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Abraham Rivera, MD
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Abraham Rivera, MD

3450 E. Fletcher Ave Tampa, FL 33613
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As the Chief Medical Officer of Physician Partners of America, Dr. Abraham Rivera understands the importance of giving back. He is well-known as a physician, leader, peer educator and lecturer.

Dr. Rivera is a current board member of the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine. His advocacy for opioid-prescribing reform earned him the organization’s Felix Linetsky, MD Award for Excellence in Education in 2018.

As a physician, his decades of experience equip him to treat even the most complex pain conditions. Dr. Rivera offers consultations in cooperation with our Minimally Invasive Spine Group in Florida and Texas, and performs:

• Spinal cord stimulation
• Spinal cord paddles
• Intrathecal pain pump
• Spinal decompression procedures
• Regenerative medicine (PRP and stem cell therapy)

Engaging and energetic, Dr. Rivera is known for his compassion in treating countless patients. He is also committed to educating medical fellows and residents, and other physicians on the latest advances in medicine.

In his primary role, though, Dr. Rivera is the Chief Medical Officer for Physician Partners of America, which is the parent company that owns and operates pain management practices in Texas and Florida. The company owns and operates several ambulatory surgery centers, pharmacies, and laboratories.

As PPOA’s official spokesman, he has represented the company in countless media appearances related to pain management and opioid prescription reform. A board member of the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine, he earned its Felix Linetsky, MD Award for Excellence in Education. The award recognized his leadership in organizing a landmark Opioid Summit in April 2018.

He is a thought leader in the technology sector of the healthcare industry, as well, serving as a consultant for medical device-manufacturing companies.

Born in Georgia to Puerto Rican parents, Dr. Rivera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Anesthesiology and Pain Management at Albany Medical Center in New York.

In his free time, Dr. Rivera is a pilot, and also loves to stay active with golfing and scuba diving.

Ratings and Comments

Check out ratings and comments from across the web.

3.5 /5
20 Reviews
Nov 8, 2018
Google • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Great advice on the knee pain I have been experiencing for years. I've tried everything and now it's time to listen to the doctor! Thank you Dr Rivera!
Jul 19, 2018
Google • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
The only negative thing I have to say about Dr Rivera is that he's not there more. I've seen several pain docs,and he's by far the best. He looks at you when you're talking and truly listens. So happy I found him.
May 2, 2018
Google • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
First time for me yesterday and my impression was positive. He is indeed a great Doctor, he listens and spend time with you. He is very professional. First impression means a lot.
Physician Partners of America (PPOA) replied on May 29, 2018:
Thank you for the kind review. Dr. Rivera (who is also our medical director) is a wonderful, compassionate and very knowledgeable doctor. We are honored to have you as our patient, Johanna.
Apr 10, 2018
Google • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Dr. Abraham Rivera is one of the kindest, caring doctors I have ever had. He has been my pain management doctor since 2014 and I cannot think of a more respected doctor in the 75 years since my birth. I would sincerely recommend him to anyone who had a genuine problem with pain. He is helpful, caring and has your complete attention when you bring him a problem you cannot deal with on your own. I thank Dr. James Billys for recommending him to me.
Physician Partners of America (PPOA) replied on Apr 10, 2018:
Thank you for the compliment, Ms. Keyles. We value you as a patient and will pass along your kind words.
Apr 2, 2017
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Dr. Rivera is incredibly well-versed in all aspects of pain management. While this alone would make him a good doctor, what sets him apart from other physicians is his capacity to listen to patients, truly hear them, express empathy, and take action. He is exceptional because he is present and compassionate--rare qualities in a high volume specialty practice setting. I wholeheartedly recommend him.
Mar 17, 2017
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
1st appointment and they called a day ahead to change the appointment time. I agreed to the change because I wanted to see a Doctor and not a PA. Arrived as scheduled and no Doctor to be found. Had to see a PA anyway. Ordered 2 MRI's and scheduled a follow up for 2 weeks later. Insurance dragged their feet on the MRI's so I had to re schedule the follow up. Ran out of medication because of the later follow up date. Called 4 times to get medication refilled. No return call, no refill, no response. My insurance uses Quest diagnostics. I told 3 different people at the office on 3 different occasions that all specimens had to go to Quest Diagnostic Labs. they assured me that they understood and that any labs would be sent to Quest. They sent it to their in house lab instead of Quest. My insurance refused payment as they are out of network, and I got a $9880.00 bill. DO NOT USE THIS PRACTICE.
Sep 12, 2016
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Dr.Rivera is one of the best doctors I've ever had . He is very caring and take time to listen to my questions . I have been with him for years . I have a baclofen pump and also pain that he is managing . I trust him . I have not been very happy with his staff . A lot of confusion and errors have been made on their part .
Aug 29, 2016
UCompare • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Great Doctor!!! Caring and Very professional.
Jul 22, 2016
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Dr. Rivera is pretty amazing.
Oct 16, 2015
UCompare • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
He is the BEST!!! I have seen numerous Doctors in the past with no relief. He is the only Doctor that has given me relief from my back and neck pain. He also has a great bedside manor and takes the time to explain. Would highly recommend him and have to many of my friends who suffer from neck and back pain.
Jun 11, 2014
UCompare • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Poor understanding of the fact that even younger patients can and do require treatment for chronic pain. Refused to look at MRI's that had been recently completed because he "knew from looking at me" (face to face, no physical exam at all) that I was too healthy to have suffered a disc lesion. The MRI and evidence he discounted was from another pain management specialist in the same company, and at the same location.
May 7, 2014
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Worst Dr. I have ever been to! Judged me within first 5 minutes of seeing me... didn't ask any questions about medications taken... and basically kicked me out of his office telling me he was not the right physician to treat me!!! I will not only not be going back there... but I had a ton of people waiting for me to refer them... wont be to him!!! What a jerk!!!
Sep 15, 2011
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
I had a great experience with Dr. Rivera. He treated my back pain and I feel better than ever. I had to wait for a while to get in with him, but it was worth it.
Jul 28, 2011
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Dr Rivera is a fine man even though I rated him low. He means well but he is extremely hyper and really really has problems listening to me and my needs. He implanted the morphine pain pump and he did an excellent job but getting him to understand what your trying to say is futile. The morphine itself I believe is not doing me well but he wants to do more surgery to see if the catheter in my spine is properly placed. Another huge bill I can't afford. I can tell there is no problem there I just don't like morphine distributed this way. Its hard to explain in simple terms but he needs to slow down most of all and improve on listening and clear out his cell phone mail box so a person can leave a message.
Apr 15, 2011
Wellness • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
I don't think I have ever been put on hold here for a long time and am so impressed with how quickly all of my questions are answered. There's nothing worse than having to wait on hold for a half an h our just to get someone to talk to you. They had quite a few interesting magazines, which made my time in the waiting room go by much faster. They are completely committed to helping me as long as it takes to find the best solution. I never have to worry that they'll back out or give up if a solution isn't reached immediately, which has been a problem for me at other places. I always have the best experience every time I have an appointment here. Although I have not had much to complain about, I have noticed that they strongly adhere to the customer is always right policy and if anything goes wrong make every effort to correct the situation. Whenever I make an appointment, I'm always confident that they're going to be ready for me at my scheduled time. At other places I've been to, it's always bothered me when they postpone my appointment, but they've never done that here.
Jan 6, 2011
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Dr Rivera works at Coastal Orthapedics in Bradenton, FL. The entire organazation is a scam. They require a drug test upon arrival. No problem right? They don't send the test away to a lab, they merely stick something in it that tells them whether you have been useing drugs or not, right there in the office. Then they billed my insurance company $1587 for the drug test. The lab they DON'T send it to is owned by Coastal Orthapedics & is of course an out-of-network provider. So now they say I owe them, since United Health Care didn't pay.
Apr 2, 2009
Vitals • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Be very careful had stimulator put in did not work right the test stim worked better i told him to take out and asked him to take out everything he put in he said it would be like i never had anything in well he left in hold downs that hold wire ends to nerves and they gave me more pain for years they stuck out and i never new he left them in until my recent surgery were my back surgeon found one and took it out so what he did is just pull the wires out and left the hold downs in very sneaky doc may be he should not take so much pain meds him self and treat people at same time just be careful with him I would find someone else
Apr 1, 2009
RateMDs • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Be very careful had stimulator put in did not work right the test stim worked better i told him to take out and asked him to take out everything he put in he said it would be like i never had anything in well he left in hold downs that hold wire ends to nerves and they gave me more pain for years they stuck out and i never new he left them in until my recent surgery were my back surgeon found one and took it out so what he did is just pull the wires out and left the hold downs in very sneaky doc may be he should not take so much pain meds him self and treat people at same time just be careful with him I would find someone else
Mar 6, 2008
RateMDs • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
Unfortunately Dr. Rivera is no longer in New York State but when he was here he was a God-send for me and my husband in treating our chronic pain. I was "mutilated" by an area doctor (who has since lost his license for insurance fraud of all things) and Dr. Rivera took the bold and unheard of step to testify "against a colleague". I wish he were still in the area. He understood pain because he was himself a sufferer of back pain.
Feb 13, 2007
RateMDs • Physician Partners of America (PPOA)
My original comment on Dr Rivera was deleted.Apparently, RateMDs will not allow you to say what you really feel about a doctor. Suffice it to say that my feelings were bad enough to result in deletion, and draw your own conclusions about this doctor. If I could rate below zero, I would, as visitng some doctors can be a highly negative experience.

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