Complaint Review: NorCal Natural Integrative Healthcare

After a decade of dealing with severe issues relating to an autoimmune disease,  I went to a free presentation that Dr. Diem Nguyen gave at a local restaurant on thyroid disfunction and Hashimoto's disease. The ad she had taken out in the local paper had referred to her as a "functional endocrinologist". She was adamant that she could help where the medical community was failing and used specific symptoms and promises to entice cliental. During the question portion of her presentation, when asked what her fees were, she refused to elaborate any more than to say "they are different for everyone" and that for a fee of $287 she would set up a consultation at NorCal Natural Wellness in El Dorado Hills.

During the consultation, Dr. Nguyen simply reiterated the presentation I had already seen then went on to state that she wanted to set me up with the "six month plan".  As she stated, this six month plan included a binder of information, vitamin supplements, a diet plan, and testing as well as seeing her as your own personal coach all for the cost of $8,870. To say the least, I was shocked at the cost as there had been no indication of such an astronomical fee whatsoever. I offered to have the tests run through my insurance, however she said that would only bring the cost to $8,570. This means I would be paying nearly $9,000 for a binder, a few phone calls and some vitamins. She stated that she did not accept my insurance, though I have excellent coverage. When I said that I simply could not afford nearly $9,000 fee, she offered to knock off $1,000 if I filled out a credit application during this consultation to finance it over 18 months. The implication was that the offer expired when I left the facility. I admitted that I was still unable to write her a check then and there and she walked me to the waiting room and handed me two pamphlets on diet and exercise, abruptly ending the consultation. After doing a quick google search, Dr. Diem Nguyen has shown up with over four different business names, in three different cities. 

When I contacted her offices asking for a refund as my consultation had been cut short, Dr. Nguyen took the call and began yelling and refused to allow me to speak. I ended the call a bit bewildered without having ever raised my voice. To say that she handled herself in a less than businesslike manner would be an understatement. 

In a moment of desperation and hopelessness, many would be willing to pay anything to feel better, and that is just what she is banking on. Her declaration that she is a "functional endocrinologist" really turned out to be nothing more than a certification course. It was clear that Dr. Diem Nguyen is making her money off of the very ill and helpless. Everything she was offering was readily available on the internet with nothing more than a google search.