Outpatient Surgery Center of La Jolla

Top notch! The caring staff and extra touches made my experience here so much more comfortable. The nursing staff made sure I knew they were available to answer any questions. Highly recommended for outpatient surgery.

Scripps ER sent me here after being taken in by ambulance. I waited 2 hours for my appointment with Dr. Newsome, I could not sit or stand without severe pain and they had no wheelchair. His staff was amazing, they were kind enough to get me approval for an emergency epidural, however, at the surgery center, I was stuck in a room and had it not been for my partner, I would not have known it was time to leave, No follow up care instructions, no follow up with Dr. Newsome, nothing, NADA. My partner finally went and asked when we were going to see the Dr. and they said he left for the weekend.

Just went here recently for surgery on a broken wrist on June 12^th, 2015. When going into surgery at 6am, you expect to be treated nicely as it is already scary to be going into surgery. Upon arrival, we were rudely informed that they do not validate parking so we would be responsible for paying for 4 – 5 hours of parking while I was in surgery. My couple thousand dollar surgery wouldn’t be covering the $ 10 parking expense. Good to know. The admin at the desk was extremely rude to my mother and I as soon as we arrived. Then, in the waiting room, i met a woman who mentioned she had the same surgery done 10 weeks ago that I was about to get. She mentioned she still doesn’t have very good functionality in her wrist. Now, I’m even more nervous as I was told I’d be back to normal in 5 weeks. A girl comes into the waiting room and calls myself and another patient back. I believe her name was Maria or something like that. She was awful to my mom and I. She placed the other patient in a room on the way to where she was taking me. She snapped at us when we followed her to that room as «we should have known to stay in the hallway». When I asked a question about the surgery, she said «u can ask questions later. we have a schedule we need to stick to so i need to get you through right now» as she was weighing me on the scale. She was completely unpardonable and so abrasive, I could not believe it. She made me feel as though I was just another patient and that they could truly care less about my questions before they put me under. Unbelievable! At this point, with all 3 instances, I was rethinking the entire surgery. When going into surgery, you want to feel comfortable and feel like you are in good hands… not be treated like you are less of a person. I was so uncomfortable with moving forward with surgery, I packed up my bags and began to walk out, when my doctor ran over to ask what was wrong. I told him i’m rethinking this and that i don’t feel comfortable. He calmed me down, assured me I was in good hands with him and that everything was going to be fine. I decided to move forward with the surgery as my Dr, nurses and anesthesiologist were very nice. However, i will NEVER return. To have a top notch facility in La jolla have unfriendly/​rude people responsible for the first impression is unacceptable. i highly recommend this facility take a look at their staff. It was all very unprofessional.

I have had outpatient surgery here twice — August 2014 and December 2014. Both pretty invasive (hardware removal from my arms) but they took really good care of me. Dr. David Levine is an awesome anesthesiologist — if you can request him, do it! And Yogita can place an IV like no one else. Parking can get a little pricey ($ 9 each time I’ve been) but hey, it’s in *La Jolla* of all places!
Their patient intake is all online, which I really like — you don’t have to spend an hour on the phone awkwardly divulging all that info to someone you’ve never met.
Overall it’s a great outpatient surgery center. I’ve only been to one other, so I don’t have a lot to compare to, but they’ve always taken good care of me – and I’ve gotten a juice box upon waking from anesthesia on both visits! Can’t beat that.

I had surgery here in July 2013, and had a really good experience. The staff was friendly and professional, and did their best to make me feel at ease. The anesthesiologist was one of the kindest people I’ve met in a surgery center (very personable), and the aftercare nurse was terrific! I felt safe and well taken care of, which is how you want to feel when being operated on. I would highly recommend this place!

Had an epidural here today and was appalled at the lack of interest in me by first staff person after I was admitted. It was freezing and no offer of blankets etc. Never saw person again after they asked me to change. Staff more interested in each other than patients. Also pales in comparison to Mission Valley Surgical center

I have returned for another surgery and the care was outstanding! I was treated with the up most respect and felt like I was the only person there. The front desk receptionist was friendly and had a genuine smile on her face. My nurses in pre-​op & recovery were compassionate, kept me comfortable & updated on how I was doing. My anesthesiologist was AWESOME! No puking and woke up quickly. My surgeon Amanda Gosman, MD A+++++. I would recommend this surgery center to anyone. They are the best!

I had a very good experience with surgery at this center. But i see some other people did not, so it may depend on your surgeon. However, in reading Kat B’s review, in which she describes incredibly insensitive and arrogant behavior by Dr. Sharon Dreeban, of Food MD in La Jolla next to this surgery center, I was not in the least bit surprised, as I had the same type of experience with her when i was her patient of a problem with a fracture in my right foot. Steer clear, guys.

I recently had my tonsillectomy here, and the folks at this facility were very helpful in my overall experience. The place itself has a calming atmosphere, it’s clean and quiet as well. Staff is friendly at front desk and nurses/​surgical assistants were also nice and helpful. My only real complaint was that my procedure was about 45 minutes late, so the sitting around and waiting just added to my apprehension about what was about to happen. They need to work on that, for sure. Post surgery, the care from my nurse (name escapes me because I was in a fog, but she was I think East Indian and on 2÷9÷11 was very pregnant) was exceptional. Also, a couple days after my surgery, they called to check on me, two days in a row. At any rate, the care I received here was good and I’d recommend it for an outpatient procedure.

Ladies nice at front desk. Was told to be there at 10:30am, my appointment was at 10:45am. Informed that the person in front of me has been waiting 46 minutes PAST their scheduled appointment time!!! UNBELIEVABLE! Doctor came in — NO bedside manner AT ALL. Asked me a couple of questions then left the room for 20+ minutes to «talk to the radiologist». I finally went into the hall to see if I had been forgotten because I could hear the doctor seeing all the other patients! I was told that she had been waiting for the radiologist to call back — oh BTW and he just did! So she comes back in and tells me nothings is wrong with my foot and that I’ll need some other painful test, and then out she walks! Doesn’t ask me if I have any questions for her or anything! The back office young lady was also unfriendly — in fact I felt pretty rude. When I asked her a question about the next step she acted like I didn’t need any more info then the doctor gave me — which was ZIP!!!
I ended up spending two hours at this office! WASTE OF TIME!!!

Although I had a great experience preop and in the OR (due to having a great surgeon) and pretty good in the recovery room, I am very unhappy that my insurance was charged a hefty $ 9,500.00 for an additional surgery. I was a self pay lap band and paid $ 8,500 to surgery center up front. and $ 6,500 to my surgeon. Gave them my insurance card and during my procedure my surgeon repaired a hiatal hernia (he does as a courtesy and I didn’t even know I had a hernia.) I receive a notice from my insurance company that they just got a bill for «supplies» to the tune of $ 9,500! from the surgery center. Repair was done on my prepaid OR watch in the same incision as my lapband and they are trying to claim it as a whole other surgery! Have spoken with three different people regarding this matter and get the same answer «we do global billing» refuse to give me an itemization because there isn’t one and they didn’t provide anything. Billed me based on the OR report stating my surgeon repaired something while placing my lap band.

Worst experience of my life. After undergoing an Anterior Cervical Fusion. Upon waking after the operation, I was in the most severe pain ever. It took the nurse 4.5 hours to bring the pain down. They were extremely stingy on the morphine (the anesthesiologist was nowhere to be found).
They insisted that I plan to spend the night as my level of pain was extraordinary due to insufficient pain meds administered directly after the surgery. I finally relented a few hours later and then was told that there were no rooms left. If I was to spend the night, it would be in the surgical recovery room, surrounded by other strangers in pain.
After about 5 hours, my asthma was acting up and my inhaler was in my purse directly behind my bed. I asked a lady at the counter, not more than 5 steps away from me, if she would hand me my purse. She rudely refused stating that she would have one of the nurses do it when they have time. At this point, my lungs were tightening up and I was struggling to breathe. The woman behind the counter five feet away from me, continued to work on her paperwork and ignored my labored breathing.
5 excruciating minutes later, a nurse came over and handed me the purse. I found out later that the lady behind the counter was a surgeon, Dr. Sharon Dreeben. Nice bedside manner there, doc!
9 hours after surgery, my boyfriend was on his way to pick me up, I had asked the nurse on duty to help me change into my clothes. She held me up from dressing as she was busy with other patients, I begged her not to let my boyfriend in until I was properly dressed. She assured me she would not. 3 minutes later a nurse led my boyfriend into the surgery recovery room, I was still undressed and extremely embarrassed.
If you have a choice, this should not be the center you choose.

I was sent here from my insurance carrier for minor ortho surgery. I was impressed by the quality of care and by the professionalism of the staff. Dr. Enass Rickards is a top-​notch Orthopaedic Hand Specialist who performs hand surgery at this clinic. This facility is a 23 hour stay surgery center for outpatient surgery. I would highly recommend Dr. Rickards for any hand surgery. Added bonus is that there is a Starbuck’s right across the street.