Santa Cruz Gastroenterology - Santa Cruz, California

Steven G.

My appointment was scheduled 9 months in advance, which is understandable in Santa Cruz. One week before my appointment, I get a message saying the doctor is unavailable and to reschedule. Next appointment: 7 months. Hopefully, the doctor will be available.

Zombie ?.

zero stars. I waited the now "standard" 3-4 months to have an appointment. Only to have them call me the day of and say the doctor reviewed my chart and decided "I needed more specialized care." Aka we cant help you and we don't want to.

This information could have been told to me at anytime before the day of my appointment like a week or month before so im not anticipating and appointment with them and can move on to make other plans.

Needless to say my appointment was canceled hours before I was scheduled. At the time of writing this office doesn't have any Doctors on staff, just PA's and nurses. So I would avoid going here anyway. If you need GI help your going to have to go over the hill.

Warren S.

After emergency diagnosis. Dignity ER Dr said that I should be able to schedule within 2-3 days. Instead, was scheduled for over 2 months later. After one month, with five acute (pain 9/10 ) episodes, plus persistent chronic pain (5/10), and no response on waitlist, I called and explained the situation.

As per Dr. Mohammed, was instructed to check into ER again to get an endoscopy before they would escalate appointment, So, after a wasted morning in the ER, $140 copay later, I was sent away. No endoscopy. So thanks, Dr. Mohammed, great advice on how to waste my time and money. Not to mention Dignity ER's time. After complaining, they found a time the following week.

Compare this with Stanford Medical, where I was able to schedule a video call the next week. So, 7 days versus 2 months plus a runaround? Which would you choose?

Ina A.

I have a chronic condition, my GI (also from PAMF) said he couldn’t help me anymore so I was referred to another doctor. After a year, I got a new referral from my GP and made an appointment, the nearest available slot was in 2 months which is terrible but it happens. I joined the cancellations list and fortunately got an appointment much sooner. They called today to cancel my sooner appointment because they have a policy that states that if you transfer doctors you will have to wait 2 months from now, even if they have available earlier spots, because doctors don’t like it when you transfer. I explained my pain and urgency and she said policy is over all that and that I could leave a voicemail if I wanted to complain because no one was available.

They do not care about people at all, or that you are sick and need support. This has been one of the worst healthcare experiences I’ve ever had. They are very good at charging lots of money for everything though.

Francine G.

Zero stars. I did not receive standard of care in a timely manner.

Sandy D.

Update... They SUCK AT ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING. After having to wait almost 5 months to see a doctor in the gastroenterology department I finally got an appointment for a procedure that I have needed since October 2018. The day before the procedure they call and tell me that Dr cannot make it for the procedure and it got scheduled out another five weeks. Now it has been seven months since my initial doctors appointment for this issue. AVOID AVOID AVOID unless you do not want to get better! And what’s worse... they do not even care!

V. M. K. 3.

Dr. Palascak, and his office staff are great. He always made sure you knew what was going on, he has an outstanding bedside manner. I think he is five stars, but I had to drop one star for PAMF billing services, which he uses. I would recommend Dr. Palascak to whomever needs treatment in his field.

James B.

Dr. Palascak is an excellent physician that has been meticulous in his craft. I have received the care I would have expected with kindness and good communication. Thank you, Dr. Palascak.