Comprehensive Cancer Center: Sutter Alta Bates Summit Med Center

"I loved my Diane, she is a counselor their and she's a great lady. She really understood me. Brian is a great nutritionist and was very helpful with my eating issues."

"My main complaint is that the wait for lab work is over an hour. It’s very unfair to keep people who are extremely ill, waiting. The last time I was here I waited an hour for a lab draw only to find out I was so sick that I needed to be admitted to the hospital. So far today it’s been a 45 minute wait because the lab doesn’t know what labs to draw. Leaves me little confidence in the way this cancer center is run."

"I am deeply appreciative and indebted to Dr.Rajesh Behl and the Sutter Health Alta Bates Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center team for their unparalleled care. Dr. Behl first saw my husband as an inpatient at Summit/Alta Bates Hospital after he was transported by ambulance and his labs returned abnormal. With Dr. Behl’s experience, knowledge, and brilliance, he quickly diagnosed my husband with a rare blood disorder, and he was abreast of the latest research and determined the best treatment options. I especially appreciated Dr. Behl and his team’s attention to detail; they reviewed and monitored his medical history to ensure they considered all systems. My husband was in the hospital for six weeks, and the bottom line is Dr. Behl and his team cured my husband. I don’t think my husband would be alive if someone else had been taking care of him. Initially, when we heard of his rare diagnosis, we contemplated transferring to one of the large academic centers. I want to add that many in our family are medical providers, so we look more critically at our care. However, after speaking with others treated at these centers, they said they were lost in the system and felt they did not have anyone coordinating their care. Because of our confidence and trust in Dr. Behl and the Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center team, we chose to stay put, which was the right decision. After discharge, Dr. Behl & the outstanding team continued my husband’s treatment as an outpatient at their center in Berkeley. Every aspect of the care rendered at this facility has been excellent. From the complimentary valet parking and super helpful parking attendants to the receptionist who greets you by name, the medical assistants, phlebotomists, nurses, the scheduling crew, and the excellent physicians, everyone is top-notch; handoffs are seamless. If we or a family member ever need this type of care again, we will return for treatment at the Alta Bates/Summit Comprehensive Cancer Center in a heartbeat. We will be forever indebted to Dr. Behl and his team for their professional, competent, kind care."

"The staff is very supportive. They listen to all of my concerns. They made me comfortable during my 37 radiation treatments . I will never be able to thank this wonderful team. They put all of my fears at ease."

"I had an infusion yesterday at the Herrick Facility on Dwight Way in Berkeley. When I called for the appointment, I had to leave a message. The message said they would return my call within 24 hours. A week later, I left another message and finally got a call two days later. I arrived for my appointment 15 minutes prior for check-in paperwork. My appointment was for 3 pm. I finally got to my chair at 4:15. As I needed to be very hydrated for this procedure (in order to get a good vein) I drank plenty of water before my appointment. By the time they tried to find a vein, the nurse indicated I hadn't hydrated enough. Well maybe if they had taken me in closer to my appointment time, this would not have been an issue. I stopped drinking at 3 pm to avoid having to urinate every 20 minutes- esp. during my infusion. I hope the administrators read this. Please remove the 24 hour call back statement on your phone, if you are not going to do it. Secondly, let patients know you are running behind. I understand things happen ( I am a health care professional) and some of the patients have conditions that are take priority. It would have felt that someone cared about me, my time, and my anxiety. Thirdly, the administrators should hire an efficiency expert. I did not feel that I needed a medical assistant and two registered nurses to perform a 15 minute infusion. Hopefully this will be a "one and done " procedure."