Sage Pain & Wellness Institute - San Diego

"I am writing to express my disappointment and frustration with the recent experience I had at your office. During my visit I encountered several issues that left me feeling dissatisfied and concerned about the level of care provided by your practice. Firstly, the inability to contact you directly is highly problematic. Patients should have a means of communication with their healthcare providers, especially in cases of urgent matters or follow-up questions. I am having to write you this letter as my only means of communication. Not having any sort of messaging system—using the front desk staff as gatekeepers, is inefficient and frustrating. Furthermore, there was a significant lack of communication regarding the procedures conducted during my visit. I was under the impression that my visit was for the lumbar medial branch block procedure. I was not until you walked in the room, as I was lying on my stomach on the table, wherein I was first informed this was a “test” run. Then again, It was only as I was leaving the office that I was informed about the need for a “second test injection” that needed to be performed. This lack of transparency and communication is concerning and left me feeling uninformed and extremely uncomfortable about my own healthcare decisions. Additionally, I was not made aware that Dr. Lee would be leaving the office, leaving me without any information about my ongoing care or who to contact with any questions or concerns. I had no idea who my doctor was until you walked in the room. Finally, I want to address the behavior of your front desk staff. I found them to be short, impatient, and rude. They are rude in person and even ruder on the phone. They are some of the worst front desk staff I have ever encountered. Their demeanor made me feel unwelcome and uncomfortable from before I even arrived at the office. As a patient seeking medical care, I expect the doctor’s office to have some professionalism and courtesy, both of which were sorely lacking in this instance. Due to this experience, I am trying to find another pain management doctor to see."

"DO NOT GO HERE!! Office staff is short, impatient and rude. Communication is insanely poor. Impossible to get ahold of the doctor unless you have an appointment. Try to go somewhere else."

"Dr. Cohen was great! He explained all the details about his diagnosis and was extremely serious about my pain and treatment. He’s the best pain doctor in San Diego!"

"I was referred here to continue my pain management. Overall the experience was good. I needed the doctor to review my medical record and history more that what they did. I am starting treatment over with stuff that does not work and the focus being in the wrong area. I need some sort of pain medication and have yet to get it. Overall it was a ok experience."

"Dr. Emily Hale has been my doctor for awhile now and I really like how she still has empathy for her patients pain after having been there for a long time. It's kind of rare. She's on top of all my new new areas of pain with X-rays and referrals to specialists. I really appreciate it more than she knows. I hope she stays for a long time and doesn't leave."