Dr. Conlin is friendly, professional and listens to patients. The prep really is the worst part of…read morecolonoscopy procedure. When you meet him, he will put you at ease and will explain everything. Colon cancer is preventable. Just do it!

Saw Dr Conlin for esophageal spasms. He was very knowledgeable in explaining the handful of reasons…read morewhy this was happening and what treatment could look like but understandably wanted an endoscopy to see what was going on. Everything was kind and copacetic until scheduling the endoscopy. I called back to ask just a ballpark amount for this procedure since I didn't yet meet my deductible. Front office demeanor completely changed and I was made to feel that I was asking something offensive. In a series of calls I was yelled at and given lectures on how American insurance works, told "that's not how this works", told that my insurance company would never provide me something like this and nor would they, told I need to call the facility/an anesthesia contracted company/pathologists/a lab on my own, that I needed to somehow know every CPT code they might use (which I got sooner from google than them), tax ID codes to the facilities, etc. What I was never given was a ballpark price. I was asking a rough guess. Not for full accounting charts and graphs. I had no idea if this costs $1000, $5k, $10k. Never got a single clear answer from Dr Conlin's office and they refused to tell me even what their doctors fee was so I could somewhat gauge that portion (saying "what we charge depends on your insurance") Ultimately it was my insurance co that said the average out of pocket cost was $1700-2750 for this area, but Sutter affiliates had higher than average charges compared to other hospitals for this. My gut told me not to go here, but I needed this issue looked at. My endoscopy appt was made for 9am, but the appt reminder calls I received all said to show up at 6am for a 7am procedure time. NBD. Arrived at 6am and presented my Covid test but they said they would not accept a rapid Binax test (the type of Covid test was never clarified prior and this is what the county hospital and SF dept of health use in urgent care). They wanted me to pay to get another rapid test next door. Thanked them for their time and told them this was all the signs I needed to not go here. I felt I could trust Dr Conlin himself but did not have a positive experience here due to the scheduling and front office experience, and distrust of the obscure billing practices under the Sutter umbrella. I unfortunately would not recommend. Ultimately went with another endoscopy center that was more kind and immediately helpful with this info.

My left knee needed replacement. I had a right knee replacement a couple years earlier, however…read morethat wonderful surgeon retired so this time I chose Dr. Barry. I have had an epically fantastic experience. Everyone involved has been professional, accessible & on schedule for appointments & any follow-up inquiries I had. I live in Marin so after the first appointment in SF, all other care, including the surgery occurred in Marin. Having had a prior replacement, which was relatively easy for me, I knew what to expect. If that was easy, this has been a breeze. I was standing without holding onto anything immediately after surgery. No trouble sleeping all night in a comfortable position. Followed all PT exercises as recommended. Now, at the 4-month mark I can walk 4-5 miles a day with no stiffness or pain & I'm walking up/down stairs the right way. Both of those took 7 months last time. I am extremely pleased. Highly recommend Dr. Barry. He's an excellent surgeon.

I have been seen there several times for both my shoulders and knees. I first met Dr. Ellie…read moreLaRoque, who put me at complete ease. She is compassionate, knowledgeable, skilled, listens and has top quality advice for guiding people through the process of understanding what their diagnosis is and what that means in practical terms. For me, it meant a reverse shoulder replacement and two complete knee replacement surgeries. She listened to my questions and the order of the surgeries, explained her thoughts and recommendations. I left with a plan. My confidence in her abilities was high. My husband subsequently had several major heart problems that required surgeries and long stretches in the hospital. It was over 12 months before I could get back to the plan Dr. LaRoque had established. I had been moving a man who weighed more than twice my body weight. I was in worse shape. She didn't judge or say anything other than that she understood. She ordered new tests and offered to meet via video call so I could be home caring for my husband. I had the tests done and she spoke with the surgeons she thought would be best for my surgeries. I just completed the reverse shoulder replacement surgery and am very pleased. I am going to meet with the knee replacement specialist soon. I couldn't be happier. I love that you get x-rays upon arrival, ultrasounds as required, and that the after visit summary is very helpful and reliable.

Saw Dr. Lang due to a pain on my hand. Did an excellent job. Assessed the pain. Provided options…read more We decided on one and we'll see how it goes.

My primary doctor recommended him. I told her I was not happy with him the first time I saw him…read more Dr. Lang suggested surgery on my arm. I knew I only needed acupuncture. This is second time seeing him for my hand I was not happy. Big mistake to see him again. He didn't seem concerned. His staff they are not organized and never return calls or emails. The manager and his assistant are very unprofessional. They shouldn't be working in a medical field. I'll never go back to him!

Yesterday was my first and last appointment with Dr. Ye and SF Surgical Medical Group. I showed up…read more15 minutes early for my 2:30 pm appointment, per office policy. At 3:45 pm, I was still sitting in the lobby. I waited over 90 minutes and still wasn't in an exam room! When I checked in for my appointment, the team working the front desk didn't mention anything about Dr. Ye running late. After waiting 45 minutes, I told the front desk team that I had a babysitter watching my baby and that I needed to leave by 3:45 pm to relieve the babysitter (You would think allowing 75 minutes for a doctors appointment would be reasonable). After that, I received zero updates from the team. At 3:45 pm, when I told them I was leaving, they offered to reschedule me for a different doctor on a different day. Since this was my first visit, I asked if these long waits were typical and if patients were ever informed when the wait would be so long. It turns out these long waits are in fact typical at SF Surgical Group and there is no effort made to inform patients when doctors are running behind schedule. Not only did I pay a babysitter $60 to watch my baby while I sat in a waiting room for almost 2 hours, I was charged a $30 co-pay when I never even saw an exam room, let alone a doctor. I understand doctors get backed up and I am fine waiting, within reason. However it is rude and unprofessional to keep patients waiting this long with zero communication or consideration. I will be seeking care elsewhere.

Waited for 1.5 hour and seen for 1 minute. Dr Yee checked me very aggressively with great pain but…read moreno any notice before that to have me get prepared. After checking for a few seconds he asked me to come back in one month. While I am thinking about my questions he is holding the door and eager to go. I understand he is busy but I have seen most doctors taking their time to talk to people to get people relaxed, warn me the next thing he/she will do will hurt or uncomfortable, and stay for as many questions as I have. Unfortunately Dr Yee didn't do any of that. So I decided to cancel my next appointment.

@@My Journey With Knee Pain -- And an Unexpected Alternative to Knee Replacement…read more Good morning, everyone. I wanted to share my personal journey with knee pain and the treatments I've tried, in hopes it might help someone going through the same thing. The Beginning of My Knee Pain About 10 years ago, I began experiencing serious knee pain. I'm now 67, so it wasn't exactly a surprise, but it was still life-changing. My orthopedic surgeon diagnosed me with bone-on-bone arthritis and recommended a knee replacement. Instead, I started with cortisone injections every three months. For years, those shots worked like magic. Along with physical therapy, knee braces, topical creams, and supportive orthopedic shoes, I was able to manage the pain and live my life. When the Injections Stopped Working Unfortunately, this year everything changed. The cortisone injections only gave me mild relief, and the pain returned long before I could get the next one. I tried: * Hyaluronic acid injections - no improvement * PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections - mild relief for about a month By June, my surgeon and I agreed it was time for knee replacement surgery. He also advised me to stop cortisone injections to reduce surgical risks. I scheduled the procedure and began preparing. A Setback I Never Expected Around this time, I joined this online knee replacement group for support -- but reading story after story of months-long pain and slow recoveries honestly scared me. Still, my pain was unbearable, so I was ready to proceed. Then, the unthinkable happened. I fell off a ladder and suffered a severe injury to my right leg -- the same one scheduled for surgery. I had an 8-inch skin tear, all the way to the bone. My surgeon immediately canceled my surgery, saying I'd need to wait at least a year for the skin to fully heal. The worst part? No more cortisone shots, ever. My skin was now too thin, and the risk was too high. My daily pain level was a 7 or 8 out of 10. I couldn't sleep, walking was torture, and my quality of life plummeted. Searching for Another Option Desperate for relief, I kept researching and came across Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE) -- a procedure that blocks inflammation by targeting the tiny arteries around the knee. I asked about it on social media, and a few people shared they had tried it years ago but only got short-term relief. However, the procedure recently received FDA approval, so I decided it was worth investigating. I contacted the San Francisco Vein and Vascular Institute, and Dr. Nathanson was incredibly helpful. After discussing my situation, he encouraged me to give it a try. The Procedure On Monday, I went in for my GAE procedure. The facility was beautiful, the staff welcoming, and the equipment state-of-the-art. The entire procedure took less than an hour. I limped in with a cane... and walked out normally just a few hours later. No sharp pain -- only a dull ache. Over the next couple of days, I experienced mild soreness when standing, but it was nothing compared to before. Today, three days after the procedure, I am 99% pain-free -- no pain medication, not even Tylenol. Looking Back What I once saw as a disaster -- my fall -- turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It forced me to seek an alternative to knee replacement, and I am so grateful I did. I know GAE may not be permanent, but it can be repeated if needed, and by then, there may be even more options available. Today, I am deeply thankful to Dr. Nathanson and the San Francisco Vein and Vascular Institute for giving me my mobility and my life back. If you're struggling with knee pain and looking for alternatives, it may be worth exploring GAE. I'll continue to update my journey in the weeks ahead. Good luck everyone.

The SF Vein and Vascular team have been excellent from start to finish. Scheduling, billing, and…read morethe care team are professional, caring, and supportive. Dr. Nathanson performed three procedures for me with great skill and an excellent bedside manner. I experienced no pain, and my recovery was almost immediate with no downtime. The Bay Area has many options for vein care, but in my opinion, this team is the best. I traveled 90 miles for my appointments, and it was well worth it. The facility is easy to find, modern, and welcoming. I highly recommend SF Vein and Vascular.

I never thought I would need a neurosurgeon, let along at the age of 35. Ironically, I was…read morescheduled to take a week of vacation because I was planning my to go to Disney Land and finally explore the new Star Wars Land and Tiana's Bayou adventure. Instead, I needed a neurosurgeon. See, I use my hands for my job and I am hypermobile. I think this makes me prone to literally being being out of shape, and apparently there is a name for this rare, but somewhat-common-in-Koreans, arthritis: OPLL. Well, I've had neck pain pretty much my whole adult life and constant cervicogenic headaches. I've learned how to maintain myself for the most part but on August 16, 2024, I woke up and couldn't really lift my right arm. It kinda hung there limply by my side, but I just thought my shoulder must be exceptionally stiff from being overworked. I reverted to my routine of resting, stretching and applying heat and taking NSAIDs. It marginally got better but five days later at work, I couldn't lift my arm at all and had to use my left hand to keep my right arm up at work. So I went to the Parnassus ER, where (although I was gaslit by a very grumpy nurse who is burned out and I just appreciate showed up to her thankless job in the ER so people like me could get care) the triaging NP diagnosed my sudden neuro weakness and consulted neurosurgery. As you can tell from the photos, my spinal cord was being squished by a herniated disc at C5/C6. For YEARS, I've been having chronic pain and increased neurological deficits, just thinking I was aging and becoming middle aged. After a course of medrol and a new C5/C6 artificial disc replacement, I have a new lease on life. New neck, new life! I am so appreciative to Dr. Tan and his team for explaining my condition (as thoroughly as neurosurgeon can lol) and treating it promptly. He took my job into account, as well as my personal health, and he chose the best route for me - which was to remove the destroyed disc and replace it at that one level minimally evasively but not fusing the posterior/back part of that neck that had OPLL arthritis. Although Dr Tan warned me I'd still have posterior pain since he went in anteriorly and didn't correct the posterior compression, I got much better sensation in that part of my neck so the posterior compression is actually a lot better now too with surgery, PT, personal training and strict personal ergonomic adherence. I just had my one year follow up with Dr Tan's clinical fellow, and I really appreciated the explanation and care. I am so grateful to UCSF ER, neurosurgery, and peri/surgical teams taking care of me. From the house staff who shared with me how she lost her sense of smell that devastated her when she was an aspiring cook, to the resident who was working over 24 hours and still treated me with dignity and respect - I will never forget the simple kindness afforded to me in the hardest of times. That was the worst night of my life, but I wouldn't have wanted to have it anywhere else but at UCSF.

Dr Lee Tan Excellent surgeon, great bedside manner, and…read moreknowledgeable. I had visited another doctor (orthopedic) in Walnut Creek that told me my lumbar was fine, not to worry. I couldn't lay flat on my back for more than 10 seconds. Dr Tan looked at my MRI and said I needed surgery. I am 2 months out from a L3 to S1 spinal fusion. No complications, very good instructions from Dr Tan and his office staff, and wonderful follow up. I felt looked after. Highly recommend. But most importantly, my back pain I've had for 3+ years is gone. Thank you Dr Tan and your staff.

My Brother is suffering with cancer and was scheduled for immunotherapy for three weeks finally the…read moreday comes he goes in waits an hour only to be told there is no authorization he is a military vet served 18 years it's like no body is in a hurry to save a life pretty sad

I would give 5 star if all the nurses are great and nice as the staff at the information/front…read morearea. The care and treatment with my client is excellent but not the caregiver/s. Some nurses (not all) aren't friendly and when you ask, yes they will answer but won't even smile back (I feel like they are mad)for reason I don't know. I feel downgraded for the second time. I hope there's a different branch were I can take my client and be treated kindly.. We went to the one in San mateo(UCSF) de Anza blvrd.

I've been going to Dr. Nordlicht for years and he's great. Always cheerful, takes my medical…read moreconcerns seriously and I enjoy our friendly banter.

Dr. Nordlicht is so kind. He listen and cares. He also has been a md for a long time and has…read moreexcellent assessment skills. I like the location of his office across the hospital and it is easy to make an appt with him on the sutter application. He helps with referrals and other needs when asked :) highly recommend Dr nordlicht