Dr. Maria Inocencia Encarnita Pajarillaga Garcia, MD

I experienced what others are saying. This was my first visit and I picked a woman because I thought I would get a compassionate and interested doctor. She did not look at me and asked basic questions and just filled her computer with some small amounts of info she asked from me. She could care less about my concerns. She is not interested in health care only getting the minimum done. I hope that others read this as what you get is a clerk who collects data and offers nothing in return. I will pay again to find a better alternative. I already went to Dr Messner who was only slightly more engaged. She was bland and had little interest in my health care. Very dissapointing and a waste of time and money.

My first visit, was very unusual. Never have been to a Dr that has absolutely no personality. And just moved here looking for a great Dr. and the Insurance sent me to her WOW ?? . May need a new Insurance Co. When she examined me, she has me take deep breaths. OMG! The stethoscope did not even touch my back. Then has me open my mouth wide so she could see down my throat. Well I’m sitting on table and I was so above her, there was no way she could see down my throat. She seems to be out there, instead of actually caring about the patient. So thought I’d give her another chance. Same! So being the person I am. I will see her 1 more time . We will see.

I went to Garcia looking for a primary care doctor. I had just fractured a bone in my foot and I needed help with medication for my panic disorder. First off, she looked like she hasn’t changed her clothes or showered in days. Very unprofessional and off-putting. I limped into her office with a fractured foot after the ER told me to follow up with my primary care doctor (I told them I already made an appointment with her.) she didn’t even take off my bandages to look at it. Seemed to me like she was stoned —or just pure lazy. She just referred me to an orthopedic. I was very candid with her with my self medicating (didn’t have insurance for the past few years) and she looked very judgmental. I’ve been on klonopin since I was prescribed it when I was 20 for a panic disorder. That’s the only thing she cared about. Also, my pulse was high because of the limping around on crutches that I wasn’t used to and I was nervous because I was opening up to a complete stranger; who met me with a judgemental glare. She checked my pulse once or twice and ordered a blood test for my thyroid? I believe she’s all about the money. Lost any sense of compassion that she might have had in her youthful days of being a doctor. Seemed annoyed. Didn’t listen to anything I was saying and made it completely obvious. Spent about 10-15 mins with me and referred me to a psychiatrist that she didn’t even bother to make sure my insurance covered (it didn’t btw.) Thank God the psychiatrist was the complete opposite. He listened and understood my situation. Calls me everyday. Prescribed me proper medication to help lower my klonopin dose (from 2mg a day to 1mg a day) instead of judging me for self medicating. This doctor needs to retire.

I have called Dr Garcia's office 3 times an have left messages. This is over a two week time. As yet I have not had a return call

If you want someone who is caring and actually wants to help you, find a different doctor. I've seen her a countless amount of times and it's always the same...rushing me, typing away on her computer, asking me the same questions over and over (as if she doesn't believe me when I tell her the first time) and never makes me feel comfortable. She seems perpetually annoyed every time I see her. Will not be seeing her again! Find someone else who is genuine in wanting to help.

Has good bedside manners. Makes a huge difference.

She is alway nice and makes sure I keep up with my health. She is always looking for the best healthiest methods to treat me!

Wonderfull, caring Doctor, highly recommend her.

Dr Garcia Maria is the Best DR ever .I highly recommend her

Outstanding Doctor, makes sure you get treated by specialist whenever needed

She's my primary care doctor, but when injured in a car accident, she refuses to see me. Since I have an HMO, than that means I can't get ANY treatment unless I go to the ER! It takes at least 30 days to change my PCP, so I'm just stuck without helpâ?¦ although the insurance company went around her needed authorizations after 2-1/2 weeks to get someone to check for kidney damage. So far, it's been 3 solid weeks of totally needless pain, expense and frustration for me - and best I can hope for at the moment is to get to see a new doctor 43 days from now :( No matter WHO your doctor is, check with them ahead of time and make sure you aren't going to be left without any medical care should you be involved in a car accident!!

I have been under the care of Dr Maria Garcia for the past 6 years. She is always on top of my needs and has taken care of me very well. I highly recommend her.

This is a poor excuse for a doctor. First she walks in and is dressed like a homeless bag lady with her hair all messed up. She doesn't listen to her patients and could not care less about what they have to say. She put me at risk by sending me home when I needed to be put in the hospital.

Dr. Garcia was referred to me by my sister. She met Dr. Garcia when her Dr. was on vacation and was extremely impressed by her. I made an appointment and was also happy about my decision to do so. She is extremely through and compassionate, something hard to find in healthcare anymore, Would highly recommend her!!!

I have been with her for the last 3 years and think she is a great doctor. she has saved my life. She has never refused to send me for a test she thought I might need or recommended me to a surgeon. After having headaches for several months and meds not helping she sent me for a ct scan. Than recomended I see a doctor at ucla. So as far as I can say she does a great job and is a great asset to her profession.

When she diagnosed my mother with alcoholic liver desease, she didn't want to explore any means of recovery. When my mother died she avoided me.

She spends quite a bit of time with the items I want to discuss. She is slow to presccribe medications and often offers simple remedies to try first. She seems to go from least invasive to most. I was suprised to read the person who was recommended surgery as that doesn't sound like the doctor I go to. I would (and have) recommended her to others who also love her.

If you would like to have a DR that wants to see you every few months just so she can charge your insurance for a visit Dr. Garcia is just the one to choose. She tells me nothing different than the last visit. She then prescribed my medication as have my past doctors. The first day I visited Dr. Garcia without seeing any MRIs or anything like that, she insisted that I should have surgery all of this within less than five minutes. I have 3 bulging discs & 1 ruptured disc. Dr Garcia is an Internal Doctor not a Back Specialist/Orthopedic Doctor. She did the exact same thing with my husband, insisting he also get surgery without even examining his medical records. I let her know that under no circumstances I was going to have surgery because I'm not going to have someone cut me open on my back. Went to another Dr who referred me to a specialist who did my MRIs and said that there is nothing that can be done. NO SURGERY and that I would have to rely on pain management with my meds for the rest of my life. He didn't give me any prescriptions because he said that my doctor would take care of me. Well he was wrong, Dr. Garcia refuses to refill my prescription unless I go into her office so she could take my blood pressure and insist on me having surgery, then eventually refilling my prescription. I am 50 years old and in constant pain. She is holding me hostage to getting my meds for my pain. This is a joke, so she can turn around and charge just over $200 to my insurance. Even our insurance company said this is unethical and wrong, and suggested I change doctors to one that listens to their patients needs and actually be helpful. Whatever happened to sympathetic doctors. Sadly this doesn't exist with her. I would never refer her to anyone, as she is willing to withold help and compassion. I am in extreme pain and can not get my needed medication until I meet my new doctor. I have never been through this in 30 years dealing with doctors. She is truly a black eye on her profession.

Dr. Garcia is a warm, caring, highly skilled doctor. She is thorough in taking history and prescribing appropriate tests. Dr. Garcia is an oasis in the Desert; I would highly recommend her.