Bakersfield Center For Women’s Health

My experience with this clinic was horrible! I should have listened to the Unilocal reviews of this business. I basically came here for my Ob-​Gyne needs, pap smear, birth control pills, general wellness.
Every time I went there, there was a loooonng wait even though there were only about 1 – 2 patients in the waiting room. On one of my scheduled appointments just to get the 2^nd dose of vaccine, I waited about 20 minutes in the waiting area (I guess just to wait, because there was only like 1 other patient there that I can see). Then more wait in the exam room alone for more than 1.5 hours waiting for the doctor! Getting the vaccine=10minutes (including seeing the provider, mostly waited). So all in all, I was there for MORE THAN TWO HOURS just to get a vaccine! The doctor was nice and apologetic about the wait but every time I come here it was like this.
Another thing, this clinic is a classic example of NO-PILLS-BECAUSE-WE-DIDN’T-DO-YOUR-EXAM-YET clinic. I ran out of refill of my birth control pills so I called them and requested if they can call in a refill to my pharmacy. They told me I can not get a refill (not even one extension!) UNLESS I schedule a pap smear because I am due for one. I told the receptionist I just had it done recently and she said «yes, exactly one year ago. PAP SMEARS should be done YEARLY. So until you schedule your next pap smear, we can’t give you a refill.» I reasoned out that I am not at risk and am young and that this I feel that this TEST/​PROCEDURE IS UNNECESSARY. I asked them what was their basis of this YEARLY PAP SMEAR POLICY, if this is recommended by any health governing agency like the Health Department. They could not give me an answer except to tell me repeatedly that I am being transferred to the insurance department! I had to explain to different people several times that I moved out of state and I need at least one refill today because of my period! Denying it would cause me harm. It took two phone calls, and being transferred several times to get that one refill that I needed!
TIP: They charge $ 50 for missed appointments. (It was on the contract they said. I had to pay once).

I could have provided better pregnancy care on my own. I never waited less than 30 minutes in the waiting room or less than 15 – 20 once being in the exam room. Spent less than five minutes ever with anyone Dr. They are not thorough and don’t seem to truly care about mom and baby. And really, who is in the business of caring for PREGNANT women but will turn you away if you happen to have your children with you-they’re not even allowed in the office waiting room! Really? I wonder if they know a pregnant woman has a child inside her??? I won’t even bother going in for post pregnancy appointment.

I would NOT recommend this office if you are expecting! I waited over an hour and a half for each of my appointments, and although I specifically asked to see, meet, or even speak to Dr. Rivera, she was NEVER available. I only ever the saw the PA. After 5 visits (3 scheduled specifically with Dr. RIvera), she still had not even taken the time to introduce herself. Even when I went in because I was having complications, she was still unavailable. I have a high risk pregnancy and did not feel comfortable placing the my life or the life of my baby in the hands of a Dr. that I couldn’t pick out of a line-​up.

I’m not one to really write reviews and specially if its a bad one but in this case it’s a must. First I want to start by stating the positives. I love the staff at this clinic. I will say the most professional and friendly ladies I’ve encountered at a medical facility in Bakersfield. So in actuality I’m writing a bad review on Dr. Rivera. My respects for those who have had a good experience with her. I know things can differ case by case as every personality and situation is different. After 3 visits to see her for prenatal care I finally got to meet her for the first time at the San Joaquin ER as I needed a D&C. She approached my husband in a very rude manner and never acknowledged my pain or concerns as she was too busy taking my husbands frustrations personal. She never took the time to communicate what I was waiting for and what was going to happen next. As my doctor I was hoping for an introduction and empathy on my current loss. All she did was argue with my husband until I told her to stop and act as a professional and all she did was roll her eyes at me and walk away! After that I refused to be treated by her and requested a new doctor. My experience at the San Joaquin was all a bad but that’s a whole other review. My new OB/​GYN Dr. Anusha made up for all the frustrations and treated with kindness and respect. I guess things do happen for a reason. Stay away from Dr. Rivera.

I had an great first visit here for my first prenatal appointment. I didn’t have to wait long for my name to be called. Dr Lopez and her nurse practitioner made me feel very comfortable during the appointment. I was a little nervous before stepping into the building on how it was going to be inside, based on where everything is located. But, stepping inside was very welcoming and warm. I loved how it was just a focus on women’s health.

Honestly, I have no idea why this clinic has such bad ratings. I am really shocked! I have been to several clinics that deserve 0 or one star, but this one wasn’t even close.
I came to accompany my husband’s cousin. She was 37 weeks pregnant and she was cramping and getting back pain. She had an appointment already so it was better for her.
Inside the clinic there was a cute little store where you walk in and they are next to each other. There isn’t a door dividing them you just pass right through them.
At the front desk she signed in a small sheet and gave it to the nurse in the front. They called her in 5 minutes. She had told me she wanted me to come because they took awhile.
The waiting room was very nice! It looked very elegant and the seats were very comfortable. There was no kids running around or crying.
They had soothing music on and a television with very low volume. For some reason I did not feel like I was in a clinic. It felt so relaxing to be in the waiting room.
They gave her a room and we waited for about 10 minutes for the doctor to go inside. Once she came inside she told her to undress from the bottom down. The doctor stepped out for 5 more minutes to let her undress.
When she came back in she asked my cousin-​in-​law (just googled husband’s cousin haha) if she was having any contractions. She checked to see if she was dilating.
In the meanwhile, she was talking to me and making a conversation. Asked me about my tattoos and if I had any kids. She was a very nice doctor.
She finally told my cousin-​in-​law that she was 2 centimeters almost 3 dilated. She said she might have the baby in about 7 to 10 days. She told her what hospitals to go too as well.
She gave her another appointment for 7 days just in case she still didn’t go into labor within that time range. She said good-​bye and hoped to see her soon.
They have their own parking garage and it is free of charge. There was also street parking, but we parked inside the garage. There was about 5 spaces available.
We were in the clinic for about 40 minutes maximum. We hardly waited in the waiting area and we got a room right away. The Dr. Rivera did what she had to do and we were done.
Maybe I just went on a really good day, but I asked my cousin-​in-​law and she said she loves it. She has been with her OB/​GYN for almost 5 years and she hasn’t had a problem.

Do not go here-​the only good thing about this office is the girls who schedule appointments. The doctor is very cold and not approachable. They tried scheduling unnecessary tests without even having any results from a pap smear and when I declined to do them… they called me a few days later to tell me I couldn’t go there ever again… Not that I had planned to! Worse place ever!!!

Okay. I have been going here for over a year and I HATE IT. They take hours to actually call you in and then expect you to wait even longer after that. I don’t have time for a 3 hour appointment every time I go! It’s ridiculous! I can definitely say the people are amazing sweet though. ***

I wasn’t happy with my recent experience. In the past, I went to this facility with my first two children and was pleased. After my pregnancies, I returned for my annual exams, but it seemed to take a while before I could even get an appointment and then the wait in the reception was horribly long. I decided to go to my GP for my annual exams.
Eight years later, I suspect I am pregnant again and am not getting clear results from home pregnancy tests. I called to ask if I could come in for a simple pregnancy test to confirm. I was told they couldn’t do that without a full workup (blood tests, annual exam, etc). I was told they can see me the next Wed at 11:20am (which is my 3^rd day at work since I work at a school). I asked for an afternoon and they told me they couldn’t get me in until September. I went ahead and took the appointment and humbly had to ask my employer for time off.
The morning of the appointment, I got a call telling me they had to cancel. They wanted to reschedule me in two days at 9:30am. I told them that I work and I had already made arrangements for that day and I can’t have this happen. I thanked them and told them I would find another OB/​GYN.