Palo Alto Medical Foundation

A great visit today. Everyone there where sso kind and friendly. ot was my first bisir there and will continue to keep all my future appointments there. Thanks to Everyone…

Sutter and PAMF participate in very few insurance programs. I went from a policy with Anthem that cost $ 368 a month, and while my doctors appointments were not paid for, at least I got to see a local doctor. After going thru Covered California to get a real insurance policy with Anthem Blue Cross that would actually pay for doctor visits, and signing up to pay $ 692 a month, I discovered none of the Sutter PAMF doctors participated. I just don’t think they are a good contributor to our community. They either are not able to control their costs, or they are greedy.

Recently had to make a visit to urgent care after slipping on ice and hurting my ankle. I thought I made an appointment online however, I made it for two months in advance. Oops!
I decided to stay and wait for the 2 hours even though I had my two daughters with me (ages 4 and 2). Sensing my body language, the receptionist told me I can leave and they will call me when it is my turn or I can call and check in. Once I was next, I received a call.
When I showed up, I was brought right in. The dr came into the exam room and decided I needed X-​rays. My daughters couldn’t come with me and the dr had a nurse come and sit with my girls. She was amazing and so sweet. The kids didn’t even realize I had gone.
I had such a positive experience during a not so positive time. The dr and staff were amazing and made what would’ve been an extremely stressful day (a 2 hour wait with two kids in an urgent care waiting room with people coughing all around us) into a minimally stressful experience.
I hope for no more accidents but, at least I know where to go and what kind of great treatment to receive in case it’s needed.
Thanks again to the Drs and staff

This is just a review for the main clinic. Actually, if you can find parking, the care and personnel are great. There is parking, but it’s not enough, and you pretty much have to park illegally. So if you don’t mind risking a parking ticket, I’d recommend this place. I’m gonna find a doctor over the hill, where there’s PARKING.

I thankfully have not spent much time at urgent care facilities, but I did today and this place really impressed me. My dad was seen almost immediately. I sat in the very clean waiting room waiting to find out how he was and watched several people check in and get called back to see a doctor almost immediately. Staff are professional, friendly and helpful. Place is spotless. Parking close to entrance. Really great urgent care. I wish we had one of these in Humboldt county.

What a joke this place is. The providers are not educated on any costs and so unless you have exceptional insurance be wary of fees. PAMF is trying to charge me $ 175 for a cotton sling that I found on amazon for under $ 20. During the visit I asked the provider about the charge and she said that she was giving it to me. Either she has a hard time with the english language, isn’t aware of PAMFS fees, or was purposefully misleading me. Every time I ask what their fees are I am never given a straight answer from the support team or providers. When I do get the bills I see that not only are their fees insanely expensive but that they have also negotiated much higher rates with insurance companies so that the maximum billable amount is much higher than any other doctors office in this county.
Sad thing is that I really like my doctor. Unless you are rich or have killer insurance stay away.

Best health organization I’ve ever been part of. I recommend PAMF to all my friends. I’m amazed there are any negative reviews.

Quick but the doctor (forgot her name, white lady in her 30s) was cocky so to speak. Said she was amazing at mole removal in the dermotology clinic and that she’s one of the best. Months later the job she did was crap when it healed up. Moral of the story. Stay humble, never oversell yourself. I lost respect for this doctor and this hospital overall. But thanks for the quick service… lol

Made an appointment for my daughter. They sent us to the wrong clinic on a Friday afternoon.
Get to the right clinic and the pediatrician was very rude. The doctor left the office and we sat there, not knowing our appointment was over! Then, as we stood there, I overheard the doctor talking about my daughter’s medical issue with her staff.
I’m glad my insurance will no longer accept PAMF. You are extremely classless.

Surgeon– Dr Joseph Labry. I went to Dominican Hospital ER a few days ago and wound up having my appendix removed a few hours later by the on-​call PAMF surgeon, Dr Joseph Labry. He was wonderful! How anyone can be wonderful when you have been in that much pain is a good trick — but he was. He was extremely kind, and drew pictures explaining all about the situation and procedure in detail.
At 4 am, after having done at least 2 surgeries that I know of, and probably more that I don’t, he connected with me in a way that was personal to me and made me feel comfortable and secure. Later, I found he had also done a laparoscopic appendectomy on my friend’s son, and she felt exactly the same way, she couldn’t say enough good things about him.

I had a specialized procedure with one of their surgeons at the surgery center, but I had to have tests, a specialized ultrasound at this center. A week after my procedure I had a complication, the doctor told me to go to Urgent Care so they could do the ultrasound. I got to Urgent Care, and I was turned away. The receptionist said that I was not authorized for their urgent care center, my insurance didn’t cover me and I would have to go to Dominican. I explained that I had surgery with one of their docs and I was there on orders from my surgeon, and THE WOMAN TOLD ME TO GET OUT OF LINE OR SHE WOULD CALL SECURITY. I was in pain, I had to go home, call the doctor again, and was told to go back and this time, enter directly through radiology and this time I was seen… WTF? I guess their receptionists have more authority than their doctors. I have had further dealings with this medical group and in every instance, they seem to have a corporate culture of doing as little for the patient as possible. After having a procedure at their surgical center, they refused to call my ride for me, they made me get up, stand in line to ask the receptionist to call, and while standing their, my wound opened and I began to bleed out… because I wasn’t bandaged properly, and I was made to stand after a surgical procedure on my leg… because their staff couldn’t call my ride for me. Customer service is DEAD. They also did NO pre-​op screening, they did not even check my blood pressure before starting this procedure, I’m a 59 year old woman with a tendancy to low blood pressure, if my pressure had been low before the procedure, and then I lost all that blood… the outcome would have been worse than it was.
To be fare, the people in the radiology department were very kind and helpful and I have no complaints about this department. My complaint is about their culture of doing as little for the patient as possible, about being turned away from urgent care for follow up to a surgery done by their surgeons.
I was referred to this group for a specialized procedure, at the time, I did not think I had a choice of which provider I could go to, now I know I do have a choice and I will never go to PAMF again. I urge you all, if you have been referred to this group, ask your primary for a different referral.

next time I will read Unilocal first as they have so many bad reviews here… and I love the reply excuses for it. Not one sorry in the bunch. Typical when your so full of yourself.
I would never bring a child to this place again. After waiting for 2 hours this doctor basically did nothing. My son had a very bad ear infection and cold. This doctor laughed in his face stating not only would he not recommend treatment but «what an expensive visit this was going to be. WHO DOES THAT… He really seemed to enjoy bragging about how expensive this visit was going to be. Needless to say we ended up at urgent care and getting grade a treatment with a great price compared to what they billed us.
Who laughs in a sick kids face while they are in pain. I called to complain and no one ever called me back…

Dr Suzy Nassralla is a competent physician. I give her 5 STARS. But if you don’t want to take a drug, there are other alternatives, like Peoples Integrative Medicine in Capitola.
The problem is the long drawn out recording you have to listen to before you are allowed to choose where you need to get connected. The message is recorded as if we are a bunch of idiots! We can’t by-​pass the annoying «adult» telling us «children» who we just called and what to do next.
My second grip is the lack of privacy. I don’t want the entire office/​other patients hearing my name, address, age, & why I’m there.
My third grip is when a need arises to contact the doctor. The front reception ask WHY you are calling, and asking to be SPECIFIC. Did the front desk take an oath to maintain patients privacy? Why should I tell them my personal symptoms? Just have the doctor call me. It’s none of your business why!
I want my medical business to stay between me and my physician. Not the front desk clerks or the other patients waiting in the room.

RE: DOCTOR NICOLE SUDDUTH
All MD’s are super busy now, but Dr. Sudduth in SCruz PAMF has given me extreme personal care and support. She listens well, refers whenever it’s called for, responds to email, follows up, really goes the extra mile to provide great service and I, for one, am extremely glad my friend recommended her a few years ago. I couldn’t be more pleased.

I am utterly PISSED OFF and appalled at the urgent care department right now!!! In the past they’ve been decent, mostly nice «doctors» and nurses but NOT TODAY! Yesterday I went in for major tooth pain, I know they aren’t dentists but on a Saturday the only other choice would be Dominican ER or doc in a box and F*** THEM! I got antibiotics and some «trumped up» Tylenol basically, but didn’t know it until it was past 9 and they were already closed. I realize now I should’ve asked what they were going to prescribe me but shit, I have an infection in my mouth, have been unfortunate enough to have this kind of thing in the past. I’m fairly sure most people find tooth pain to be one of the worst, that doesn’t have to do with say a gun shot or a stabbing or giving birth, but as I have yet to experience any of those, tooth pain is the worst in my opinion so I expected some goddamn relief! That’s their one and only job! Helloooo… URGENT. CARE.
Anyhoo– I didn’t get any sleep last night or today so my husband calls and asks if they can prescribe me something a bit stronger. They say they have to ask a dr but they’ll get back to him. SIX F’ING TIMES WE CALLED, I would’ve gone in but I already paid the co pay and wasted precious money on a crap rx so I really couldn’t waste any extra money to go back in. My husband finally went back since no one bothered to call me back, to speak with a supposed «DOCTOR» and he wouldn’t even bother to come out and speak to him! THEY DO NOT GIVE A SHIT! The receptionist wouldn’t even give my husband the dr or the nurse practitioner’s name and she just kept repeating that they would have to see me again because this dr wasn’t the one who saw me YESTERDAY, except it was already past 9 so they wouldn’t be able to see me. So thanks a lot a-​holes. I’m soo looking forward to another sleepless night.

I wish there was a way to break PAMF out into the individual departments, because they vary so considerably.
Aptos office and Dr. Nassralla are GREAT! Love them.
Physical therapy office in Santa Cruz sucked. What a waste of time. They didn’t examine me or touch me at all, just gave me a few exercises to do at home. Sessions consisted of watching me repeat the same exercises in front of them. Once they hooked me up to electrical probes for 15 minutes, which didn’t have any effect I could detect. The whole experience seemed designed to discourage you from coming back.

OK — I admit this is a rant. But it is merited and not made without careful thought. They need to shape up and maybe this will wake management up (and based on the other reviews I am not the only one that feels this way). Here goes…
Consistently horrible customer service (sometimes rude and disrespectful) and follow-​up care. Call backs that never happen, understaffing, long waits, etc. Really. This is not based on one or two visits but numerous visits over last 7 years (two or three visits per year). And no accountability. God help us, the local community and customers/​patients who need care and have no other choices but this place. Maybe I will use Unilocal to find some quality medical tourism destinations. I’d probably get better care in a 3^rd world country. At least I’d be treated better and pay less for the same eventual outcome.

Again, the most horrendous billing, payment, and customer service experience! I have been trying to resolve a payment plan for over a month, talked to five PAMF employees, emailed customer service several times, given wrong information, wrong phones numbers, etc., etc., etc. Am I expecting too much for someone to actually read my emails, to verify information, etc. Is everyone on the bong there? Or do they hire previous employees of the DMV, Social Security and the Post Office?
Here are some sites referring to Sutter’s (PAMF’s parent company) «under the counter» business practices:
Please read the following for the long saga of my very negative experiences with PAMF.

Been going here since it was Santa Cruz Medical Clinic some 5 – 7 years back. Dr. Tam Holbert was awesome then and he is still there now.
This week I received excellent care, as I always did before. The doctor and PA’s (physicians assistant?) identified my very large kidney stone, got all my x-​rays done, came out to the waiting room a couple of times to keep me posted on what they were waiting for, we’re courteous, funny, and just plain fabulous. When the wait was unusually long they called up other clinics and announced to all that another location only had a 15 minute wait which then cleared out some folks which meant I only had to wait a short time. Nice!
Insurance was taken, processed, verified and I only paid $ 15 for the office visit. Pain meds only $ 4 elsewhere.
On top of it, they squeezed me into x-​rays, and because I was not feeling any pain (my stone is so big it is not moving, so NO pain) they got me an appointment for the very next day with a very highly recommended urologist who I already love: Dr. Joseph Franks. They would have taken me right into surgery if I was in pain but I wanted to wait and plan it into my schedule (come on, it is surgery… so I do want to plan being cut open). They gave me my drug of choice, coached me on navigating my new town (I needed a new primary doctor, I needed everything coming back to town after 5 years away) and simply saw to all my needs.
I can’t say enough good things about Palo Alto Medical Clinic.
(The local hospital ER has misdiagnosed me, and I just do not go anywhere else but Palo Alto Medical Clinic for urgent care.)

This review is for Dr Kim and Dr Hong’s office in the Allergy department. I had an allergy test done and now I am in the process of getting weekly shots. Jessica at the front desk is super friendly. Dr Kim and Dr Hong are very personable and made me feel very comfortable. I was also super happy by the RN Mary, she too was friendly and readily available.
Overall, to be happy with someone that stabs you with shots weekly is a big deal to me. They go above and beyond.
**Also, the main picture is of the other office.