My son and I have been patients of Dr. Peter and Donald Balacuit for over 20 years, collectively. We can verify and attest to their high level medical expertise, professionalism and focus on each patient's care needs. They are holistic in their approach and not "medication pushers" as described in other reviews. The nurses and medical staff are also top notch. read more

I think this is the same Dr. Balacuit that I went to years ago on Myrtle Ave., unless he has a son or something. Please forgive me, Doctor if I got the wrong Dr. Balacuit, but I don't think I do. It has been a long time and who really knows the first name of doctors anyway? LOL If it is him, I went to this doctor for a general yearly check up for my first visit to his office. Although this was years ago (before Yelp or the internet even), I still remember this guy. I expected him to ask me a lot of questions during this physical. He should have drawn blood, checked my prostate, checked my urine, etc.. All that was done by him was that my blood pressure was checked and he checked my chest with a stethoscope. And he checked my reflexes and shined an instrument in each ear. That was it! When I complained about it not really being a thorough enough yearly exam, I remember he asked ME what else I wanted him to do! He is the doctor. WHY should I have to tell him what to look for? And... he didn't even ask me very many questions at all. I tried to be nice, but I felt I was being cheated out of a proper yearly physical! I went to him primarily because his office was just a few blocks from house. I thought I would give him a try since my doctor was retiring. Dr. Balacuit is Filipino. I usually get along with Filipino's very well. BUT NOT WITH THIS GUY.... He had a bad attitude right from the start in my opinion, almost instantly argued with me and didn't seem to know what the heck a physical should be like. I was really upset. I only get to have ONE physical a year and this guy, I felt either didn't care about my health or he didn't know what the heck he was doing. The worst part is that he argued with me almost immediately. That is very unprofessional and uncalled for. He must have been overly sensitive back then, because he probably heard the same complaints frequently. You can go see him if you want to, but as for me, friends. Forget it! I have NO desire to go through that again. In reading the other reviews, I see now that he probably hasn't changed much, because there are a lot of the same type of complaints listed here. This was my experience. I don't know, maybe he is nicer with other patients and acts more competently. These are just my opinions and observations, which I am entitled to have. :) I hope this helps Yelps readers. read more

I used to come to Dr. Peter Balacuits father. I have been coming to Dr. Peter Balacuit for just about over a year. I come in to get check ups and he really is not thorough. My insurance requires that I need to go to my primary to get referrals. Every time I go to him he gives the same checkup every time and wants to prescribe me drugs (medications) and says I will get the referral by mail and his staff will follow through. Never happens. This has happened the last 3 or 4 times. I make an appointment with I have to wait 1 to 2 weeks every time I make an appointment. The appointment was today March 4 at 3:15. I go in talk to him. He doesn't even know anything about me. Must not take good notes and never reads his charts or history of his patients. So he asks me why I am here to see him today. I told him I am not very happy. I have come in 3 or 4 times already to get referrals for mental health and for my vision. He tells me that he is not a psychiatrist or an optometrist. I told him I know that. I have to see you Dr Balacuit first to get referrals. I told him that I come here and nothing ever happens. I never get the referrals. He told me that he helps me when I come in because he prescribes me my medications. I told him yes he is very good at prescribing me medications but nothing else. I get no further help. He prescribed me a generic Prozac and he still to this point has not followed up or checked to see how that is affecting me. After I told him that he told me to leave his office and to find another doctor. I told him that I would report him and he said that he would report me. I said for what! Telling him that he is not treating me as a patient in the way a Doctor should. One that cares for his patients. Not just prescribe medications and that's it no follow through no therapy no nothing. He is the worst doctor I have ever been to! He is a negative star rating. Why did he become a Doctor when he does not care! read more

I liked Peter Balacuit for his professionalism. He actually paid attention to what was going wrong and got me whatever medication I needed. Correct medications. I am so disappointed with the direction of the office Donald Balacuit. I am officially leaving Doctor Donald Balacuit. Since January I was misdiagnosed ear infection for Fluid in the ear. The ENT easily diagnosed fluid in the ear. There is only one solution and that is I needed a tube put in my ear to drain the fluid. I had months of going through pressure in my inner ear because he did not recognize the problem. I am done with the office. I need a Doctor who 1 knows how to connect with the people and 2 knows how to identify the problem and find a solution. His diagnosis was ear infection wrong. read more

Peter Bapacuit is a horrible incompetent doctor! He was extremely inappropriate with me and the only reason I didn't report him is because of his old age. Stay away from that doctor if you want to preserve dignity. read more

I adore Donald Balacuit.. He's patient, communicative and thorough. He actually listens and cares. Wonderful doctor, has helped me tremendously and I've only been a patient since January 2022. read more

I've been here twice and I can verify that this guy is a terrible doctor. A quack, you might say. The first time I had an ear infection and I knew that I needed antibiotics. He looked in my ear, took my blood pressure and other than asking a few questions...barely engaged me. I guess I knew I needed antibiotics and he was quick to write the prescription for them, so it didn't bother me that much that he wasn't more thorough. Recently, I had a kidney infection (OUCH!). I went in and again, he was not thorough. I told him that I had a lot of pain in my lower back, where I perceive my kidneys to be. He got a urine sample from me and told me that there was no blood in my urine, so that was a good sign. He never touched my back. He quickly prescribed me antibiotics and I was on my way to recovery...or so I thought. After 2.5 days on these meds, I was getting the chills and fever. My back pain did not go away. One day I took my temperature and I had a 104 degree fever! I ended up at an urgent care facility where they took another urine sample and gave me a proper examination. They told me that YES there was blood and bacteria in my urine....WTF Balacuit??!?! Did you just not look under the microscope? Are you lazy? So, my meds were changed to a more appropriate antibiotic for a kidney infection. Peter C. Balacuit: get your act together! It's really sad that there are physicians that just want to push pills and get you out of the office. I will NEVER return. Stay away! read more

I've been to this office twice and have never seen the doctor. I think that is very odd. The nurse practitioner was very friendly and knowledgeable, but if I'm paying to see a doctor, should he come in, at least for a minute and pretend to care?? Not sure what else to say, but I did get a bill from a doctor I never saw-- woot woot! read more

This is a shit Drs office. Both balicuit Drs are horrible. Donald, the younger one, is pretentious, unsympathetic, and rude. He wouldn't even look at me and didn't listen to a word I said. Kept belittling me. NEVER go here! read more

Referring to the younger Balacuit in the office. I made an appointment knowing I needed to see several specialists. Arrived 5min before scheduled time and had to wait well over 40mins before being escorted to exam room. Another 20mins wait. First thing I tell him is I know I have several issues that will require seeing specialists. 1. A small Dermoid on the back of my neck so will need a referral to a dermatologist, 2. I have been suffering with severe allergies and sinus swelling OTC stuff not working anymore and need to see an ENT, 3. I am having symptoms of low testosterone and need to see an Endocrinologist. He agreed to send me to Dermatologist and ENT, he blew off my suggestion of LowT and focused only the fatigue and wanted to run the normal blood work along with a testosterone test first. So I agree. Do the fast and take the blood work the very next day. That was a Thursday. Wed of following week I still haven't heard from them, so I call, staff was very polite and said they would have Dr call me back. Friday he still hasn't called. So I call back. Staff again was nice and he gets on the phone and immediately tells me everything is normal. I asked what the actual Total Testosterone number was and he again repeated it was normal. I asked again what the actual number was he told me 485 at which point I told him that was normal for an 85yo man. He got irate with me and told me HE was the one that went to medical school. I continued to be polite and explained to him how Blood Labs get their averages, which he said he had never heard of. He continued to argue with me as to what is average for my age and I told him I would be happy to send him medical research to back up my claims, he scoffed and finally agreed to send me to a specialist. Unfortunately instead of sending me to an endocrinologist(testosterone is a hormone) he is sending me to a Urologist. Very poor attitude and he has a he knows it all attitude. Avoid at all costs. read more

I visited Dr Balacuit for my yearly regular check-up and for my prescription of high blood pressure that was running low. One thing that was very good is Dr Balacuit is very professional and reasonable. As I am a traveler and back and forth east and west coast as well as working oversea. He let me get my prescription filled in NC even I visited Dr Balacuit in CA. Saving me all the trouble and time to fly back like my other Asian doctor in Arcadia. Gosh! That doctor made me fly back to visit the office and charged each time for writing a routine prescription of course, charge to insurance as well, even to getting the result of my routine test results. read more

I went in for a follow up he looked at my chart and asked why are you here for? Slammed on the table and said I can only give you a muscle relaxer he is such pill pusher I said I didn't want the pill that I had a liver problem what was he thinking. He said he would refer me to a cardiologist. I was there for 10 minutes I waited almost an hour just to see him, it took longer to get in the examining room than him examining me. Please stay away he is just another lazy pill pusher Dr. Yelp needs to have zero stars for people like this. read more

This is a great Doctors Office. He's treated a couple of my children as well as myself. I just happened to be looking for contact info and saw some of the negative comments. May I just say that in many cases when you have to wait, its because the Doctor is very thorough. If your issue is something severe, you probably should go to a specialist. This is a family practitioner. He has a BUSY office. I think some people simply have unreasonable expectations. Have you EVER gone to a medical office and NOT had to wait. Don't set yourself up for disappointment unnecessarily. The office staff is polite and does their job well. Dr. B (Junior) has stepped in and helps out Dr. B Senior, in the same polite, professional way I have always been accustomed to. People like to complain. read more

Worst doctor ever doesn't do shit but refer you to other doctors!! When it comes to EDD or work paper work he charges you for it and does even fill out everything delaying your claim and money . This office is JOKE . Going to be looking elsewhere for another doctor read more

Very irresponsible dr obviously he doesn't care about his patients at all. I had very bad experiences with this dr. Please don't go there.he doesn't love his profession at all. They never call you after an exam is done. He ignored my request of seeing an specialist for my problem i got worst couldn't walk i was ignored by this senior dr. Please find a different clinic go with someone that loves their profession and care about your well being. read more

Dr.Balacuit had been our family doctor for years up until now. He diagnosed my aunt's ovarian cancer as gastroenteritis, if she hadn't persisted about her discomfort she would no longer be with us. My mom often went to Dr.Balacuit's office for headaches and nausea and he never once referred her to a neurologist he just blew off her concerns for years. Now my mom is in the hospital due to an aneurysm that bled twice it is truly a miracle she is alive no thanks to this quack. If you want a doctor who actually listens to your concerns and does something about it and you want to live a long healthy life I suggest any office but this quack's! Such a disappointment to the medical community. read more

If it possible to give less than one star I would. First off, I had no problems with the front office/reception. They were as helpful as they could be. The nurses were less attentive than ones I've had at other doctors offices but that's not a huge deal for me. The real travesty is that this doctor is either very uncaring or lazy. As the other reviews have said, Dr Balacuit is incredibly inattentive and not thorough at all. If I didn't have a clue about what was going on myself I probably would be in worse shape. I'm generally not a picky or demanding person but after seeing him once I can say that I have no interest ever being his patient again. Again, to review: unfriendly, unprofessional, not attentive and uncaring. Avoid if you can read more

absolutely terrible!! I was supposed to be referred out to a cardiologist "stat" . waited 2 month and still no referel. finally just changed doctors. both Dr Balacuits are anabiotic feens. they feel that is the answer to everything. they just write prescriptions like it's going out of style. the office staff forgets to put in referals ALL the time. I finally had it when they told me they've apparently "lost" my medical file so they are not able to get me a copy. this was right after i said i was going to switch physicians. how convenient of them! the practice is a disgrace to the medical field! so sad that they are allowed to even practice medicine read more

This review is for the younger of the two, Donald Balacuit. I was a new patient. I set up the appointment citing abdominal pain, hoping to discuss the symptoms I had been going through and what his professional opinion was. Instead, the visit lasted MAYBE 2 minutes, and he only spoke about 20 words total. First thing he says is, "So you're here for a general check-up?" Uhh no, I thought the reception notes would have gotten conveyed to him, but whatever. I started describing my medical ordeal over the past few days, and I quickly noticed he wasn't saying anything. No words of acknowledgement, no questions, didn't even nod his head. Just a blank stare and the occasional pen writing. After my one-sided conversation, he said he wanted to do blood work. Okay, sure! He quickly left the room, a nurse comes in with an order and a list of locations of where to go, then informed me I was all done. He never came back. I was dumbfounded, I have never met a medical professional so disinterested in his or her patients worries or needs. No open dialogue, no follow up questions, not any semblance of intrigue or care. I went straight home and immediately changed doctors. I will not be returning. read more

I'm giving him a star because he's an ok physician. I've tried to go see him three times and all the times he never really examines you. Once he had a cold and totally excusable but the other times when i complained about pain and swelling he didn't bother to check and examine. Instead he simply kept looking at his clipboard and didn't really ask any probing questions. Very surprising considering he's an older doc. He does have a gentle manner but that can come accross as disinterested. I want a dr that seems interested in what i have to say and not one that seems tired and burnt out. Maybe it's time to not practice. read more

Had a wonderful experience. Didn't need to wait long to be seen as a new patient. All of my needs were taken care of and timely. The staff was communicative and friendly. Was concerned because of the prior Yelp review, but in my opinion, I highly recommend. Would have given five stars if there had been paper towels to dry my hands in the restroom. Thank you for your hard work and service in this time of dire health care restraints and concerns. read more

I never write reviews but I felt a need to provide another perspective on Dr Balacuit. My family has seen him for years and we have found him to be a quite suitable primary care physician. He has a gentle manner and has made appropriate specialist referrals when needed. I would have no qualms about referring a friend. read more

I have been a patient of dr. Baliquet since the late 80s early 90s never really had to use them maybe for a cream or a z-pack for a cold or something recently I went to his office three weeks ago due to severe swelling in left leg below the knee also red and hot and very painful couldn't get the swelling down I've been going through the swelling for the last 11 weeks prior to going to the doctor baliquet I was at cardioligist he said that's not normal that's get an ultrasound make sure there's no blood clots there were no blood clots so I thought I'd follow up with my primary to see if he had any clue what that could be made the appointment hadn't been in the office to see dr. 2 years he said oh I haven't seen you for quite some time looks like about 2 years I said I've been seeing my pulmonologist and my cardioligist on regular basis due to my pulmonary hypertension and I've been very faithful going to those doctors and I do go to those doctors monthly every month I have appointments with the both of them so he asked me what's been going on for the past two years so I proceeded to tell him a 10 minutes conversation of what's been going on with my health for the past two years which hasn't been very good possible lung transplant so on and so on I gave him all the information he looked right back at me and said so what's been going on these past two years I said to him did you just go somewhere because I just told you it took me 10 minutes to tell you he did not register one word I said not one word. so like I said I went to him about 3 weeks ago he said well I don't really know what it is maybe it's an infection so he prescribed me antibiotics 10 days Supply I took the antibiotics as directed and of 10 days I called the office saying that the leg has not improved whatsoever if anything it may have gotten a little worse so the gal at the desk said well let me get you another 10 days of antibiotics so I took 20 days of antibiotics went back to the doctor for the follow-up and sat down in the room he asked me how it was going and I told him it's no better and also he said have I been taking anything for it I said well the antibiotics you prescribed me and the gal in the front desk gave me 10 more days of it he said oh oh okay how many do you have left and I said I had a few days left probably 5 days possibly left he said will continue to take those and I'm going to write you up a referral to go see a vein and artery doctor where they're going to do the ultrasound and see if there's reason why these veins are not allowing circulation to go through I have reminded him that I had Baker's cyst three behind one knee and two behind the other that possibly could be causing some of this so it took about little over a week to get into the 612 building on Duarte Road to get the ultrasound got that done this past Monday the gal at the doctor's office there that did the ultrasound when it was all done and said she said well you don't have any blood clots and I said well I know I was just here 2 weeks ago anyhow I barely got in the car and the doctor's office called me the girl at the front desk said Miss doctor wanted me to call you and let you know you do not have blood clots and I told her I know that I've just had those tests done so I called the office the next day which was tuesday of this week and I asked may I please speak to the doctor got on the phone he said miss you do not have blood clots I said I'm well aware of that we went through this already we were trying to find out what was going on with the circulation possibly and the ultrasound I had prior to your referral the ultrasound gal told me she seen infection in my lymph nodes so there's got to be something going on in the leg not blood clots we're well aware of that he said have you been taking anything for your leg I said the 20 days of antibiotics you prescribed me he was not even aware he didn't even remember giving me the 10 days nor did he know that the office gave me 10 more days he said well maybe I need to look at your leg is there anyway you can come in I said I've been in there twice and you looked at my leg at that point I felt there was no need to go see that quack of a doctor so-called doctor might I add and I just hung up on him I am pursuing my medical help through USC hospital I've already been signed up into the new pulmonologist there have my first procedure done August 4th and this Monday which is July 24th I will be going for tests on my lungs and my heart at that time I will ask to seek a primary doctor at USC if there's any thing that I can do to help anybody in this situation your best bet is do not and I mean do not go to this Dr Peter baliquet he has no clue what's going on read more

He's not a good doctor. I brought one daughter in for a 2nd visit to have her ear cleaned, and he didn't do it. I think he forgot. I brought in another about a foot problem, and he said he'd write the referral, and he didn't. The receptionist kept us waiting to check out so long I finally left a note and walked out. We've waited 45 minutes to get in. He sounds sweet, but he's completely lost interest. Don't go to him. read more

DO NOT, DO NOT GO HERE! This Dr is just a pill pusher. My friend chose him as he was very close (within walking distance). In the last 10 years that he has been seeing him, he has NEVER given anytype of physical exam. He checks blood pressure and writes a referral for blood work. He has to b called to get any results. read more

Horrible Doctor! Would give 0 stars if I could. Went in for a specialist recommendation a few months back. Instead of just giving me the recommendation the guy proceeds to ask me about my medical history and then starts looking up google on his phone to find a medication and gives me a prescription (I never asked for one). He did not sound knowledgeable, he is a mediocre doctor at best. One of those doctors who is out there simply to make money out of insurance claims. Stay clear of this guy. read more

Dr Peter Balacuit is the Most unprofessional doctor ever, I have never met a doctor who is beyond rude, says he has too many patients and doesn't need clients & lies to it patients. I went into his office to get a total of 3 referrals to a couple specialist, at the time he said I would get an approval letter from my insurance co in about 5-7 business days, its been 12 days so I called my medical group to follow up. . I spoke to a manager and they verified and stated to me they had no record of ever receiving any referral paperwork and nothing was ever sent over to them from Dr Peter Balacuit's office. I called Dr Peter Balacuit office, the assistant told me she sent one referral in for approval, but had no record of any other specialist referrals for the remaining other 2. I told her my medical group had no record of receiving anything from them. she said she didn't know what happened and would resend it. She then trans me to the Dr. This guy was super rude, made more false statements, changed his story & backtracked during our conversation. A simple I'm sorry someone dropped the ball and well take care of it would have been sufficient , but this unprofessional Dr proceeded to tell me at first that all 3 referrals were sent out and that that the medical group takes time to review them. that they did there job. I quickly reminded him that the medical group never received anything - nothing - nada. so then he changed is story and said oh well that's because you a new patient here. we don't have your medical records from your previous doctor so that's why we couldn't send anything out. I told him wait, you just told me two seconds ago you sent them out. he says what, just go get me your previous medical records or I cant send any referral request, I told him his staff had me sign a medical waiver to get my records from previous doctor, He said sorry I don't have a copy of it and your are supposed to get them (which is another lie because again his staff had me sign a release waiver for them to obtain them). He then says you know what we have way too many patients , many , many . so we don't need your business and you here as a patient. just go ahead and transfer to other doctor and hung up on me. End of story I am happily transferring, never in a million years did I expect a professional , such as a doctor to be so Arrogant , Rude, and have no regard for its patients concerns read more

don't go here! the office is old and dirty. the service was HORRIBLE. I took my son in for a physical and because I spoke to the doctor they charged me for an office visit. I spoke with billing, the office and my insurance, wasted so much of my time FOR NOTHING. if I could give zero stars I would read more

This is a terrible DR. He missed the fact that I have spinal stenosis a very serious condition. I once went in with severe adema of the foot and the idiot asked "what you kick dog" I replied I did not hurt my ankle so that is why I am here to find out why it is swelling. Please someone turn this man in for malpractice! read more

the front office staff wow rude i went to the hospital on a saturday via ambulance do to the fact that my back went out and i couldn't move the pain was so bad that they had to give me 2 different kind of pain meds took the edge off but still had a pain level of 6 out of 10 when i got discharged they told me to contact my dr first thing monday morning and fallow up so fast forward i call was placed on hold for what seems like hours no one came back to me so i called back the nurse answered and again said can i place you in holds i asked for how long and she said i don't know and hung up instead uggg so i waited 2 hours to call back thinking they would me free again when she answered she wanted to put me on hooks I tools her no cause i can't wait again she said ok what do you need i explained my situation and said i needed to come in today her response was well that's not going to happen i told her i really can't wait i need to she the dr so i can get on a leave from my work cause u can't move out walk without pain her response to that was I'm sorry but you are not the only one who wants to see the dr today and i won't have anything infallible till next friday what the i called bs told her that i know they have time slots set a side for emergencies the she said this is not an emergency sorry i can't help you i was so upset i call me ins and they called them and she said they got the same treatment from the same lady and that all they can do it change my dr for me but that i wouldn't be able to go to my new dr till the first on the month (it was the 8th) seeing as i had no real options i did what i had to do i ended up having to take am up paid leave from work so i didn't loose my job not ok got s single working mother trying to make end meet if the dr would have seen me i would have been able to get on paid leave and had less stress which would have helped me heal a lot gayer i wish i could give this place 0 stars cause that is truly what they deserve the staff has no sympathy for their patients and could care less how much help you need never will i recommend this place to anyone ATARI AWAY AT ALL COST read more