Dr. Richard Joel Ostreicher, MD

Mercifully the incompetent Richard Ostreicher is not longer with Kaiser, or so I am told. On two different occasions I went to him with concerns about areas on my skin that he told me were "not a problem" and "Don't worry about it.” He was unavailable for my next appointment and a substitute Kaiser dermatologist, Dr. Suszko, took one look at me and immediately zeroed in on the areas Ostreicher claimed were "no problem" and biopsied them. They came back as cancerous and I had to undergo surgery. For my follow-up appointment I requested Dr. Suszko rather than Ostreicher and confronted him with the fact that Ostreicher had so misdiagnosed me. Troublingly, Suszko JUMPED to Ostreicher's defense. The next appointment I booked 6 months later, Suszko was unavailable, and Ostreicher told me that a prominent lump on my nose was "benign" and I could just "pop it" if it bothered me cosmetically. I decided not to try that. My next derma appointment was with the wonderful Dr. Erin who immediately… zeroed on on the nose lump, took a biopsy, found cancer, and scheduled me for a MOHS surgery. I have to make a 6-hour round trip drive to Kona for this surgery. I am disgusted by this quack Ostreicher and considering seeing an attorney. This is by no means the first terrible physician Kaiser has foisted upon me. Kaiser assigns all its LOSER physicians to Hilo, requiring those of us who want quality care to make the arduous drive to Kona, or even fly to Honolulu for treatment. I have had to visit both locales numerous times at my own expense so as to avoid Hilo doctors.

Did not care about my condition. Told me he had more important patients to see. I've had skin problems for years and he didn't care. Useless doctor. Shame on kaiser for utilizing his 'services'.