Richard B Kim, MD, MS

First, let me say that I am SHOCKED that there are any bad reviews about Dr. Kim and his staff?! I have had nothing but a PERFECT experience all around. I consulted with Dr. Kim about severe degenerative disc disease (L4-L5 & L5-S1). He recommended a minimally-invasive two-level spinal fusion. He described everything in detail and answered ALL of my questions. Never tried to rush me out. I was totally sold. Then I had a slight problem with my insurance company. Jane (surgery scheduler) and Elia (Nurse Practitioner?) worked every day to get the surgery approved. Kept me in the loop the whole time. And it was approved! I had a my two-level lumbar fusion 2 weeks ago and couldn't be happier! My stay at Hoag was short but fabulous. I could've gone home the day after my surgery but decided to stay one more night...so I went home 2 days after my surgery. I was continuously checked on by Dr. Kim, Elia and Dr. Kim's partner. I had my first follow-up appointment yesterday and saw both Elia and Dr. Kim. All of my questions were answered and I will continue to see them for a few more months. My recovery is going great...I was able to walk a few laps around the hospital the day after my surgery. I can walk up to a mile now (but still get really tired). I am very optimistic about my surgery and recovery...and I think I'm well on my way to getting my life back! Thank you Dr. Kim and staff! I really couldn't have asked for a better experience!

This entire practice is exceptional, from Dr Kim to his nurse practitioner as well as the entire office staff!!!

I was diagnosed with a spinal epenymoma. Dr. Kim informed me that there was a 3-5% chance of some hamstring weakness, and this was all he told me pre-surgery. I had the surgery done at Hiag and stayed in the hospital 4 days. He saw me once right after surgery and told me by the way he had to sacrifice a nerve. He told me I had lost sensation in my left nerve and calf but, Don't worry. You may even get some of it back." I was terrified. He never warned me I would need to self catheterize, need to use a walker, and lose all of my sexual feeling following surgery. Three months post-op, luckily I am walking again--but not much else has improved. Dr. Kim was not present on my discharge date and had no idea his staff discharged me to a nursing home where I ran the risk of incurring a staff infection. He leaves all his follow up care to his NP who is conceited, totally devoid of compassion and just plain mean. I was in terrible pain today and called for a scrip refill. Dr. Kim's staff told me his office is closed Friday, so they would page his NP. When she called me to ask what was wrong, she yelled at me for having her paged on her day off. I tried to explain that her staff told me they had to page her. It's not my fault they don't know to call the on call Dr. Dr. Kim is a great surgeon, and he is very sweet. However, I was appalled by my lack of post-op care and his NP.

I am very satisfied with my childs care.

I went to HOAG hospital for VP shunt failure. I was told that I would be seen by Dr. Kim. 6 hours later his NP came by to adjust my shunt. I never even saw Dr. Kim. How can a Dr. diagnose a case via telephone? His treatment (completed by his NP) was to adjust the pressure on my shunt and come back in a month. They never took the time to check the actual pressure or check to see if the shunt was flowing. These are the most basic tests that any resident should have performed.

Not sure if I saw the same PA as some bad reviewers, but I found her pleasant, thorough, and helpful.I choose a surgeon based upon skill and outcomes, not on personality, and Dr. Kim is not a warm-friendly-touchy-feely kind of guy but he took the time to answer all of my questions in detail and go over my MRI in detail. The surgery went perfectly, recovery was fast and without complications, and my problem was resolved. That is what I came for, not for a massage or mental therapy. I checked with two of my surgeon friends, and they said this is the guy you want operating on you, bedside manner or not. His skills at minimally invasive surgery allowed me to have an outpatient procedure rather than a hospital stay, and I was up and about the next day.I will say that the office wait was longer than I prefer, but this seems to be the norm anymore and is very frustrating. I don't think most doctors look at their practices from a customer service standpoint. On the plus side, the offices are modern, immaculate and located at the hospital which is very convenient.I have another issue, and am definitely going to use Kim again.

The doctor does not spend any time with you and his Nurse Practitioner thinks she's the Doctor and will not give you the time of day. She is rude and uncaring and I don't care how busy anyone is...if you are seeing a neurosurgeon, then something serious is going on and the patient deserves the time and the care it takes to acknowledge the problem and spend time to discuss the issues....not a nurse (who thinks she is the doctor and capable of examining the patient) diagnosing you or a doctor that gives you 2 minutes then a handshake and you are out the door!

I have read a couple of the comments most recently made and am just taken back by the nastiness of one of them.To nickname a professional in Dr. Kim's office Nurse Ratchet is really just unkind. She is to the point, and curt..but she in no way is anything like the comparison being made. Those treated with respect get respect. And because someone does not like a personality trait does not mean anyone should take them seriously. The person being spoken of here is kind, and understanding. She performs surgeries and interviews all the patients. A busy gal indeed. As for Dr. Kim, he to can be curt...but it in no way reflects his skill as a surgeon or what he can do to help people. He saw in an MRI what only one other Dr saw...otherwise I was told I had carpel tunnel. I had a 3mm disc protrusion that was impeding on the spinal cord. Others told me I had muscle strain and the carpel tunnel explained the numbness I was having. 2 weeks after being seen by Dr. Kim he performed the surgery, came out and talked to my family with kindness, and healed my pain and fear. His bedside manner, was wonderful! He came to see me daily as well as his P.A. Told me what to expect...what else are they suppose to do? This person who wrote the note on his bedside manner did not have a hospital stay so should not judge.I rate them wonderful and satisfactory....I am back on my motorcycle and flying in the skies thanks to these people!! Office staff included!

In much more pain such his surgery, does not care, does not communicate

After he told me that I have a tumor in my head, he got up from his desk and opened the door. I was still shocked, but he stood there and I said: do you want me to leave?He said: Yes, good-bye.I walked out and cried. He has just no compassion for a patient, and yes, I have to be operated by him. I feel terrible.

I was very happy with Dr. Kim. He performed a corrected surgery on my cervical vertebras and it went perfectly. I recommend him highly to anyone seeking neck or back surgery.

Wow...I must have caught Dr Kim on a REALLY BAD DAY, or his relatives wrote all these glowing reviews!! He has a great front desk staff, but his Assistant is harsh & rude..a real nurse Ratchet. Dr. Kim was even worse..my husband and I were in his office perhaps four minutes when he stood up and held his hand out for a good-bye handshake. When I asked him about the malformation at the C1, C2 that had concerned two other doctors he shrugged and said he didn't see anything to cause the terrible pain I was having. He never made a diagnosis nor did he have any explanation for why he could not make one. When I asked about the C1,C2 area that two other doctors had mentioned, he shrugged and said he saw nothing that could be causing my severe pain. Then he laughed and said something about maybe it was being in NC. He sent me off to add a series of x-rays to my MRI and catscan. When I asked stone face Ratchet if they would call with the results of the X-rays she acted as though I had lost my mind to think anyone would take the time to do that. I finally asked, should I assume that no news is good news. Her answer was YES!! I later spoke to my primary physician about what Dr.Kim's report to him said and his answer was NOTHING!! I had come back to Orange County from Asheville, NC. for this appointment. I had been told there could be a problem with my cervical spine and to consult a Neurosurgeon. Ratchet had asked me in her harsh accusatory manner if I was nervous?? What a crazy question...anyone that spends thousands of dollars to cross 3/4 of the country to see a Dr. is most certainly nervous!!!Dr.Kim's bedside manner is non-existent. He never discussed what might be causing my pain and never assured me in any way that there was only a minor problem. He never addressed the fact that I have had horrific morning headaches for years and that they fit the discription of a cervecogenic headache. I am not just nervous after seeing Dr.Kim...I still have pain and I don't feel well & I have no idea why. I am 73 yr. old and I have never, never in contacts with hundreds of doctors over these many years met a horrible one until now...I have moved from nervous to scared...alone and scared is how this four star Dr. has made me feel. I would not recommend him..ever!!!

Dr.Kim was so sweet and compationate. He made it so much easier to have my surgery knowing he would be taking care of me. I really appreciate all he has done to better my life. Thank you Dr. Kim.

Over all he is a great doctor.

Very friendly, good bedside manner. Saw on "Great Day Houston" talking about urinary incontinence. Spends extra time with new patients. Very thorough explanations with diagrams.

Dr. Kim was my Neurosurgeon at Hoag Hospital. I had been having seizure due to a head injury on Dec. 11, 1999, I went thru a range of medicines, yet still had seizures. I had brain surgury Jan. 9, 2004, been seizure free since the surgery. I now have an excellent quality of life