San Mateo Medical Center

Unfortunately with my condition I've had to visit a few ERs in the peninsula over the last couple of years - UCSF, ZSFG, Mills, Sequoia, and most recently San Mateo Medical Center. I was nervous to come to SMMC because of the bad reviews but its the closest ER to my house and I had a scary emergency. To my surprise it turned out to be one of the better ERs out of all of those other ones I've visited. I'm sorry but I will never go to Mills, Sequoia, or Stanford ever again. I'm sure their doctors are great but their bedside manner needs improvement. Everyone I encountered at the ER at SMMC were very friendly, and the doctor + 2 nurses that helped me were very compassionate and made me feel cared-for and at-ease during a very scary medical emergency. 5 stars for their ER! But take an Uber or get a ride because parking is a PITA.

I only gave 3 stars however because I've had horrible luck with their Primary Care Clinic. I've been trying to get an appointment for over a month. I was put on a waitlist but no one can tell me approximately how long it's going to be..2 weeks, 6 months, 1 year..no one can tell me. And it took several phone calls talking to different people just to get added to the waitlist.

Subject: Disappointing Experience at San Mateo Hospital

I recently had an appointment with an orthopedic specialist at San Mateo Hospital on April 23, 2024, and I must express my profound disappointment with the level of care provided. Despite suffering from arm pain for years and finally seeking the expertise of a specialist, I found the doctor to be rushed and dismissive. Their demeanor was incredibly rude, and it was evident that patient care was not a priority. It is disheartening to encounter such lack of compassion and professionalism in a healthcare setting. Unfortunately, this experience has left me with the impression that San Mateo Hospital prioritizes profit over patient well-being. I urge others to reconsider seeking treatment at this facility, as the quality of care provided falls far below acceptable standards.

I received excellent care today at the San Mateo Medical Center. The staff is polite, kind, experienced and knowledable. I arrived in severe pain and they quickly diagnosed an impacted colon.

It is a humble, small community hospital. Nothing fancy. But my care was speedy and excellent. I live in the Seattle area and my local hospital has art work, a meditation garden, a Starbucks, upholtered furniture in the lobby, a lobby fire place and even a grand piano with a variety of pianists playing calming selections. It is very nice but none of that mattered when I was in so much pain. The staff at San Mateo are equal in quality to my fancy Seattle area hospital. From check in to diagnosis to treatment to discharge was six hours. They took great care of me and I am glad I gave them a try.

Lots of spanish speaking patients and staff also as a plus.

This is the worst ER I have seen. The room is very small and there is not enough chairs for pt to sit. People are cramped inside the triage room like you are getting into a train in INDIA. There should be enough space and chairs especially knowing this is catered to the low income, uninsured, and critical care pts. Family members are not allowed to accompany a pt waiting. Imagine for those non speaking or pt who are easily anxious. This is a bad idea of a policy. Please stop saying because of COVID because if that is so why are the guards and employees are not wearing any mask. Another problem is the parking lot. People are not allowed to park in the front because of some stupid reasons this hospital has. The main entrance of the hospital looks so bad with security having to screen people. I've been to Stanford, sf general, ucsf and none of this are required. This place looks like a prison hospital.

Absolute worst Covid-19 screening in ER. They ignore proof of vaccination, and don't take temperature. The guard questioned me for 2 mins, and not the nurse.

My uncle was in the ICU, and the doctor told us he was strong enough to go to a regular room. He had been breathing through an oxygen tank previously to his hospital stay, and was breathing through a tube in the ICU, and when they transferred him to a regular room, they took the oxygen off and he died a few hours later. They did not call my cousins to let them know that is what they were going to do. If he needed the tube to breathe, why did they take him off of it? We may never know because no one spoke with us about it. To make matters worse, when we went down to the hospital to get his belongings and see the body, they moved him to San Leandro to some funeral home because they didn't have any storage for him. Again, no calls to my poor grieving cousins. We were all at the hospital trying to find out what happened to him and his belongings. By the way, speaking of his belongings, they lost his cell phone and his dentures when he was first admitted into ICU, and it never resurfaced. So unfortunate.

Feels like the security guards would shoot me anytime.
There are 4 security guards sitting in the front screening anyone who enter the building. My son got severe injury on forehead and was bleeding, their no-visitor policy kept me out from the entrance to the room. When I was waiting inside making call to my wife, the security guys came and kick me out talking me I'm not allowed to wait here. Seems like they will shoot me anytime if I do not leave.

Don't bother calling for an appointment. They simply do not pick up the phone. Been waiting whole 40 min and nothing.

I love the security at the hospital it make me feel safe at all time with 5 or 6 security officers in emergency room

I my girlfriend tried driving herself to the emergency room at San Mateo County General Hospital (Chope) for them to tell her that there is no parking allowed anywhere on the hospital property. So she came back home for me to drop her off. Then I noticed that the security at the hospital have you searched with a metal detector! Wtf kind of emergency care is this!! To top that off there are tons of barricades you have to walk around just to get to the emergency room doors from the drop off. This place is a joke!! Your better off dead infront of the place!!