Sutter Health Reviews 48

I’m writing to share an extremely frustrating and disappointing experience with Dr. Davarpanah and Sutter Health that raises serious concerns about their approach to both patient care and billing practices. I went in for what was supposed to be a routine annual exam, only to find out that discussing personal health concerns—even related to existing conditions—is not allowed unless it’s billed as a separate office visit. Seriously? What’s the point of an annual exam if you’re not even allowed to talk about your health?
To make matters worse, I was charged nearly $400 because the doctor on her own decided to increase the dosage of a medication I was already taking. I never brought this up, and it certainly wasn’t based on any recent lab work. The decision was made using outdated blood tests from over a year and a half ago—even though my numbers have remained stable year after year. That’s not just arbitrary—it’s irresponsible.
This entire experience felt impersonal, unfair, and frankly, like a blatant money grab. It’s deeply troubling to see a healthcare system more focused on padding bills than providing thoughtful, patient-centered care. And forget not, Sutter Health is a nonprofit organization. Or should they be called only for profit by scamming the patients they are supposed to treat. If this is how they treat someone trying to proactively manage their health, I fear for how they handle more serious issues.

It’s now been nearly seven months. I’ve been bounced from department to department. I was told an “ethics committee” reviewed the case and stood by the charge. But no one ever contacted me for my side of the story. How can a review be fair when the patient is excluded entirely? The process has been completely opaque and lacking in accountability.
At this point, I feel morally obligated to speak out. In my opinion, Dr. Davarpanah’s actions were unethical, and my trust in both her and Sutter Health is gone. I strongly advise others to think carefully before entrusting their care to this provider or this healthcare system. I will not be returning.

Date of experience: December 20, 2024

I really wish I googled this organization before I became a patient. I come from Kaiser which has its own issues but untimely is easy to find doctors. After 20 years with Kaiser, I switched to Aetna and called the blossom hill Sutter health location to confirm they accept my insurance. They said they did based on my ppo. I didn’t see it on my Aetna app so I confirmed with the receptionist if this meant my insurance didn’t cover this doctor. Front desk woman said that sometimes new doctors take up to a year to update their accepted insurance so I was under false pretense and scheduled my appointment. I called other locations to schedule other appointments and confirmed if my insurance was covered and they all said yes and there’s a possible $20 copay. Day of the appointment, they took my insurance, suggested lab work, and found I have an abnormal ANA test. I was happy with my RN and how nice she was. Two weeks later, I get a bill for over $2k!! I literally did one lab test and had a consultation visit! No way do those cost that much. I know I’m being taken advantage of based on family that works in the healthcare field (physicians, insurance agents, and front desk admin). I called to confirm and they say oh actually it’s only around $900. I’m literally just an intern making minimum wage living pay check to pay check but ok they just want their money.
Now I’ve been calling and Sutter health has basically threatened me and lied to me saying if I don’t pay my bill within 30-60 days then I’ll go to collections and they can’t help me because I messed up and should not have listened to their front desk staff. Make that make sense. I wish I never even scheduled an appointment as this has taken out so much time from my school and workload plus is very energy consuming having grown adults tell me it’s my fault and I have to pay or else they’ll send me to collections. I asked to see what the front desk staff see on their end when they run their insurance to understand and they refuse saying it violates HIPPA. The staff should have actually ran my insurance instead of avoiding the extra work to look up my specific plan. It’s my own health chart but ok now we’re following guidelines huh. Anyways I’ve called around 8-12 times and everyone tells me it’s my fault and they can’t help and won’t let me speak to someone higher up.
One customer service said a good resolution would be to listen to the calls and retrain all their staff. That doesn’t help me at all. It seems like an issue with their training rather than staff. Definitely an issue with the attitude of their customer service representatives. Never once in those calls to schedule my appointment did they tell me to call my insurance to confirm. Anyways, Sutter Healths desk staff, Sutter Healths customer service, and Sutter Healths billing department is awful.

Make sure to just avoid the hassle and go elsewhere. It’s too much for someone in my position to be dealing with where stress makes my illnesses worse. Unprofessional and borderline incompetent staff. No resolution yet and I’m suuuure they’ll be making me pay the full bill. If you don’t believe me, check out all the negative reviews on Reddit with many YOUNG people experiencing a similar situation of lying staff and bad customer experience. Great doctors and nurses but not so great anything else.
Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere or make sure they actually run your insurance to not get hit with surprise bills!

Date of experience: April 21, 2025

I show up on time to find no one at the reception. 30 mins of trying the security guy who doesn’t care and calling an operator twice finally got someone out just to say that its too late for the appointment now. Zero attempt to accommodate. The girl working here simply doesn’t care. This is a review based on multiple bad experiences with the reception staff. This is not a review of the doctors and nurses to be clear.

Date of experience: June 15, 2025

June 9th, 2025, beginning time of visit at Sutter health in Castro Valley ( formerly, Eden Hospital ). Rushed my 22 year old daughter to the Emergency room just to find out it's being remodeled. What Sutter health has as a replacement is a makeshift department ill suited corner of the main floor that is too small and never meant to hold the high volume and dire need of humanity in an emergency state! Shame on you... your need to stuff your business banking accounts at the expense of the Anxiously tormented who have life threatening conditions or episodes yet you keep them on gournies in the crowded halls!! YOU COULD HAVE STATED THE HELLISH CONDITIONS OF PLACE AND SERVICES ALLOWING THE PATIENTS A CHIOCE TO RUSH TO KAISER, SAINT ROSE OR HUMANAS EMERGENCY ROOMS!! Now, it's 10:30 pm, I've been here 4 hours, my daughter is still on a Gourney in the Hallway in and out of Panic-Attacks that I have to ( Medic Training of mine) talk her down via our Cellphones!! Yet, I'm trying not to get asked to leave because my ANXIETY IS INCREASING. There is a Tech, his Name is JERRY... I'M STILL WAITING FOR HIM TO COME TALK AND SORT THINGS OUT, AS TO WHAT MY DAUGHTER'S CONDITION IS, AND WHEN WILL I BE ALLOWED TO COME INTO THE CHAO BEHIND THE DOUBLE DOORS IN ORDER FOR ME TO COMFORT MY KID!! I JUST SEE THE IDIOT TECH ( Jerry ) walk around and giggle with some of the Security Guards like a child on the playground, always averting or ignoring me... EXPECT A CALL FRON MY ATTORNEYS!

Date of experience: June 08, 2025

I was required to pay $380 upfront for both my own and my son’s first doctor visits while we were still waiting for our insurance cards — despite already being fully insured. Sutter Health never submitted these charges to our insurance (UnitedHealthcare), and now that we’ve exceeded our out-of-pocket maximum, we’re being unfairly stuck with the bill.

I’ve contacted both Sutter and UHC multiple times, but Sutter doesn’t take responsibility to reprocess the claims. This has been incredibly frustrating and disappointing, especially for a first experience with their healthcare system. Patients shouldn’t have to chase down their provider just to get the insurance they’re entitled to. I expected much better from a major healthcare provider.

Date of experience: April 05, 2025

Horrible. Gets things wrong, overcharges, staffed with rude and incompetent employees. Never going back for any type of medical care.

Date of experience: May 13, 2025

i was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in Modesto California on Friday March 21st in heart failure. From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with empathy and caring, from every employee or healthcare professional I delt with. Triage, Intake, orderlies, Lab techs, x-ray techs, NP's, RN's, MD's, absolutely 5 star people, true professionals but also caring, patient, sympathetic and empathetic. in my 25+ years of having to go to various hospitals in California, Never have I felt so cared for. The staff and the company did not try to get me out of there ASAP. Quite the contrary, the attending physician who cared for me, would not discharge me until I was actually stable. The aftercare has been amazing as well. Social worker calls, RN calling me at home and scheduling home visits to ensure I stay on the treatment plan agreed to. Transportation offered, medical equipment, like a heavy duty walker, delivered to my door within 24 hours, all at no extra charge. Imagine a cardiologist, who is not even been appointed your own, driving 30 miles, recuperating from a horrible flu virus, still feeling unwell, to make sure I was OK. Almost had me in tears! THIS is what healthcare should be

Date of experience: March 21, 2025

To put things in context although my comments should cover all, Im retired and on medicare.
It appears by many of the negative comments, people are just not doing their due diligence and homework on what they are looking for and want. If you don't know what questions to ask find out. Drs like you and me are not perfect and you go to them for their expertise and advice as generally they know more than you and their recommendations are based on proven historical methods and medicines. Yes, go on the web and you will find crackpot remedies for everything but 'caviat emptor'.
My experience with West Coast sutter in Santa Rosa in general has been excellent and I would recommend them to anyone. Yes if you're on medicare life is easier but the health business in the USA is appalling in terms of costs for everyone, so do you're homework.

Date of experience: March 14, 2025

I had surgery having my gallbladder removed yesterday. I also need a blood work up for my upcoming physician appointment. I asked for an appointment in the morning from the lab because I don’t think I can fast all day. The lab supervisor in Mountain View said no exceptions. We cannot give you an appointment in the morning. They are all booked up. Nothing we can do. Sutter Health sucks. And I’m sure nothing will be done about this complaint.

Date of experience: February 09, 2025

Sutter is now charging 2 visits for a yearly General Health Visit if you answer the Doctor's question « is everything else ok with your health?

The company should only charge 2 visits if you have indicating the problem when booked the visit and should at list ask the Physician to indicate that if you answer the General health question with a potential issue insteadof:"no comment", you will be changed.

Date of experience: January 10, 2025

Horrible the dr was just bad nurse was rough. Just a waste

Date of experience: December 11, 2024

I had an extremely bad experience with Sansum Clinic aka Sutter Health related to a minor surgical procedure. It was determined that I needed surgery two days after I had a cold and a low grade fever. I tested negative for COVID twice. This was fully disclosed to them at the time. They said that was not problem and proceeded with a pre-surgical exam, blood work, EKG, paperwork etc. They then contacted me the day before surgery and asked me to take yet another COVID test. I went out and purchased a COVID test, took it, and it came back negative (AGAIN). I sent them my results and a photo of the test. The nurse confirmed my surgery the night before and the morning of my surgery. I showed up at the appointment time (5 days later) after fasting (no food or water) since the night before and was told that they could not perform surgery on my very painful and infected foot (that I had already been living with all week and it had gotten much worse) because I had a fever less than 7 days prior. They said that I could have surgery done at the hospital instead and that was my only option. At this point I was hungry, dehydrated, and in severe pain. They had quoted my out of pocket for surgery at Sansum and I asked if the price would change at the hospital. They assured me that if it did, they would take care of it. Now I am stuck with a $2200 out of pocket expense that I was unprepared for and they refuse to cover it. I was not given a quote for this before surgery as is required by law (The "No Surprises" act) and I will be seeking legal advice. This is unethical and shifty. I will be looking for all new doctors and new insurance so that I no longer have to deal with unethical Sansum aka Sutter Health. My advice is that if you have a choice, I would go elsewhere.

Date of experience: August 15, 2024

Doctors delay important appointments and referrals. They don’t trust their patients know how they feel and what works for them. But patients know their bodies. They need to listen. They are also not up on anything of the latest. Behind the times. Where are our independent docs.

Date of experience: October 01, 2024

This place is pretty crazy. I am supposed to have a procedure tomorrow, but it is not listed in my chart. I tried the online chat, but they insisted that this needs to be dealt with by a "specialist". I am now on hold with the "specialist" who has also not found the procedure in my file.

Date of experience: November 14, 2024

15 minute consultation with a physician assistant to renew prescriptions = $576.00. Ridiculous, outrageous price.

Date of experience: October 04, 2024

It's a billing shit show! Stay clear of these charlatans!

Date of experience: November 04, 2024

It is a highly commercial place. I would not call it a professional medical center. They are there just to take your money.

Date of experience: October 10, 2023

Words do not exist in the English language that properly capture the anguish that Sutter's incompetence and dereliction of duty has caused me. I truly believe that I would be in a much better situation had Sutter acted sooner.

I moved to the West Coast in 2021 and began seeing Sutter Health doctors to establish care for previously diagnosed conditions and for help with severe fatigue and endocrine related issues. I followed every recommendation from the Sutter group, but my symptoms only worsened. Between October 2021 and November 2022, I sought help from multiple OB/GYNs, therapists, and psychiatrists. Despite various medications and lifestyle changes, nothing improved.

My psychiatrist, concerned about my lack of progress and evident endocrine symptoms, urged me to see an endocrinologist. However, Sutter Health refused to refer me. In September 2022, my psychiatrist even wrote a letter advocating for this referral. On November 2, 2022, I met with Dr. Allison Freeman after my scheduled doctor was unavailable. Despite presenting my worsening symptoms and the psychiatrist's letter, she refused to refer me to endocrinology, claiming they couldn't help me. Spoiler alert: She was wrong, and I was right. It was unfortunate, as this negligence led to my condition worsening for another 1.5 years.

From November 2022 to April 2024, my health deteriorated further despite me meticulously following doctors' orders. I continued to experienced severe mood symptoms, night sweats, heat intolerance, digestive issues, hair loss, fatigue, brain fog, eye pain/blurriness, unquenchable thirst, and more. I spent a significant amount of money on ineffective doctors, useless therapy appointments, supplements, healthy food, etc. I missed numerous workdays and had to step down from my consulting business as a result.

By April 2024, my symptoms were unbearable. Only then did my primary care doctor decide to retest my thyroid and check for diabetes. Tests revealed hyperthyroidism, and an ultrasound in June 2024 showed thyroid nodules, one of which was a hyperfunctioning hot nodule causing most of my symptoms. This confirmed my suspicions and proved Dr. Freeman's assessment was wrong.

Due to this negligence, I have suffered immensely in terms of my physical health, mental health, finances, and social life. I am now at risk for future metabolic issues, cardiovascular problems, and currently face infertility.

I filied a grievance on June 12, 2024, clearly explaining the negligence, failure to refer, and delayed diagnosis. I laid out the timeline from 2021-2024. Sutter Health supposedly investigated the matter and wrote a "resolution letter" in July 2024. However, the letter ignored my most major complaints (i.e., the 11/2/2022 appointment where Dr. Freeman misdiagnosed me, ignored my concerns, refused to run further tests and reufsed to refer me to endocrinology). The greivance "resolution letter" did not even mention these things. They mentioned a few events that occurred in 2024 and completely ignored the fact that I was suffering for years longer than necessary, DUE TO DR. FREEMAN'S NEGLIGENCE AND INCOMPETENCE.

This oversight is unacceptable, and I will be appealing this decision to the state medical board.

Sutter Health's negligent care and failure to address my complaints have severely impacted my life. Their doctors must be held accountable for such substandard care. Avoid Sutter Health if you value your well-being.

Date of experience: July 09, 2024

I've been going to Sutter Health for a while. Specifically, going to the San Carlos facility. I also take my kids there. Knock on wood, I haven't had any major health issues to deal with for the most part. Recently had some severe stomach ailments and they were able to do a bunch of tests and get to the heart of the problem.

Date of experience: July 02, 2024

really bad experience, no transparent communication

Date of experience: June 20, 2024