Andrew Rosenblatt, MD

In response to other reviews: If you’re going to rate a doctor, let alone a cardiologist, on how much his front office coddles you, that is completely unfair to the doctors and irresponsible to people looking here to find a good cardiologist.
I have a been under Dr. Rosenblatt’s care for close to 10 years now. As other reviews have mentioned, he doesn’t beat around the bush. He lays things flat out, honestly and clearly explained. Also, it is clear the he is not only interested in your larger cardologic picture but also remains abreast of the latest cardiology research and is always looking for the best way to care for me and achieve the optimal prognosis.
Dr. Rosenblatt is a highly sought after cardiologist. These front office people are very busy. I find that they approach their job with the same efficiency and professional detachment that Dr. Rosenblatt does: their concern is getting you the best, fastest most correct care. From either source you won’t get a lot of smiles, small talk, or sappy politeness. To be honest this would make me feel better too. But, if you want to be coddled, have your mother or your therapist set up and bring you to your appointments.
However you manage to get there, you’re going to get excellent care.

I have to agree that the front office, even with its technology and headsets, needs work. My adverse reactions is mostly related to the front desk and those who take appointments. They are somewhat uninformative and seem clueless (even if they are not necessarily so). So, I give the front office of the Sutter Medical Foundation at most 2 stars.
OK, that said, the other staff is pretty OK, they will answer your questions and if you treat them well, they will return the same. Be an ass, don’t be surprised if they don’t reciprocate with sunshine.
As for Dr. Rosenblatt, (I give him 4 stars) he does not blow sunshine up your hiney – a good thing. If you smoke, he will stare you down and you will go home with the intent to quit. In fact, he tells you point blank, «you cannot be a patient of mine, if you smoke.»
He also explained my EKG when I asked about it, requested tests I have never had, and was the first doc since moving to SF that asked for my records from my previous cardiologist in Texas (I have asked other docs if they wanted these and they basically mumbled).
So, all said here are my tips:
1. It will take at about a month to get an appointment with Dr. Rosenblatt if you have a routine checkup (don’t be surprised if it takes two months if you are a new patient). Even though we live in a primo city, good cardiologist are still limited, especially based on insurance and if your condition is somewhat routine/​not extreme and in need of the assistance of docs at UCSF.
2. Do not allow the front desk and appointment personnel sour you. But do provide feedback to the appropriate people, aka, express your displeasure but do so effectively and not just bitch.
3. Plan that your appointment may take 2 hours, especially if Rosenblatt is offsite. I imagine he has patients that require him go to hospitals – keep this in mind for the future if you ever been or may have to be one of those patients. My daddy has a lot of heart issues and it is a good thing when his doc shows up at the hospital.
4. Ask questions, and if you are waiting for awhile ask for water, reading material, etc. His staff is accommodating. They know that cardiovascular shit is scary for the patient and they are not really trying to make your life hell.

I’m sure Dr. Rosenblatt is a fine doctor, but his assistants are not. They book appointments too close together, so expect to wait at least an hour after you’ve arrived.
My appt was at 10am. Their office opens at 9am so at most that is two patients ahead of me. When I got there, one patient was waiting, and he was already frustrated at waiting. Over the next hour, 5 other patients showed up, 3 went in to see other doctors, but 2 were booked for Dr. Rosenblatt.
Finally, I walked up and asked when I would get in and the assistant just shrugged her shoulders. I asked her to please check and she finally got up off her large marge rear to check. I sat back down, and then she walked back in and sat down at her chair without acknowledging me. After 5 more minutes of hearing the assistants talk about their socks, I walked back up and asked her again. She said, «Oh yeah, we don’t know when the doctor will be available.» At that point, I told her thanks for wasting an hour of my time and made her refund my copay and walked out.
Ironic how waiting for this particular heart doctor only makes your heart pain worse.