East Bay Endosurgery Center

Thank you Dr. Vesga and everyone at the Center for making this test so comfortable and efficient. The staff are all knowledgeable, warm and personable. Dr. Vesga is wonderful. I will not dread this procedure ever again (except for the cocktail!)

However good the doctor may be over there, the «customer service» bureaucracy is worse than than your cable TV provider. They never answer their phones. They don’t provide you with an email. They will tack on charges above what your insurer covers. You can forget any personalized care, you’d feel like you are part of a mass-​production assembly. I can’t imagine how I would get any kind of personalized care if I have a real medical problem, then you got to go through a whole phone tree just to get a voicemail. You won’t be able to talk to a doctor.

I had a fantastic experience at the East Bay Endosurgery Center, getting my first colonoscopy. Everyone from the front desk to the medical staff in the clinic were very professional. They all seemed to like each other, work as a team, and genuinely get along.
There may have been a wait in the waiting area before getting called into the back, but once I was in a hospital gown covered in warm blankets (yes, they heat blankets for you) things hummed along efficiently.
I’m an incredibly hard stick so the idea of being stuck with an IV needle was causing anxiety (i.e. at Stanford Hospital, I averaged about four different people trying to get an IV line in — and at least once they had to call in super special ops). I told the Endosurgery Center about my fears and they heard me. Nurse Lori got the needle in on the first try with no poking around. AMAZING.
The anesthesiologist and my doctor took time to discuss the different kinds of sedation normally used during the procedure. They walked me through why they thought Propofol would be the best fit for me. Which it was.
When I was wheeled back into the procedure room, I wasn’t conscious for very long so there wasn’t an opportunity for too much anticipatory anxiety. I saw them push the sedative into my IV and I woke up and said, «Wait, I’m not asleep!» The anesthesiologist said to me, «It’s over» and pointed out the fact that I was back in my bed, recovering. I felt no discomfort. My head was clear. A really nice nurse went over the results with me, gave me some pretty pictures of my colon to put on the fridge and that was that.
I was so relieved!
Colonoscopies are stressful. I put mine off, because I was afraid. The prep, everyone will tell you, is rough. It was for me. After running back and forth to the toilet for hours, I had no idea what to expect from my body. Did I want to be around a bunch of strangers while I was wearing no pants? No. However, the professionalism of the place put me at ease. I felt like they had been there, done that, and as to the reviewer who described the facility as a «GI factory» — that’s what I wanted, a GI factory, where they had done this procedure a thousand times and had the experience to react appropriately to whatever situation that might arise.
I was in good hands the entire time. Highly recommended.

Medical Good; Administration Awful
I had an appointment for an 8:45 am colonoscopy. A huge batch of paperwork was sent telling me to get there at 7:45. (There was absolutely no need I could discern for getting to the clinic an hour early.) The paperwork said that someone would get back to me within a week to set up an appointment.
After two weeks of hearing nothing, I had to call them for an appointment. (BROKEN PROMISE, NONRESPONSIVE.)
On the day of the colonoscopy I got there at 7:45. After everyone around me was being taken back to the clinic out of the Lobby, and I asked about it, they finally told me my actual appointment was 9:45 and that I should have been told to come in at 8:45, not 7:45. So my ride and I waited and waited and waited. Then I was put on a bed with an IV and waited and waited and waited some more. (FAULTY INFORMATION, WHY SO EARLY?)
In the lobby I filled out more paperwork and was surprised at the amount of old information they had despite the huge batch of paperwork I had already filled out and sent back to them. I crossed out the primary doctor that I have not used in 4 – 5 years and filled in my «new» primary doctor.
When I got results in the mail, I see that a copy of results were sent to my old primary doctor. (PAPERWORK BLACK HOLE; it was like no one had even looked at the paperwork.)
The medical work may be good, but if you can’t trust them with any kind of paperwork, that is a really serious issue. I will try to find another place to have such important medical work done.

I had an endoscopy and colonoscopy performed on the same date by Dr. Roarke. My first visit with the doctor prior to scheduling was fantastic. He explained the procedures thoroughly and prescribed medications to help ease the symptoms I experienced prior to my procedures.
The staff and doctor were in good spirits and cordial before and after my procedure. However, once the procedures were over my problems began. I will list the issues:
1. At some point during/​after the procedure my lip was injured and no one explained what occurred. It took approximately 30 days before the swelling went down in my lip sufficiently to drink liquids without pain.
2. I was told that I may have several issues and that I would be contacted following the receipt of the pathology report. I was never contacted.
3. I have made repeated requests for the pathology report and asked if I should schedule a follow up appointment with the doctor to discuss the issues he mentioned following the procedure. His staff has not contacted me to date to either schedule an appointment or provide my post op report.
4. I was told that I would receive a written report in the mail – again, more than 30 days post procedure and it has not arrived.
5. I was finally told that the report was in, however, I still have no information regarding the results.
My issues have not subsided and I have few answers regarding the next step. I assume once the expensive procedures are completed there’s no financial gain to follow through with patient care?
I would recommend a different facility if you have serious health concerns that you want addressed. I’m considering filing a complaint with the medical board as these are procedures I cannot repeat for the purpose of obtaining results.

This was my «rite of passage» first colonoscopy and every aspect of it was handled professionally and with a caring spirit.
Sarah and Kim, the nurses who prepped me and did post-​op, were very kind, skilled and caring, and Becky, in charge of anesthesia, was also terrific. Out like a light (Propofol is pretty amazing), woke up about 40 minutes later with everything done. Dr. Wu is friendly, has a great sense of humor, and super-​competent.
I had had to reschedule a couple of times — that was handled easily. And they made sure my pickup knew where to go and when to be there. All in all, a very good experience.

My second endoscopy here. I think this is as good as it could get. The prep nurse was sweet and comforting. The anesthesiologist was an angel with a soothing touch. Barely saw the doctor (I was out like a light), but I felt completely cared for. Everybody was caring. The opposite of a pain in the a** experience.

I had to go here for an endoscopy. I was told to arrive at 11:30. I arrived at 11:15 just to be on the safe side. After waiting 30 minutes in the lobby, the receptionist told me that they have patients (and thier rides) show up an HOUR before thier scheduled procedure. This is very rude for patients and thier mandatory rides home. The waiting room was small, and was standing room only on the day I was there. I feel the doc (Hargrave) used WAY too much sedation for the procedure. (6mg Versed 100 of Demeral, and 50IV of Benedryl). They do not use CRNA’s for sedation, which is why Propofol isn’t an option. I slept for 18 hours at home, overkill if you ask me.
Because you are so sedated, they do not review the report with you, rather, they give you the printout of the pics, and any new priscriptions.
The facility was safe, but it really seems like a GI factory. The overuse of old school dangerous drugs is concerning, and the obnoxious requirement to arrive one hour before they even take you back is not okay. I will not be using thier services again.

East Bay Endosurgery Center is a physician owed and operated medical facility. so far i know they do colonoscopy. may also do hemorroids here. will find out soon as they found hemorroids in me.
drill:
–stop eating solids for a day before, ingesting only clear liquids, (broth, bouillion, black coffee, tea, sodas, fruit drinks)
–drank prescribed medicinal powder (mixed with water) night before and the morning of the operation. essentially this pushed out everything in the colon.
–at the center, was assigned to an hospital bed. they attached an iv, an armcast to monitor pulse, a few stickons to the chest.
–laid around an hour waiting for the operation (fell asleep). later was wheeled in the operating area. looks like an assembly operatiion. soft rock music was playing. saw the doc, went unconscious. when i awoke, the operation was over and a success.
–given a report with colorful pics of my colon’ s inside. reported finding hemorroids. well, i sort of knew…
observation (layman)
–center located near city hall in «rotunda»
–staff is multilingual, multinational, young and old.
–staff courteous, professional,
–facility clean, modern, patient friendly.
–not saying i will repeat but i wouldn’t mind coming here (again).
–bartable. but they want someone to pick you up after the operation.