Camellia Women’s Health

I’ve never had such a terrible time getting an appointment ANYWHERE in my life. I was referred from my physician on a Monday and called that day to schedule an appointment. After waiting on hold for 15 minutes I was told someone needed to review my file and they would call me to set up an appointment. I asked when I could expect their call, and was told a couple of days, Friday at the latest. Friday afternoon came and I called again and was again on hold for 20 minutes. After I got through, I was told the patient coordinator had not reviewed my file, but I should hear from them by the end of the business day, but if not definitely by Monday morning. I called again on Monday afternoon after not hearing from them and just decided to leave a message instead of dealing with their irritating phone hold service. I requested someone call me back as soon as possible, preferably that day. By Wednesday I hadn’t heard from them and called my physician’s office for a new referral. I was told this is typical of this office and I am not the first person to complain. I made an appointment with another office and now just heard back from Camilla’s on FRIDAY. I can’t even imagine the scheduling nightmare if I was actually a patient. This was just to get through to try to make an appointment. Save your frustration and go literally anywhere else. It’s appallingly unprofessional.

Words cannot express the horrible experience I had here after being a patient for about 7 years. Without sharing my personal medical history, it’s just important to say that though they have a very friendly staff, the doctors and practitioners here are negligent and perform archaic practices. It is frightening and disappointing to have been a patient for so long and to later learn that the quality of care I was receiving was worthless and dangerous to my health. Some seriously disturbing medical opinions were shared by Dr. Lindsey Dawson and her practitioners. I only wish I had not trusted them with my care for so long. Do your research, find a better facility. You deserve quality care by a knowledgeable and skilled OB/​GYN that is current in their field.

I am a big fan of Camellia Women’s Health. Their downtown office is centrally located but be prepared to wait at least 30min before you even get walked back to a room. Linda Honda NP is very good at her job and it is great being able to ask her questions, at least during the visit. This office has a portal that you can supposedly talk with your doctors and ask them general questions, but that’s a joke. If you need to ask them something, hold it until you actually have to go in and see them. Trying to schedule an appointment is ridiculous. You always have to go through the phone tree and always have to leave a message at the appointment desk. I believe the appointment desk person only works from 8am-​2pm. My friend sees Dr. Lindsey Dawson and she is pretty good.

Just became a new patient and had a great experience! Staff was friendly and Linda Honda is awesome!

Very clean, very organized, and extremely nice people who take a geniune interest in you

This is a revised review from one I removed in which I gave Camellia Women’s Health only two stars. I changed it 4 stars because the staff downtown was very friendly when I went in and Dr. Dawson was warm and wonderful and took a lot of time with me and and listened to my concerns regarding my health and regarding the difficulty I had getting through to a live person to make an appt.
As the other reviews stated, it is extremely difficult to get through to the appointment desk and speak to a live person. This is a medical practice, not Comcast, and this just should not be the way they operate. However, the Dr.‘s are aware of the issues and are working to improve this.
Most importantly, I cannot say enough good things about my second experience with Dr. Dawson and I will continue to deal with the difficult admin stuff and stay with this practice because I am confident Dr. Dawson cares about my health and is extremely capable of helping me with my concerns with menopause and any health issues that may arise in the future (hopefully not any :)).

Seriously SO difficult to get an appointment here. Requested one online and they did not call back for several days (which I missed), so I tried calling a ton of times but every time I just got the voicemail. At one point I did leave a message, but it again took them several days to get back to me — of course I missed it again and called back probably at least a dozen times and still could not reach someone (not in a row, but over a week or so). I realize I did miss two of their calls, but I called them much more than that and could not reach anyone. So I called some other offices, and guess what? They all picked up immediately, no playing phone tag. Yay! I would have gone here but getting an appointment was way too difficult :(

I have been going here since I found out I was pregnant, I am now 35 weeks! I absolutely am happy with the care I receive! Both the NP and my Doctor have been wonderful. Dr. Girton is awesome! They both listen to my concerns and have been wonderful throughout my pregnancy. I also saw Dr. Dawson once and she seemed just as great! The only thing I’m not to keen on is having to deliver my baby at Mercy San Juan. Other than that I have nothing bad to say about this office

My normal MD here is MD Schwartz/​Burkhalter, she is awesome. Took time with me, talked to me like a normal real person. She genuinely seems to like what she does and as far as I can tell is very good at it. When I went to make an appointment she was booked up so I had to make an appointment with one of the Nurse Practitioners, Linda Honda.
LINDA HONDA was just awful! She spent the entire time talking down to me, making me feel stupid and trying to rush our appointment, plus some very disgusted and judgmental facial expressions to go with her terrible attitude. I will never go back to see her agin and it makes me question the integrity of Camellias Womens Health as a whole. She was so caught up in her attitude that I don’t think she is capable of treating patients adequately or making accurate diagnoses.

Dr. Schwarz delivered my daughter and I’m 9 months pregnant now and she will be The One again! Some of the negative reviews on here seem to be an insurance issue and not the office’s fault. I’ve dealt with this myself as health insurance is an absolute pain to navigate. But I feel I have it down now — the downtown location is by far the best choice if you can make that happen. It isn’t as busy and every person you come into contact with is friendly, knowledgeable, remember you, etc… I generally see Linda Honda at my appointments and I really like her. She is thorough and straightforward without being cold. I have had to call the emergency line a couple of times and I get a doctor on the phone right away every time. I have high standards and get annoyed with this stuff easily and I have to say I feel like I am at the best place with the best doctors and staff. If you are shopping around for an OBGYN, give this place a try… go to the downtown location!

So I’m eight mo’s pregnant and due to being on state-​aid and having just moved to Northern California, you can understand how the state has changed my medical coverage 4x throughout. I’ve been to PP in two locations, Creekside OB-​GYN, and CWH. Camellia Women’s Health is BY FAR the most unprofessional, and uncaring place I have ever had to receive prenatal care, this includes the 6hr waits at planned parenthood.
1: No one answers the phones, even when you are in belief of a medical emergency or your kick counts are not up to par, they have a «leave a message and we’ll get back to you when-​we-​feel-​like-​it» protocol.
2:Note, (@ 37wks pg, I hadn’t been able to get ANYONE on the phone for 2 ½wks for an appt) so I went in physically, despite my living an hour away, (and now wheelchair-​bound), and there was exactly 11 women sitting in the office not helping anyone with their thumbs up their asses totally available to answer a phone, but not doing so.
3: After going in the other day I was told that despite my condition, my doctor (who I’ve been able to meet only one time), is unavailable and over– booked for the rest of my pregnancy. So I won’t be seeing him anymore. Not even for my delivery unless he is on-​call.
4: I was having excruciating groin pains since about 25wks, when I was switched over to Molina HC (therefore CWH) and had been telling them this isn’t normal. Both practitioner and doctor claimed it was ‘typical pregnancy pains,’ possibly early BH contractions, to take a Tylenol and get over it. Come to find out about 35wks pregnant, and paying out-​of-​pocket for a second opinion, I actually have a condition called SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), was diagnosed too late, missing any chance of being capable of performing physiotherapy sessions and actually got and «Oops, sorry– maybe we should have done a pelvic floor exam» from my practitioner. I’m unable to sit up straight or walk. This includes going to the restroom or getting out of bed without loud clicking/​grinding sounds from my hips and an unbearable ripping sensation in my groin. Upon calling a physiotherapist, it was «suggested» to me in an undertone to open a malpractice case due to the fact my misdiagnosis gone untreated has a history of leaving women permanently wheelchair bound due to the inability to heal after labor, and this being an entirely prevent/​treatable dysfunction.
& lastly on MY list, but what I’m sure is not the last,
5: After all of this, I decided I will no longer be seeing anyone here and in order to see a doctor who can help me, I requested a copy of my medical records. They made me sign a release of information (to myself), but then wouldn’t give them to me because the doctor needs to approve (?) it. This made me so uncomfortable! CWH gives my doctor the ability to go back through and edit my ACTUAL MEDICAL RECORDS before I receive them. Illegal. This place should be shut down.
One last note to keep in mind~
CWH and their ‘doctors’ are affiliated only with Mercy San Juan Hospital, the worst, oldest, and dirtiest of any of Mercy’s sister medical centers.
My advice if you’re on state coverage, and can’t afford out-​of-​pocket prenatal care but would like an adequate prenatal experience:
don’t wait until it’s too late. Go down to human assistance, get switched to HealthNet or something and stay as far away from CWH as you can.

I am a new patient. I saw Dr. Dawson and I LOVED her. Aside from my previous PCP I never LOVED a physician. The one star rating is not for, but the staff. Who were all nice that’s not the problem… let me start from the beginning.
I previously had a c-​section with my 1^st and only child 6 years ago and it is very hard to find a OBGYN that will do vbags. I do not want another c-​section and I am planning to have another child within the next year. I had a PCP who left the practice and was replaced by a male. I know it’s silly, but I would just perfer having a female dr. I’ve had males in the past and didn’t mind, but now that I am older for some reason I just perfer a female.
I made an appointment back in June to be seen in early July. I was told that they would need my medical records if I wanted to continue with my current form of bc depo and I did. So I went down to there office the next afternoon to sign a medical release form. Approximately 3 weeks later the date of my appt. I am told that they cannot verify my insurance because the office is closed (my insurance is located on the east coast and my appt was in the afternoon) and because they cannot verify my insurance benefits I will not be able to get my shot, which I was due for. I happen to work in healthcare and explained to the MA that I did not understand why my insurance was not verified prior to my appt, and that I am due for my shot and this is unacceptable I would’ve gone to another dr or even planned parenthood had I known this. They eventually agreed to give me the shot and would verify my benefits 1^st thing the next morning and they would bill me if necessary and I said that was fine. The next morning they were able to verify my benefits the next morning and I did not owe anything.
Fast forward a few weeks later I have to schedule a procedure. Scheduling was easy enough. About a week prior to my appt I received a call from the office stating that I have not reached my yearly family deductible yet and would be responsible for paying for my procedure on the date of service. I am in the middle of planning a wedding and this procedure was unexpected. Don’t get me started on the high cost of medical insurance these days. I pay $ 350 a month in premiums, but have a $ 2500 family deductible, therfore I pay for every dr’s visit etc. I asked if I could pay half on the date and make payments on the rest. I was told no I had to pay in full the day of or have to reschedule my appt.
I called around and found a reputable OBGYN that would perform my procedure and would allow me to make payments, but I would need to bring my medical record on the date of my appt. When I called Camellia Women’s Health I was told taht after I sign a release form the dr must approve the release of my medical records 1^st and due to their busy schedules this could take anywhere from 7 – 14 days! Are you kidding me?! This is MY medical record and I have to jump through hoops for it. I have never had this issue in the past. I have always been able to just walk in the office sign the form and be on my way. I would not recommend them at all and it’s a shame because I did really like Dr. Dawson.

I was new to the Sacramento area about 8 months ago and was able to get an appointment at the downtown location. I made it the first appointment of the day so I wouldn’t be late for my new job. I was told it was 7:15. I arrived early as suggested and was kept waiting by Dr. Dawson unti 7:50 when she finally showed up. No explanation or apology that she was late. Walked into the room like it was nothing. Dr. Dawson doesn’t care about her patients. I was late to work and got in trouble. Dr. Dawson was supposed to follow up with a recommendation and it has been 5 months. Haven’t heard a word from her. I will never go back to her because she has a total disregard for her patients. I would give zero stars if I could.

I have been trying to get on the phone and schedule something with them for a week. No one answers and I’m going somewhere else…

I go to Dr. Schwarz at the Capitol Mall office and I think she’s great! She is totally professional, makes me feel at ease, and is very personable. Given, I am low-​maintenance because I haven’t and don’t plan to use my reproductive system for much of anything (certainly not for reproducing!) Still, I go in every few years for an exam and Dr. Schwarz is top-​notch.
In terms of the phone/​scheduling issues, I think those having issues are not making the correct selections. If you listen to the choices and make the right selection, you will get a person.

They never answer the phone! what is wrong with them!!!

I canceled my appointment before my first visit. Getting through to the scheduling department over the phone is a joke. The person who answers the phone transfers you, the line goes to voicemail… I WANT TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE when I call. It took 3 rounds of phone tag to finally get an appointment. I decided to cancel and schedule somewhere else. The other obgyn’s phone person actually answered the phone, talked to me, and schedule the appt in one phone call :-)

This is a GREAT BIG SHOUT OUT for Dr. Lindsey Dawson!!! First, I have to say that I saw Dr. Timothy Phelan in Folsom. I had severe fibroids/​ovarian cysts and was scheduled to have a full hysterectomy performed by him. However, I felt increasingly uncomfortable with his inefficient staff, as well as his lax attitude. I chose to see Dr. Dawson after a friend of mine referred me.
Long story short… Dr. Dawson’s thoroughness saved me from renal failure. She actually «listened» to all of my concerns. She then voiced her concerns regarding my situation and ordered a series of tests which revealed a large kidney stone; necessitating surgery PRIOR to my hysterectomy. Had this not been done, my new urologist, Dr. Samuel Chan, has stated that I likely would have experienced RENAL FAILURE!!!
Both surgeries were performed back to back with no complications whatsoever. Her bedside manner is wonderful. She’s been very patient with my endless barrage of questions. She is knowledgable about bio-​identical HRT and supports my decision to explore this option. I just can’t say enough wonderful things about her~! I feel priviledged to have found an incredible OB/​GYN whom I can relate to as well as trust! I am now referring new patients to her and they are 100% happy with her too.
Dr. Dawson is my doctor of choice for LIFE~!

Just wanted to update it, and say that in the end, I had to have a C-​section, because dr. Shwarz failed to recognize that the baby is breach and I found it out when I was in labor. I shared my concerns with the doctor and NP before re: baby’s position and was assured that the baby was in the right position. I also went to the doctor at 2 pm and was in labor at 9 pm, but they did not check me at the appointment. I am leaving their practice.

I was new to the Sacramento area about a year ago and for some reason was able to get one appointment at the downtown location. The visit with Linda was great and she really helped me out. She seems like she has seen everything. Excellent care from her; never saw an actual doctor, but really didn’t need to.
My issue is with the reception/​scheduling department. Every time I needed an appointment after that first visit I called and would be transferred to the «schedule desk» where no one would ever pick up. Each time I left a detailed message with my name & phone and was NEVER called back, even after several professional/​polite messages. Not sure what the deal was there but it was frustrating enough to leave a review. Sorry.