Kaiser Permanente Rancho Bernardo Medical Offices

I like coming to these KP medical offices because it doesn’t get too busy. There is always plenty of parking. You check in at the main reception area and can go to your department. Don’t forget to use the self check in kiosk if the line is long!
I’ve most recently been going to the OB department. It’s a relatively small waiting area. Doctors and staff in this department are really nice. I’ve always come early to my appointments, but I never get seen early. They’ll either see you on time or maybe even later than your appointment time.
I’ve gone to the lab a few times. I highly recommend that you make an appointment if you can because they will see you right away. If you’re pregnant and need to do a glucose challenge, they will have you drink the liquid while inside the lab drawing area, take the time, and have you wait in the lab waiting area. They then make you knock on the door when it’s time to draw your blood.

We switched to Kaiser Permanente this year, i was little skeptical as with Kaiser we limit our options. But we totally loved it.
Pros:
1. Great service
2. Minimum wait time (Less then 10min, in my experience)
3. Friendly staff
4. Pharmacy inside the office/​hospital, so its much easier to get the medicine.
5. Getting an appointment is easy (If u call early in the morning, u can see doctor the same day)
Cons:
1. Urgent care n Emergency services bit from out place (If u stay in poway, Urgent care is in San Marcos n Emergency is in Escondido)
2. If u go to urgent care often, then u will have to wait n wait n wait.(Its not first come, first serve basis)
3. To get an appointment u have to answer a lot of automated question.

Disclaimer: This review is only in regards to the pharmacy at this location. I have never been to this location to see a doctor or receive any kind of medical care (my kids’ doctor and my doctor are at other locations but this is the closest to where we live so I use this pharmacy).
Dealing with the RB pharmacy is a headache and a half EVERY TIME. I have now decided to have my prescriptions transferred outside of Kaiser because I am so tired of dealing with these idiots.
Actually my family will be switching from Kaiser completely very soon but that’s another story. It’s unfortunate because I love the providers. We love my kids’ pediatrician (Dr. Ng in RSD) and the midwife I saw throughout my recent pregnancy and post partum is awesome (Sonia Halmogean in El Cajon), but my husband and I are just so tired of the Kaiser system and how difficult they make everything.
Anyway, my experience with the Rancho Bernardo Pharmacy is as follows:
1. They gave me medication for my 5 month old son that was 6 months past its expiration date. I didn’t notice at first because they hand wrote a later exp. date on the outside of the box (which was just from Kaiser). When I got home and pulled out the bottle from the manufacturer, I noticed it had a different exp. date (6 months past) stamped right on the front. Then, when I called to ask about it, they basically accused me of lying, assuring me that they checked their stock of that medication and the earliest exp. date they had was still a few months out and that I would have to bring it in to prove it. When I brought it in they apologized and changed it out, but still…
2. Another time I came to pick up the same prescription, they gave me the wrong thing. I went in on a Wednesday, was told that my son’s doctor had put in a prescription slightly different than what we had previously been getting (same name but different mixture basically). Even as she was telling me this, it sounded like he had prescribed the right one, but she kept assuring me that we’d been getting the other one before and to be quite honest, I got confused and just trusted her. She said she would send a message to the doctor to have him change it and that I could come the next day to pick it up. I called the next day just to be sure that the doctor had changed it before I went in and they confirmed. Went in later that day and they gave me the wrong one! I didn’t check closely enough until I got home (I was in a hurry) but sure enough the gave me the other one, not the one we had previously been getting. My husband actually contacted the pediatrician and he A. was quite certain he had put in the correct prescription in the first place, and B. had no knowledge of any note being sent to him from the pharmacy. I’m not sure if he was mistaken about which one he ordered and they just never messaged him to change it or if they switched it themselves, but one way or another they lied to me.
3. Every time I go to pick up the prescription as I’ve mentioned above, they give me a hard time about it and make me feel like a bad parent for giving it to my son. I’ve now had 2 pediatricians tell me that this one is the best option for my son, but every time I go to the pharmacy they try to convince me that this one is not good for kids and I should be getting a different one. The pharmacist even asked me, «Why do you want this one?» in a very rude tone. As if I’m the one writing the prescription! I want this one because it’s the one my son’s doctors ordered for him, if you have a problem with that then take it up with them, not me. Yet, even though they can clearly see the order from the doctor, they always make me sit there and wait while they call the doctor to confirm that it’s ok for me to get this one. According to the 2 pediatricians we’ve dealt with regarding this (my son’s primary and another we saw when these symptoms started and his primary wasn’t available), there is an ongoing battle between doctors and pharmacists over this specific medication; that the pharmacy prefers one but a lot of doctors prefer the other. I find it very unprofessional to belittle a customer though because you don’t agree with the doctor’s choice.
My husband’s theory is that they make more money off of one of them. The one the pharmacy prefers is mixed by them using an adult pill version, crushed up and mixed with a compounding agent (from what I gather… I’m not a pharmacist so I could be slightly off). The one my sons doctors prefer is an infant version that comes pre-​mixed from the manufacturer.
This theory is pure speculation though, just to be fair ;)
4. I called recently to check if the prescription was ready (this was around 10 am) and they told me it would be ready at 3pm. I showed up at 3:45, and was told they were just putting a a label on it and it would just be a couple more minutes. I sat there for another 15 minutes before it was actually ready. That’s quite an intense labeling process…

Kaiser insurance is awful but the staff at this office is very friendly and nice. The doctors are overworked and they look stressed. I had no idea Kaiser insurance was so rude and crude. They have you call a bunch of 800 numbers and give you an attitude like you are bothering them. so either they are overworked and/​or underpaid. I have to wait 6 months to dump Kaiser and can’t wait to do it

Don’t expect to get out in any hurry and it’s not sure to the staff taking their time with you in the room, wait times are long while staff is nice there is no rush here and the X-​ray wait is insanely too long, slow motion here

As a new patient to Kaiser, I give this clinic 5stars for the location, the clinic it self, and for the costumer service/​service. I’m so glad they accept walk-​ins and our Nurse Cheri was very helpful, friendly, and efficient.

–I am new to Kaiser and recently transferred from Scripps. I had coverage with Scripps for 18 years, and the switch to Kaiser insurance has been a culture sock. First, if you want to even book an appointment you get passed around on 1 800 numbers for about a half hour. By the time you get the appointment, you cant even get in for three months. The telephone reps are an absolute disgrace to the medical world. If your are a foreigner and can not speak English, Kaiser will hire you in a heart beat! That fact I am struggling to communicate with someone in English in my OWN country is beyond frustrating! I have been left several messages by these phone reps and each one has called me by a different name and babbled out a message in Spanglish. Before you ask, no, they are not mispronouncing my name, they are calling me by a new name every time. The fact that these people have access to your Social Security number, medical records, and personal information is even scarier!
— As far as this location goes, I have had good and bad service here. The pharmacy is poorly ran and the staff is in need of a major attitude adjustment. ! try to avoid them at all costs. The nurses have been somewhat pleasant here, and the blonde check in nurse is a sweetheart. I have had great service in rheumatology, and the nurses are pleasant and actually care about doing a good job. I am not impressed with the primary nurses and they seem to think they can lecture you on personal matters.
— If you leave messages with Keiser on things you do and DO NOT want to do, they will HARASS you about it. The idiot telephone reps will tell you every time they put a note in your account and it is a LIE, because you will still get calls about whatever they think you need to do. Guess what? if someone does not want to do something they don’t have to! Keep your damn opinions to yourself!
Ether locations have been about the same and I prefer the San Marcos location. They seem the most efficient.
Bottom line: If I could drop Kaiser, I would in a heartbeat and I would run far far away! Unfortunately my insurance has switched permanently to here, because of the CHEAPER RATES. This place is cheap for a reason! If you can get insurance else where, please do! Scripps Hospital is amazing and their doctors are incredible! You also get REAL telephone numbers, that direct you straight to the office. You can book your appointment in ten minutes and get in right away, without arguing with phone operators, who have no clue what they are doing and are absolutly RUDE.

I love this place. I don’t like going to The main Kaiser hospitals. Nurses here are so nice and remember you. My Pediatrician/​Family physician is great. Kids, husband and I love him. He specializes in Pediatrics and internal medicine. So he can see the whole family. If you need a family physician or pediatrician I recommend Dr. Lehman

I have been with kaiser for 6 months and so far, so good. Best part for me is no extra surprise charges like I did with scripps. The doctors that I have seen (Dr Kirtland for myself and hubby, Dr. Cairo for my daughter, and Dr Ezekole for my son) have been on time and receptive to our needs. As an added bonus, I got an age appropriate children’s book and flouride varnish for my kids at each well check.

Okay My new Dr. Ghazi (spelling) and Patty, the nurse are great. They are personable, professional and informative. They really make you feel like they care too.
And the gal who took my bloodwork was great too. She could tell I wasn’t comfortable, made me comfortable and even asked me to tell her if I she was hurting me AND went the extra mile to make sure I didn’t bruise!
In spite of the lameness of the check-​in, but Ill give them a break because it was the guys first day. I’m happy with this provider and hope I can keep them.

Had an appointment on July 29, 2014 for my annual physical. I am a new member of Kaiser and didn’t know the protocol. Went for my appointment and told the doctor that I had experienced severe pain in both my arms and some pressure in my chest the Sunday prior to my appointment on ⁷⁄₂₉. I was never examined the entire physical involved conversation about how I was under stress with a sick in-​law and some conversation regarding panic attacks that I sometimes experienced while driving. Again, no listening to my heart nor any sense of concern with my complaint of pain shooting down my arms. Left my appointment got into my car and felt the same pain in my arms. Yes I should of stopped the car and walked back into the doctors office but thought to myself if the doctor wasn’t concerned I didn’t want to over react. Drove home did some relaxation techniques I learned in yoga. Finally couldn’t take the pain shooting in both arms. I Called the number on my Kaiser card to find out where I should go in the event of an emergency. I was asked some questions and was told that I had a choice of going to Zion or Palomar. I told the rep that Palomar was closer. I was given the address of Palomar on Grand avenue. Got there to find out that It a standby emergency room and not equipped to handle heart attacks. They did however have the echocardiogram and did determine that I am having a Massive Heart Attack (I.e. Widow maker) and was in a facility that equipped to only handle OBYN issues. Now I am put into a ambulance and transported to Palomar. The surgeon there saved my life. I heard him tell the Kaiser rep that they need to have their patients sent to the correct location for emergencies! I am extremely angry and emotionally upset that I could of died and am so appreciative of the staff at Palomar Hospital.
This post has been therapeutic for me because I am so angry that I could of lost my life due to the errors that occurred.

I was able to switch doctors & so far I’m very pleased with Dr. Tseng. He was the first doctor there that provided me with drugs & a healing plan with proper referrals. I’m so glad I was able to switch doctors with little difficulty & have been back for a positive follow up.
I’m thankful to have found a doctor who seems to have a better understanding of my health & now know how to properly navigate this health system. I’m not sure if I’ll stay with Kaiser, but glad to finally have some relief after battling this for over 2 months & praying additional bills will be minimal.

Dr. Cairo is great! He make my kid feel comfortable and listens to what I have to say

It’s clean staff was nice. The wait time was a little long but what do you expect. It’s a dr office. This was my first time here and my dr was Lehman and he was awesome, very sweet and helpful and listens to everything you have to say. Pretty impressed.

I just got off the phone with Kaiser Pharmacy and my prescription will be ready tomorrow morning. I never have problems with the pharmacy. Kaiser has saved my husband’s life and my life. I am very happy with Kaiser.
Okay updating this: I don’t know what happened with Kaiser but to get them on the phone now it takes FOREVER! If you want an appointment, good luck getting one. Make it online you might have more success. If you want to see your regular doctor they like to give you a nurses assistant. I tried to get copies of my visits for reimbursement from my flex account and it was hell. I finally got a manager to help me. My son had his eye surgery the other day and they almost put him in the wrong room for something else. Scary.
One more update: No, you are not guaranteed an appointment if you make it online. I made an appointment, took the time off from work and went to the appointment. They said they never got the appointment but at least they got me in l later. Make sure your appointment goes through if you make it online. Print out a confirmation.

Always helpful, friendly and energetic

PATIENTS BEWARE!!!
I was given ALZHEIMER’S MEDICINE mixed in with my regular pills by these clowns!
As a result, I was put through two years of mental and physical hell! Among other things, I am now predisposed to STROKE!
As it turns out, the machines used to fill the prescriptions have a nasty habit of mixing pills together and Kaiser knows this!
ALL PATIENTS SHOULD BE SCRUTINIZING EVERY SINGLE PILL IN EVERY SINGLE BOTTLE PRESCRIBED BY THESE PEOPLE!!!
To add insult to injury, when I discovered this fact and went in to ask for help, the pharmacist here, Dr. Kim, treated me horribly! I have since noticed that he does this with everyone. He is smarmy, passive agressive, condescending, confrontational and rude. Anyone going in and casually observing this man for any length of time will see that this is correct.
After the way Dr. Kim has treated me on more than one occasion and with the way that I saw him treating a confused, disabled old lady (like a smarmy jerk), I personally wont ever be returning to this location again!!!
Kaiser needs to revamp it’s machines to protect its patients and this so-​called ‘doctor’ needs to go back to school and learn a lesson in bedside manner! That, or maybe he just requires a good laxative!
PATIENTS BEWARE!!! PATIENTS BEWARE!!! PATIENTS BEWARE!!!

Ok, so went in today for a check up and saw Dr Kirtland. Apt was at 8:50 and i was there at 8:55. I went through check in and all was pretty smooth. i got called by his nurse and went in and did all the nurse stuff. She said thanks put me in a room and there I sat for 40 mins and I was pissed! I got up and told the nurse that I was leaving. She asked me to wait one minute while the Dr. came in. I did so I could tell him that he was disrespectful and that I would no longer be coming to him or Kaiser. He was very apologetic and admitted that he spent a little too much time with his last client, we both agreed that health care was broken. I ended up really liking him and he was able to bring me down from my pissed off state.
Don’t put up with it though, if more people get pissed then they will have to reexamine how they are booking appointments.
I had Flu shots, labs done and x-​rays. Everyone was great at what they did and very friendly.
Check in and Check out were both very easy and the nurse called me the same day with the Dr’s opinion on the X-​rays.
So overall was a good experience, just started off really bad.

So many people talk horrible things about Kaiser Permanente, but I’ve been a patient with them on and off for several years, starting when I was 17 because my Mom’s employer used KP as their health coverage, so from the time I was 17 to 20 I had them, then from 2006 – 2009, then again from early 2011 and ongoing through my employer (yay for gaining back enough hours to qualify!)
Health care is health care, of course the quality can vary from really poor to the cream of the crop, and while I’m sure there is better out there, I have no complaints with KP as of this moment. I’ve had private doctors through other health plans throughout the late 90s and early part of the 00s, but having to deal with the billing and the insurance company and all the other paperwork mazes was a nightmare.
At KP my premium comes out of my paycheck, and when I go in I pay my $ 20 copay for visits, $ 10 for lab tests, and any Rx medications I need I either get through their pharmacy for $ 15 generic or $ 35 brand name (please make note, sometimes the generics are cheaper at Costco so shop around) and I don’t have to worry about being billed by specialists, or have to call the insurance company to make sure certain procedures are covered in my visit. They manage everything for me, and that’s just so much less I have to worry about.
The quality of care I have received so far has been very, very good. I work as a medical assistant so I’m familiar with how it all works, and I’ve worked for some fantastic doctors but I have no negative things to say about any of the doctors I’ve seen at KP thus far. My doctor is Dr. Lehman and he’s BRILLIANT. He’s good about emailing me and having his staff call me to check to see how I’m doing after a visit, and if I have any questions KP allows you to email your doctors via their website and Dr. Lehman always gets back to me within 24 hours. I’ve also seen a dermatologist and had some moles removed and some skin issues addressed, and everything was done perfectly.
Needless to say I will be with Dr. Lehman and KP for as long as I can keep my coverage, because there is no reason to change health plans when you know you’re getting the care and attention you need in order to get well and stay healthy.

I hope I have the right location.
I went here to get a throat culture at the nurses clinic.
I have to say. this is a relatively new facility and it looks really nice.
They’ve gone paperless, so you don’t have to go around carrying paperwork with you from place to place.
There’s one general check-​in area. and then they direct you to where you need to go.
From the receptionist. to the nurse. they were all very, very nice people. they kept me informed about what was going on.
Everything was clean and orderly.
I’m glad this facility is very close to where I live