Coastal Surgical Institute - Pismo Beach, California

Luna L.

I went in for an endoscopy and colonoscopy only for the procedure to be stopped within 10 mins of being under anesthesia because I "almost died" and they blamed it on me smoking marijuana despite me telling them ahead of time I would need a very heavy dose of anesthesia. They told me I could never smoke again. I'm supposed to have a follow-up appointment to try and understand my results and what went wrong but I've tried calling 8 times now including leaving a voicemail and haven't heard a response or been connected to talk to someone to set the appointment up. I respect and appreciate the doctors, nurses etc. and assume they tried their best but to have "almost died" and they blame it on me smoking weed is incredibly frustrating. They are booked with back to back appointments up to 3 months out so they had very little time to actually even explain everything after. I feel like I was told I almost died and then I just was told to wait till I was conscious enough and then I was told to leave. I was left with a messed up voice for several days and severe bruising to my lymph nodes from internal damage, not to mention my mom is traumatized and now ill probably never be able to go under out of fear. I wouldn't recommend this place unfortunately.

Su L.

The staff at the facility is very good, I am a repeat customer. In the past it was privately owned.
Now its now under the umbrella of Dignity Health and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital which isn't that good in the patient advocate department. No response when I phone repeatedly. Of course this isn't the place to discuss my personal health, which I am not. Its about customer service which is lacking. I was referred to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital to share my experience, NOT Coastal Surgical Institute. So the "owner" is Dignity Health and clearly too big to care.

Christine E.

If your Dr or surgeon suggests they perform your out-patient procedure at Coastal Surgical Institute, don’t hesitate to say YES!

From check-in to discharge, the process & staff operates like a well-oiled machine. I’ve had numerous surgeries there, as well as the “dreaded” colonoscopies, & I’m so amazed at the efficiency of this facility.

I’ve yet to meet any staff that don’t treat you top-notch. When you are taken to the “holding room” (to prep before surgery), the nurses are polite, disciplined in their actions, & do their best to keep you calm before being wheeled back to surgery.
You meet your Dr/surgeon, anesthesiologist & attending nurse BEFORE being wheeled back.

In recovery, you’re greeted by a nurse who asks how you are feeling, gives you something to drink, asks if you’re ready to get dressed before being discharged & they call your ride home to say you are ready to be picked up.

BEFORE you even head out the door, your Dr/surgeon comes by to share information about your procedures; you can ask questions & off you go.

Today, only twenty-four hours after the procedure, they texted (or call) to check in on how you’re feeling. That’s TOP-NOTCH health care….. in my opinion.

richard T.

I was referred here by my primary care for a relatively minor procedure and I was very pleased with my experience...the staff was very professional yet very personable as well ..a smile on everyone's face direct eye contact listened to my questions and excellent communicators...I feel very fortunate I was referred here

Arbors G.

*****UPDATED REVIEW ******** HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE THE SECOND TIME THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!’ This was my second yearly appointment. Office staff was extremely nice and Dr. Rodgers preformed my endoscopy with minimal pain after!! My first endoscopy I felt like I was throat punched! He definitely did a wonderful job! Thank you to Dr Rodgers and to all the staff!!!! This is a updated review!! My previous review was 3 years ago and here is my new review!!!! My last experience was just awful. They were not very nice!! I had to wait 3 hours for my surgery!!! They made me walk by other patients when I had to use the restroom and they had me totally undressed for my hernia surgery! I was so embarrassed!! Was crying right before my surgery and when I woke up out of my anesthesia I guess I was calling for my husband I couldn’t get out of there fast enough!! I think
It was the way I was treated!! I will be definitely having my surgery at a hospital if I need one!! Horrible experience this time! Nurses were not so nice to me!!! Just sucked!! I have had many surgeries and this was my worst experience EVER

Aaron W.

I was very nervous going in for a tonsillectomy, but the surgery center staff and operations of the facility were outstanding.

I have gone to other surgery centers for other procedures and this was by far the best. The staff here were thorough, informative, and had excellent bedside manner. They did a wonderful job at making me feel comfortable and less anxious both before going in the operating room and also post surgery in the recovery room.

I hope I never have to have another surgery but if I ever do, I would do it here if possible. I highly recommend.

**Side note: The upstairs offices are not a part of the surgery center - they are other private practice doctors' offices. If you are coming here for an operation go to the first floor parking lot, not the 2nd floor parking lot.

Kenneth L.

1-30-31 - Not once BUT twice did I go through colonoscopy prep (36 hour fasting and all night laxative forced diarrhea) to arrive at Coastal Surgical Institute to be turned away by Nancy Steffora, who calls herself the Director of Nursing.

The first instance was due to egregiously poor scheduling and resource management by Nancy and the second was literally retribution for criticizing the first instance. Nancy literally removed me from the schedule without notifying me then refused to work me back into the schedule when I arrived prepped.

I know that many others have had AWFUL experiences with Nancy and this practice but are afraid to leave reviews for fear of retribution by Nancy and the social aversion to discourse about this procedure. Therefore I have created a Reddit thread for people to anonymously critique this practice and Nancy Steffora. Just google “Reddit Nancy Steffora” and feel free to write about your horrible experience with Nancy. I’ve started the thread with a very detailed timeline of my two failed colonoscopy procedures and how stressful and unacceptable this has all been.

UPDATE 1-31-23
We contacted Dignity Health to file a complaint against Nancy Steffora and were directed by Dignity Health to her boss Matt Richardson who after listening to the complaint asked the question why don’t you just go somewhere else? Matt followed this question up with a veiled threat that if we keep pursuing this complaint that Dignity Health services may no longer be available to us. We advised Matt that we’d be speaking to his boss. We have now started a Reddit thread for Matt Richardson as well.

UPDATE 2-2-23
10:30am - we just received a call from an officer Ellis at Pismo Beach PD that we need to be “careful” about online reviews because they’re being deemed “harassing” by Coastal Surgical Institute. We quickly and in a very impolite manner dispatched of this rookie’s attempt at intimidation and told him call us back when he has an arrest warrant for “online review harassment”. You have to wonder why there is only one other negative review on this google page. We will keep the public informed of all acts of intimidation that Coastal Surgical Institute takes against us.

Jennifer F.

I had surgery with this facility recently and I have to rave that the entire staff from the front to the pre, post care was very professional and smooth from each area of transiion. My anesthesiologist was so incredible explaining everything he would do before he would do it, which made me feel very comfortable. If I ever need surgery again I would like to come here for exceptional quality care. Thank you!