Surgical Center of San Diego

My surgery went very well and the doctors and nurses were excellent in informing me what to expect during my procedure. Unfortunately, my negative feedback started when I came to the front desk receptionist. They weren’t on the phone but was too busy looking at their computer and didn’t even bother to greet me or acknowledge my presence. The front desk receptionist creates the first and last impressions on patients minds. An efficient and friendly customer care service or staff can make all the difference in creating a comfort level for the patients. The training of the front desk staff lacks in this center, which is where Surgical Center of San Diego will tend to get a negative feedback on their present and future patients. Please train the front desk staff to improve their customer service skills. Remember that the best referral is word of mouth.

I accompanied a friend to this facility for a 15 minute medical procedure. I was to be her backup if she was unable to drive herself home. We arrived a few minutes early, checked in, and waited. After a 30+ minutes my friend asked about the delay and was told it was the center’s «protocol» to schedule the appts an hour b4 a patient is called up … it was an hour and 10 minutes before the pre-​op nurse called her back!
While I have full confidence in the medical staff’s abilities (they are terrific!), I am concerned that there is no appreciation for the value of their patient’s time. Patients have schedules and time constraints too. If a patient arrives on time, then, whenever possible, the patient should be seen and cared for on time!
To have a built-​in «protocol», wasting an hour+ is rude, insulting, disrespectful, etc… Surely they can find a better way! I hope they do, because I’d love to give them a full 5 stars.

Had surgery planned for 7 a.m. Not until 4 p.m., the day before, did the Surgery Center call to inform me that there would a cost of $ 2000 for the Surgery Center due to my deductible not met. Had to cancel my surgery due to not having the money upfront. They did try to break it down for me but still couldn’t come up with money on short notice.

My actual surgery experience was great. My knee surgeon uses the center and everything went really well from pre-​op, through surgery, and into post-​op. The problem I have is with their billing department. After they billed my insurance, I finally got a bill from them saying I was already over 120 days past due. The bill had no return envelope and you can’t pay online. What business in the 21^st century doesn’t send a return envelope with a bill or have a way to pay online? Terrible billing service. I would use them again, if a doctor used them for procedures, but I hope they can improve their billing practices and payment methods.

The center is OK, but they have absolutely horrendous front office. They do not inform you when accepting your insurance before the procedure that you will be stuck with the bill because they apparently do not accept your supplemental coverage. So you go for your procedure thinking that it will be covered in full but it is not the case. And then their billing office refuses to write the balance off asking you to send a letter to the administrator to reconsider.
Clear elder abuse and taking advantage of the patient.

I had to have a couple of procedures here for pregnancies that didn’t go well. The center is super new, clean, and modern. The staff was very friendly, compassionate, and on time. They made me feel very comfortable during a very difficult time.