CSULB Student Health Services

Pros: The health service center is a great resource to have on campus. I really like that if I have anything wrong, I can easily go in and see a doctor to get what I need. It is also helpful for those who don’t have medical insurance and need help without paying huge costs at an urgent care or ER.
BUT.
Twice in one week I saw two different doctors for two unrelated things I wanted to take care of – I have private insurance, but with doctor appointment wait times and me being at school already, decided to just do it through the health center since I pay for the services anyway with my tuition.
Both times, the doctors come barreling in with paper in hand, mind already made up about my health or concerns. I was lectured both times (completely different check-​ups, too) and I literally couldn’t even ask questions before I was talked over and brushed aside.
I get that these doctors are probably used to dealing with younger students, so they have completely lost touch with how to be more personable, respectful, and not be so abrasive as if we are bothering them or wasting their time. I don’t need to be nagged at when I ask a question. One doctor literally laughed at me when I provided some background history to my health and then brushed me off like I lost my mind. Another doctor didn’t even let me get my question out before shaking her head and shutting me down.
If you have no other options, this is a good place to go – just have lower expectations about the potential doctor you will get. The intake nurses are very nice and welcoming, but geesh, the two doctors I saw leave a lot to be desired. Of course, that’s not to say all of them are like this — maybe I just was unlucky.
That being said, if I have a little issue I would still use the health center, but from now on I’ll just suck it up and pay the $ 80 to go to urgent care or wait for a month to see my primary doctor.

The level of unprofessionalism here is astounding. Nearly everyone I have encountered here hates their job and treats the patients like stupid little children and makes you feel bad for being there. Once, I came in for contraceptives and the woman (I do not think she was a doctor, she had no knowledge of the differences between BP pills) belittled me and nearly drove me to the point of tears. Then, when I expressed fear of getting the flu shot (fear of needles) she told me that her little daughters never cry when they get shots so I shouldn’t. She was just mocking me and expressed no empathy. When I saw the nurse, she was not wearing gloves and was coughing right into her hands and then proceeded to touch me! Not to mention she was obnoxiously smacking her gum the whole time. I was completely in shock. Also, when I was seen for FP services, the woman was just silent and stared at me when I asked questions and created a very awkward environment. No one here cares about the welfare of the people that come in. I have never had a worse healthcare experience in my life.

The two visits I have been here twice. the first time the receptionist were rude. I was forced to apologize fir asking too many questions. she told me my health care fee at CSULB only covers if I get a cold or a flu, note x-​ray was not inuded for free by what my soar advisor said. The second time I needed a pap, I agreed to pay the base fee of 22.00, but doctor refused to do it when she tried saying that I need to do other test with it with or she wouldnt treat me. Which came out close to $ 200.I felt like I was talking to a car saleman, not a doctor. That worries me about the quality of the University Health Care system, they must be just there for a paycheck. Later, I was told that I wasted their time. I no longer feel comfortable going to the Doctors office on campus because it felt like a car dealership for my body. I reccommend UCLA, their healthcare for non students has actual experienced trained better real Health care professionals.

The front desk people are okay. To be honest, the only nice people there are here are the people working at the front desk. I’ve come across the same nurses and doctors twice and my opinions about them haven’t changed. Just for the sake of anonymity I’m not going to name them directly but if you ever come across the OLDER NURSE and the OLDER DOCTOR (both female) beware their attitudes. No offense but any health service/​center should be more polite and hospitable to their patients. The nurse wouldn’t let me use the bathroom before taking my blood pressure because she said she was in hurry to finish since I decided to come to my appointment early. Strike 1. And then when the doctor came in she never examined me she just told me what she «THOUGHT» I had, no rational diagnosis. Very unprofessional. At least examine me woman! Strike 2. Then she asked me about my family background and kept correcting me. ME. How are you gonna tell me about my background?! Strike 3. Needless to say, don’t get the much older women as your nurse or doctor unless you want to get smart ass remarks from a «professional» practitioner. Honestly the only trip worth making to the SHS is to the pharmacy or for Family Pact Services. Other than that, good luck with trying to get good quality service.

Absolutely terrible service. The people at the front desk and scheduling are nice. But when you get to the actual nurses, they are a joke. I have been many times before, and there are few things besides STI testing that they are good for. If you want a pregnancy test, (a blood test) it is ridiculous. The person on the phone told me that is was possible and then the nurse when I came in was very rude and said that it was not possible. SHE DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MY CONCERNS. Then, she did some research and found that it was indeed possible and did not apologize for her mistake. The whole way that she dealt with me was extremely unprofessional. I expect quality healthcare, and because it is a school related service, the employees treat many students as children and not as actual clientele. Also, when I finally got to see the nurse practitioner, she came in with FOOD IN HER MOUTH still chewing! I have been here multiple times, and the environment is all too relaxed. Employees are having side conversations and ignoring patients because of it and making us feel uncomfortable. I’m all for a happy work environment, but when employees attitudes and behaviors are interfering with the client’s experience, that is when the place gets a bad name. Once again, This has been a multiple time occurrence and I am writing to see that my concerns be addressed before the clinic gets a bad rap dude to it’s employees.

I really do wish I could write this place a better review. But I really have not had the best experiences here. Once I went in for a possible broken bone and had a x-​ray done. The doctor wasn’t sure if it was broken or not, and told me he would consult other doctors and give me a call in a few days. After a week with no call, I called them, and they said my doctor was now on vacation. So I was left not knowing what to do, and STILL injured. Not a fun experience. However, this is a really great place to get a TB test. You can schedule a time online, pay $ 2, and you are in and out in a few minutes. Just keep in mind you have to book an appointment about a week in advance.
Although I personally haven’t had the best experiences here, I know the health center provides a lot of support to students without insurance, and has a lot of services that a lot of students can take advantage of, so it’s not all bad. And I know they have to serve a large student population, but the few times I have been here have simply felt like a waste of time.

I freaking love CSULB health center. I got in a car accident a few months ago and got xrays done here. They Xray tech is a bad ass, and should totally be talked to in length. She’s quite a fun person to talk to, even if it’s about your broken rib and fractured sternum.
I also got food poisoning off campus and was seen here. (God going to class with food poisoning was a freaking nightmare. Never try it.) The Health center took care of me, treated me with respect and even after it all gave me a pass to hand my professors since I had been on IV for almost an entire day.
I highly respect these guys. They do a good job.

I have been here twice. Once for the blood type test (about $ 6 if i’m not mistaken) in March with Brownsyn Braud and once for the well woman exam +birth control this month with Bonnie Cegles. Dr. Braud was friendly and explained my blood type to me and how it may affect pregnancy in the future. I don’t have any complaints regarding her nor Bonnie. Bonnie was pretty cool and didn’t make me feel uncomfortable except for when she checked for my ovaries lol. The pharmacy was great and everything was free thanks to FPACT.

I’m really surprised it took until just last month for someone to write a review. I wish I could give this place no stars. The charm of the CSULB health center is that it is free for students, oh wait not free it comes from a pretty penny added to our tuition. So now the charm is gone, what’s left? A staff of doctors, nurses and staff that are rude, unprofessional and just plain unqualified. They seem to harbor a particular condescending attitude towards all students, as if getting sick is somehow your fault. And when they can’t figure out what’s wrong, they get angry and yell at you. I even had the pleasure of being called obese in a room full of students. The upsides, well there’s maybe one. They do have subsidized OTC medicines, real cheap stuff, so that’s nice if you need to Advil or Neosporin for two dollars cheaper than Rite-​Aid. And if you have family-​pact, it is one of the places you can visit. But you can also visit Planned Parenthood as well, who will probably have a nicer, discreet and compassionate staff (I recommend the one in Westminster). And if you absolutely have no other choice in medical insurance and must go there, whatever you do, DO NOT GET SEEN BY BONNIE. Just make a special request not to have her. She made me sob and also my best friend cry a couple years ago. So all in all, if possible, stay on yours parent’s insurance and/​or get a job with insurance, cause this place won’t be doing you any favors.