Silvia M Villagomez, MD

I saw Dr. Villagomez for a routine screening colonoscopy in 2013. I heard the staff talking about her late arrival. I woke up after the procedure in intense pain that was not due to intestinal gas from the procedure. I ended up in the emergency room at Summit. It took over two months for the pain to resolve. I would not go back.

I was diagnosed with an enlarged liver and told to stop drinking alcohol immediately and then was essentially ignored by Dr. Villagomez for four days. Despite multiple follow-​up calls to ask for details about the severity, cause, etc. Dr. Villagomez called me after hours and spoke with me for 10 minutes during which she essentially accused me of being an uncontrolled alcoholic with a comment about «how hard it must be when all my friends are drinking around me.» For the record, I stopped drinking that day and have not been even tempted to drink since then… as I wasn’t drinking much prior to then.
I agree with Shredney about her lack of empathy, urgency or any other endearing quality you would want in a physician when you have an urgent issue. I also tried to switch physicians (NorCal GC has a monopoly on the East Bay) and was told the same thing, that it’s basically impossible to switch physicians.

Just called to schedule an appointment, was told it was going to be a month before they could see me. That is absolutely ridiculous. Would you wait a month for a doctor to help you with your problem? Back to primary care for another referral.

I went to Dr. Villagomez last time I was due for cancer screening and all went fine but I have to see someone else now as she refuses to take my current insurance. I tend to believe the individual who complained here because my closest friend also saw Dr. Villagomez and her first visit was fine and uneventful but 2^nd time, it was bad enough for her to dump Dr. V altogether. Recently, I had to arrange to get my records from Dr. V and that was a horrific experience. I don’t know what happened to her or her office that it got so bad there but something definitely is not right there.

Dr Villagomez is good, no complaints there. But the office practices need much improvement. Like shredney v, my GP gave me the name of another doctor. But, last year when I went to make an appointment to see him, I was told that NO I had to see Dr Villagomez because I had seen her before! Now, get this, that visit was something like 10 years ago! My latest appointment was this past Wednesday for a follow up visit for a problem from early last year. When I gave the lady at the front desk my new medical card, I was told that my health plan would not pay for the office visit. What? There had been no changes in my health plan or coverages. I have Independence Blue Cross and I think that they were looking at Anthem Blue Cross. The plans and coverages are not the same. This has happened before, when I had a procedure done last year. They might have just one address for Blue Cross, but they need to check the plans more closely. Another complaint, they do not send out any reminders or make calls to remind you of your appointment. When I said something about this being the second time that this has happened, I was told that it’s standard procedure for them to send out reminders and they’d look into it. After returning home I called Blue Cross and it was confirmed that my plan will pay for the office visit, all that the doctor’s office had to do was send in the bill. When I tried to call the doctor’s office, their message may say that they care for their patients, so there might be a brief delay in getting to me. I was on hold for over 5 minutes. Like I said earlier, Dr Villagomez is good, but if your plan will allow it, find another office.

I’m glad others have had good experiences but see if it lasts over several years. BTW — take note — if you EVER decide you would like to see another doctor in this large practice, be it because you have an urgent problem, and she is on vacation or booked up, or because you don’t think the doctor you have is a good fit, you will NEVER BE ALLOWED to see another doctor in the practice. NEVER. I was told to have my PCP write a letter asking that I be allowed to see another doctor. My PCP wrote the letter. It was refused. I can no longer see anyone in this large practice. My sin? Wanting to try another doctor because the one I had for 4 years didn’t seem to care and was unavailable in an urgent situation.
I had an urgent situation of severe abdominal pain. I could not see Dr. Villagomez. She ordered an MRI which was normal so she told me «don’t worry about it». One year later I learned (from a CT scan done because of a kidney stone) that due to shallow breathing, because breathing deeply HURTS my abdomen, now both my lungs are collapsed at the bottom. Don’t listen to reassuring doctors — listen to your body. When something hurts, something is wrong. Don’t walk around for a year with pain just because NorCal GI will not allow you to see a doctor.

It was my first visit to a Gastro doctor and Dr. Silvia Villagomez was wonderful. The office is busy but I was seen quickly. When the bill was larger then I had planned (turned out insurance paid less then I estimated) they let me make payments over three months.
Dr. Villagomez knows her stuff.

I just got back from my appointment with Dr. Villagomez. I was early and was in and out of her office before my appointment time. I enjoyed meeting her and found her knowledgeable and efficient. I found the office staff friendly and caring unlike the previous reviews.