interaction with James Kong was very disappointing. I felt like my concerns were not valid and somehow I felt stupid from not understanding his explanations of how allergies work. I do not recommend this doctor.

Love going here! I feel like Dr. Kong actually listens to you as a provider. He is not dismissive and answers your questions/concerns. It's super quick and easy to set up an appointment. As a nursing student, I need to stay on my toes with health requirements and he is my go-to!

Got referred here my a family member. Dr. Kong was very nice, pleasant and has a great sense of humor which made the visit not boring. It was for my son visit. He refused to go to his pediatrician since he is a foot taller than she is:. He said he is ready for his adult doctor. He was making sure my son got all the vaccines needed before he is heading to college.

My medical office for over three years, the staff is excellent (Janice & Dorothy). I appreciate Dr. Kong, as he takes the time to learn about his patients. Recently, I had been sick with the flu for a few weeks, finally visited the doctor, and began improving within 24 hours. Thank you all, it's been five day's now since my visit, currently taking my medications & am recovering almost to 100 percent. Nate

Today was my first visit to the office. I came because I occasionally get hives and didn't know what it was from. The front desk lady was nice. The check-in process was quick and I didn't have to wait long. Dr. Kong went over what could be the cause of my hives and luckily it was something I could control by starting small first like taking OTC medications.

He answered a lot of my other clinical questions non-relating to my hives also. I am glad my coworker referred me to him. I left with a prescription but after arriving home I got a phone call from the office asking which pharmacy I go to so that Dr. Kong could just call in the prescription for me even though I didn't ask for that. Definitely made it much easier for me! I would def make him my primary allergist!

I don't post this lightly. I've been working with Dr. Kong for a few years and had really appreciated his manner and attentiveness in person - while I was well. But at the first sign of a potential problem, everything fell completely apart. First, the office staff. Others have posted about his office staff and it is still true. I found they were tolerable as long as I was paying my co-pay or scheduling an appointment.

Two further comments: 1. Keep in mind THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO WILL DELIVER THE BAD NEWS! Let that sink it - the absolute lack of compassion is pretty jaw-dropping. 2. The absolute lack of organization cannot go unmentioned. They lost track of appointments I made for lab tests and contact information at a critical time when I was traveling abroad and trying to get things set for an operation that I'd been waiting on for 9 months. Unacceptable in a professional environment - instead of firing them, Dr. Kong defended them "because it was a holiday period and a lot of people were calling." Next, Dr. Kong himself.

I will start by giving him the benefit of the doubt in that he was likely trying to make the right decision in a recent situation. However, in the process, he forgot to treat me like a human being. He let me believe I was suffering from a condition that killed my sister with nothing to go on but family history and a one time lab result (which turned out to be an anomaly).

When I told him that I was totally freaked out by the "diagnosis" - he said I should be. I'm sorry, but who does that until they are certain? Seriously, that was messed up - particularly given follow up labs results were completely normal. Net, I find the approach to patient care here unacceptable and feel that others should be aware of my experience so they can make an informed decision about their health care providers.

Dr. Is very good at his craft, understanding, show genuine concern for my well being, has a specialty with immunology and allergy issues. Straighter shooter and is open to suggestions regarding treatment methods practices that may be newly recognized. Not open on weekends, support staff and assistants are great too, very helpful

I'm fortunate to have had my primary care from Dr. Kong. From his demeanor, to his explanations with drawings, and never hesitating to go the extra mile you can tell Dr. Kong is passionate about his patient's health. I've since moved to Sacramento and subjected to corp own and run primary care clinics- I used to have it pretty good.

So I needed a quick tb test for school. Made an appointment for 3:30. Got there at 3:25, and waited in the lobby until 4. Once inside, I sit in the waiting room for another 45 minutes. A little before 5pm the Doctor comes in and I ask for a tb test. He leaves and doesn't return for another 15 minutes. Gives me my shot and I'm frustratedly running out the door by 5:15.

Three weeks later, I receive a bill for a total of three services, two of which were not performed. The tb test alone was only approximately 20 dollars. However the bill was close to 300. Don't ever come here unless you like staring at the wall of a waiting room and paying for services you never received. Forgot to mention the entire clinic was completely empty (guess it was a bad sign from the start) and somehow I still waited 90 mins for a 30 second procedure.

Review is about them being listed as an urgent care facility. NOT AN URGENT CARE FACILITY! They only do weekends or after-hours by prearranged appointments if you are an existing patient of one of the doctors there.

Made an appointment because my allergies were a mess. To the point where I was losing my voice. Dr. Kong was nice, but of course, the solution was to hand me more prescriptions. Two stars because I asked about an allergy test, but was only willing to do it if it was no more than X amount. He said sure, he'll charge no more than X. Imagine my surprise when I got the bill and was charged a few hundred MORE than what was agreed upon. Bait and Switch at it's finest.

If it costs more than X, just say it and let the patient decide if it is worth the cost. The test was NOT worth the cost. I paid hundreds of dollars to learn that I am allergic to cats. An hour at my friend's house already told me that. So I get the bill in the mail but it only gives the option to pay by check. I wanted to pay with a credit card so I was told I needed to go in person. Called to ask if they were open on Saturday, receptionist said yes.

Go in on Saturday and the office was closed. Left work early on a Wednesday and arrived at the doctor's at 4:30. Closed again! Had to take a day off work just to pay my bill. What a crappy experience.

Very happy with Dr Kahn. I recently switched to his care and am quite pleased. Very knowledgeable and little waiting, he sees me within 5 minutes of our scheduled time.

Dr Kong has been my Dr for approximately 10 years. Lucky for me I am very healthy. I see him annually for a physical and blood work. Recently I became sick and needed to see him. The unfriendly staff at the front desk asked me If I had the same insurance I said I recently went to medicare. I was told they would no longer see me. They were not taking medicare patients. After I recovered from the shock I asked her to have him call me. Of course he did not. If you need a Doctor choose one who really cares.

Dr. Kong is awesome! He's friendly, honest, knowledgeable, & takes his time with his patients. Thanks dr. Kong!

I've been with Kong for a while now and he's a great doctor! He's friendly, knowledgable, and will go the distance for his patients. My only complaint? The office staff! They're not the friendliest bunch, but honestly that doesn't bother me much. What bothers me is they don't communicate very well. There's been too many times where they should've told me valuable information (like test results) and I never got anything.

Or recently I had to keep bugging them about sending papers over to a specialist. My job is not to bug you. I went to the office recently because I never heard from them or the specialist and they assured me everything was sent. I called the specialist, ends up they can't take me as a patient and told the office that. I'm getting really fed up with them. It's a shame a good doctor like Kong has staff like that.

A little more than a year ago I had a headache and stomach pains. Both felt throbbing and not stabbing so I didn't see a doctor for two days. I figured I had the flu. When I did go to James, he pressed down on my abdominal area and figured out I had appendicitis. A quick MRI at another hospital confirmed it and I had an operation. Fast forward to today and I have a bacteria infection.

White spots in the back of my throat. I went to the nearest hospital and they thought it was cancer and ordered a bunch of unneeded tests with no antibiotics. When I got phenomena, I went straight to James. He looked at the back of my throat, did some flash light tests for my eyes, looked in my ears, checked for abnormal bumps in my abdominal area and I think he even smelled my breath and figured out where the infections were.

He ordered meds specific to where the infections were. Lungs, eye and throat. He even gave me a coupon for one of the meds he prescribed. I can't speak about other experiences but he was always well rested (not sleepy) and solved my problems 3 out of 3 times. (confirmed right twice with expensive equipment, once with an MRI and another with a bacteria culture test ordered by a doctor I saw before him).

He is too the point (fast in figuring out the diagnoses), cost effective (no machines, just his senses) but best of all he makes the right diagnosis. Kind of like an episode of house mixed with macgyver but only 15 mins long. It was a 40 dollar co pay and the meds were 45 bucks with the coupon with really crappy individually bought insurance (at walgreens) for my lung infection.

3/20/2013 6:15pm I noticed that all the negative reviews were from years ago and maybe Dr. Kong was reading them! I had a great experience with the front desk and with Dr. Kong. I called and was easily able to make an appointment! Actually getting a person on the phone without being put on hold or going to an answering service. Front desk person (short+Asian) was very helpful and informative with all my questions. Dr. Kong is a fairly younger doctor compared to the white-haired and wrinkled ones that I've had before He actually had a personality!

He was attentive to all the issues I had, and resolved every issue and if he didn't he gave me advice and pointed me to the right direction. I DEFINITELY DO NOT RECOMMEND, Because now everyone will want to go to him causing me not to make an appointment as easily! HAha.

I origannly choose Dr. Kong because of his last name. At the time my dentist was Dr. Fong, my eye Dr. Wong and my hair stylist a mr. Long. It seemed fitting. Dr. Kong is a very impressive doctor. I have never felt more informed and at peace with a doctor in my life. He takes the time to explain every situation in detail and answer all my questions thoroughly. He is also personable and friendly. When I had an emergency, he took extra time to fit me in his schedule. You can't go wrong with Dr. Kong. No rhyme was intended.

I'm looking at Babette's review and wondering if we could actually be talking about the same place. I've been going to Dr. Kong (and occasionally his partner Dr. Lam) for over a year. They are both friendly and helpful, and the best part by far is their availability. They are open until 7 PM most days, and given that most of the world works for a living, it's great to have doctors with hours beyond 9-5!

And if you need an appointment, they will almost always see you either that day or the next. Contrast that to where I used to go in SF, where my doctor was so UNavailable that I had to go to the walk-in clinic just to be seen while I was still actually sick. Their staff, while not overly friendly, is definitely efficient, and I've never had a problem with them of any kind. Seems to me like they do what they are supposed to do.

I like the fact that this place can get you in for an appointment when you need it, including same day. My husband and another couple on the island have also had this experience. They work evenings and weekends. It's so great! Anyway, I went in with what turned out to be a broken foot. The receptionist was really polite and friendly. She even handed me their card with two hands which I had learned long ago in China as a sign of respect. Dr. Kong was so friendly.

He sent me right off to get an xray of my foot which he thought was only sprained cause I was so tough about it (he told me later). When we found out it was broken, he called us back to the office and had prepared a referral for a foot expert and several relevant scripts. He did this even though he had to stay late to meet with us.

I found Dr Kong as I had a severe allergic reaction to SOMETHING a couple of months ago and was able to see me quickly and after normal doctors hours. he helped me uderstand what was happening with my body even though the cause could not be determined and was unafraid of ordering all sorts of tests as well as getting me the scripts that I needed. Still need to get a scratch test done, but prepared me that there was not going to be a quick fix as it can't be determined what the casue was they even sent me a check for a copay that I apparantly didn't need to pay after several visits. how often do doctors give you money back?

So, went to Dr. Reid in the city, who also deserves all his 5-star goodness on Yelp, but needed to find somewhere to get allergy shots (In the East Bay) without paying parking and bridge toll a ton of times.and voila! Went to Dr. Kong without any prior info, just b/c he's on the insurance website, and he's the *bomb*, people. Super nice, efficient staff, doesn't keep you waiting, his specialty is Pediatric and Adult Allergy & Immunology, and Internal Medicine.

So he knows what the hell's going on. He personally called my insurance to argue billing with them, thereby reducing my cost; AND they're open weekend and evening hours, people! What more do you want? Oh, and he does Chinese community medical outreach stuff, too. How tight is that? And all of this, right next to Trader Joe's and all the consumerisma that is South Shore center in Alameda. Mad, mad props all around.