UCSD La Jolla Emergency Department

I came to the Emergency Room with an appendicitis scare, after having been seen by an incompetent doctor at the Urgent Care I went to in La Jolla. I waited an hour before I was given a «room» (it is a room, but instead of keeping the sliding doors closed, a curtain is drawn for privacy), and then I was given a gown and a bed to wait in. The doctor I saw in the ER was a lot more helpful and direct than the one at Urgent Care, so after he left I just had to wait for my CT scan — I had to drink a lot of water, including contrast, to be ready for the CT. I was told by the nurse to drink it quickly, and the quicker I’d drink it the faster I could go for the scan, but I was treated rudely and impatiently by the front desk nurse when I had to page to be picked back up for the scan. After the scan, during which my interactions with the Radiology techs were pleasant, I waited another couple of hours to hear that I was fine, and I could go. I paid my co-​pay and was on my way.
My biggest complaint and the thing that stuck with me after the visit was how the payment situation was handled. After I had changed into my gown and had my blood drawn (from the arm of my dominant hand), the front desk person came into my room with a bunch of paperwork asking me to sign things and asking how I’d like to pay. I was in somewhat of disbelief — I was alone, scared, vulnerable and couldn’t even bend my arm with which I’d sign papers, but here she was. I get that they need to get their payment, but I feel like it could have been handled in a much more respectful manner. I had to ask her to leave and just handled the payment at the end.
On the positive side, there was TV in the room, and one of the front desk attendants was kind enough to find me a charger for my phone. I had no idea when I started my day that I’d be in the ER, so I was unprepared. I spent a total of 5 and a half hours there, and I’m grateful it wasn’t longer.

Arrived on a Saturday afternoon because my wife was experiencing some extreme pain. As expected there was a wait until we were able to get back into a bed and be seen. We chose to come to UCSD because we have not been happy with the care at another local hospital for the same issue. When we explained the situation to the UCSD staff they were very caring and concerned. While they were able to help with the pain, they were also able to come up with a preliminary cause and get us referred to a specialist for follow up. This is more than the previous facility was able to do over the last month. We are grateful for the staff at UCSD and getting us referred in the right direction

I came here around 2am with a fever. They had beds available, but unfortunately six ambulances came in that time so the wait to get a bed for a non-​life threatening situation (or at least one where you were still able to sit up and walk) was about 2 hours for me.
Despite this unusually long wait time, the doctor and nurse that took care of me were wonderful. They both listened to me and tests came back fast. My nurse, named Sean, got my IV in on the first try and they immediately started the fluids I needed. After I had been treated Dr. Lasoff gave me the option of being hospitalized or going home with meds. I felt fine to go home, so they quickly discharged me with a prescription after I told them what had worked well in the past. I highly recommend this ER for the care that I received from the nurse and doctor.

I highly recommend this emergency department. The staff and nurses were uplifting and supportive. They gave me juice, water, and crackers while I was waiting for the medication to take effect. Not many people would say this about a hospital but it was an excellent experience. If anyone else is supported by the hospital, make sure that you also leave a nice review.
I would like to express one criticism though. I asked the nurse’s desk if I could borrow a bible while there but they said that they did not have any in the department.

I never imagined an emergency room would deny someone life-​saving medicine under any circumstance, but this ER did to me. I take medicine everyday which I depend on to survive. It’s pretty much as important to me as oxygen. I literally can’t go without it for a day or I get very sick.
I could go into to all the details of the complicated circumstances that made the ER doctor refuse to help me, but it would fill up a few pages so I’m not going to go there. I just want readers to understand one thing; whatever the circumstances were, my life depends on that medicine, which I have needed for my survival since 2011. The ER doctors refused to help me by giving me even one dose, I left that night not knowing if I was going to live or die the next day.
I survived the ordeal because I found a nearby ER in Escondido where they were willing to help me when I really needed it. I thank them, truly.
Take Home Message:
This ER values Hospital Policy more than a human life. Thanks for caring Thornton. I won’t be back, even if my life depends on it.