UC San Diego Health Emergency Department (ER) - La Jolla - La Jolla, California

Kimberly C.

Today was the worst experience that I’ve ever had in any emergency room. I brought my cousin to this location because he has signs of pneumonia and couldnt breathe and he has a heart condition. We entered the emergency room and there was no place to sit in the waiting room. It was completely full. We waited 4 hours outside in the cold because there was no room to sit inside. they had a pile of blankets near the reception area so I was able to wrap my cousin up in because it was so cold. He did get a chest x-ray and bloodwork done after waiting 2 hours but unfortunately he never saw a doctor after waiting 4 hours and the waitingroom was still packed when we left! I would highly recommend choosing a different emergency room when you have an urgent medical condition. So disappointing from a reputable hospital.

A G.

Where do I start... I spent 4 hours in the waiting room, and then I was put on a gurney in the hallway for a day surrounded by people with all kinds of infection. All this while they know (it is on my chart and I reminded them) I have a weakened immune system! There is no secluded waiting area for immune-compromised patients, nor do they have provision to move the patient in the secluded area once admitted to the ER. On top of that they bring raw salad and fruits in meals and tell me I am not allowed to order meals. But then at least the hospital should be mindful about what meals they bring me. They brought me a raw leafy salad prepared two days ago which my transplant team had said I shouldn't eat due to infection concerns. They did the same thing for all three meals. I kept telling the nurse to pass this message to the nutrition but the nutrition just doesn't care. Attaching photos for proof of the hypocrisy going on.

AbdullahA

The worst healthcare experience I’ve ever had. I came in to the ER with Covid symptoms and a TIGHT chest. To the point where I was dizzy and couldn’t catch a breath. The nurse did a COVID test and said the results will be out shortly. I sat in the waiting room by myself(the only person waiting) for an hour and a half for COVID results, a patient came in after me, and got seen within 5 minutes. This upset me as I have been waiting for longer than anybody. When I asked to speak to the nurse, this unprofessional rude nurse proceeds to tell me my oxygen level is 98%, and that “You’re breathing fine”. Her exact words. I was dumbfounded I’ve never seen a healthcare “professional”(she was far from it), tell a patient how they’re supposed to feel. In the moment when I need assistance and feel pain, this nurse was downplaying how I feel which is not healthcare standards at all. She needs to be reprimanded and have to take courses on how to better deal with patients instead of telling them what they’re feeling is a lie. Ridiculous

Mehmet K.

I recently visited UC SD Hospital, and I had an excellent experience. the staff was warm, welcoming, and highly professional. The facility was clean and well organized,
The medical team was professional and respectful. They made sure all our questions were answered and ensured we were comfortable throughout the process.
Special mention goes to 👍Amanda Bradshaw and Payal Patel 👍for their exceptional service and dedication. Their kindness and expertise made our day. My experience exceeded expectations, and I’m truly grateful for the outstanding care I received.

Anne N.

Small waiting room that’s completely full and no extra seating. Even if you just go outside for fresh air you have to go through security again — each time! People are eating smelly food in the waiting room. Everyone is crammed together with no regard for contagious disease.

The ED itself is filthy, too small and disorganized. Plan on being on a gurney in the hall for days if you’re that lucky, otherwise you might get one of those recliner chairs in the hall situated way out of sight.

The nursing is understaffed and overworked. They didn’t have hypoallergenic IV kits so in my case I developed a serious itchy rash despite my allergy to the adhesive clearly stated in my chart.

You have to wait in line to use the bathroom.

I’m sorely disappointed with the doctors who make decisions about your condition based on textbooks instead of actually examining you and listening to you or your loved one.

It seems more like an inner-city, tier 3 ER than the premier facility they make it out to be.

Finally, their bot will automatically post the same “we’re sorry” nonsense with a phone number to an unattended line.

Alessandra T.

I wanted to put a positive review to balance all the negative reviews I have seen here. We have unfortunately had to bring our elderly mother here several times over the years, and though the emergency room always pretty much sucks (because when you are sick enough to be there things are bad), the care here is very good. There is a mix of caring sympathetic informative doctors, nurses, and techs with others who have poor bedside manner, but the quality of the care is top-notch. Yes, they don’t have enough rooms so there are people in the hallway, but they do their best under crushing workload, and overall it’s the place you want to go when you need an ER in San Diego. Hoping eventually they expand so people don’t have to be treated in front of everyone else, but alas that seems to be the way ERs are.

Lara T.

Horrible. I came with complication after surgery I had at UCSD the week before. Initial triage and blood work was quick. Then I waited 4 hrs for ultrasound. Then I've been waiting for over 3 hrs for a doctor to see me after the tests and counting, hooked on an empty iv. I'm freezing and I'm starved and I feel like they've forgotten me. It's 3am

Morgan A.

Bladder was hemorrhaging and they said they couldn't do anything and discharged me without pain medication or even IV fluids. This place is a joke, and the nurse yelled at me for crying because I was scared about how much I was bleeding.