California Center For Sleep Disorders

Got a call 30 mins prior to my sleep test that it was cancelled bc they didn’t have the keys to the place and did not know why the locks were changed. I’d recommend elsewhere to go instead, waste of my time, waited 2 weeks for nothing, saw all the reviews now and doesn’t seem very positive

California Center for Sleep Disorders is an absolute disaster. Everything about their level of care and service is embarrassing. From the corrupt portion of their business that forces CPAP from their sister company, to the ridiculous length of time it takes to get anything scheduled, CCSD is a complete disappointment to health care in America.
Please do yourself a favor and seek help for sleep disorders ANYWHERE else than here.

UPDATED REVIEW
I initially had a very bad reaction to my experience here, but after speaking with the office manager, I got a much better understanding of the complexities of the insurance claim and billing processes. I updated my review from 1-​star to 3-​star, solely as a result of my conversation and the response I got from the office manager. While I would still hesitate in recommending them, I don’t feel that they were intentionally trying to swindle me. My advice: if you have any questions or issues, speak to the office staff and get your questions resolved.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
I have suspected that I might have sleep apnea for years, but finally took the step to get formally evaluated. I was referred here by my regular dentist, but they were not aware of some of the changes that CCSD had made.
After doing the at-​home sleep study and reviewing the results, I was diagnosed with having mild apnea and given a prescription. By my dentist was unable to fulfill the prescription for an oral device because CCSD steers all those prescriptions to a dentist in SF. They said they bill insurance directly as a medical device instead of a dental device, which covers more of the cost. Sounded really shady to me, and I plan on investigating further to see if that’s even legal.
PROS
— None, unless you consider their online web portal, which made it very easy for them to charge my credit card.
CONS
— Surprise charges — I paid over $ 800 out-​of-​pocket for a simple at-​home sleep study
— Long waits for appointments and testing windows
— Limited number of providers for dental appliances (only 1 in SF)
TIPS
Go somewhere else. Anywhere else.

It is with great relief that I found these reviews this morning. Normally, I would have checked Unilocal prior to going to a new doctor, but because I was referred, I didn’t. Huge mistake. I can echo every other review, and add that the room I was in at the Hyde Street location was an office where the furniture was pushed out of the way for a Murphy bed to be lowered. The dust in the room was so extraordinary I shot pictures, which I will add here later. I have allergies. As earlier reported, the equipment was cleary unclean. I only stayed, because I was sure they’d find a way to take my car in cancelled appointment charges. There were stains on the comforter. It looked as though they’d just turned it around from the night before, so the stains were at the food of the bed. Absolutely disgusting. I stood by my washing machine when I got home, and systematically disrobed, loading street clothes after my bed clothes, concerned at what I might have gotten on them at this place.
Three days after I came down with a cold, which I’m sure belonged to the participant before me. And now I find myself questioning the referring doctor, with whom I will be speaking this week.

I usually try not to leave negative reviews, but my experience this morning involved something people would probably like to know about before they go to this practice.
I first went to the Center for Sleep Disorders maybe a year ago. I had the sleep study, they said I had mild sleep apnea and outlined the options for treatment. The CPAP machine seemed like the best option, so I chose that. Unfortunately, this office could not get it for me. I had to go to South San Francisco to get it, from a specific company. Annoying, but not the end of the world. I got the CPAP machine, used it, but the mask either came off while I was sleeping or I took it off. When I asked about getting a different mask, I had to order it from the company in South San Francisco, but luckily they could ship it to me rather than my having to go there to pick it up.
Fast forward to last night. I was sick and realized I wouldn’t be able to keep the appointment I have today. Since it was Sunday of course no one was at the office, but I left a message on the voice mail. I called this morning to make sure they had gotten the message. When I explained to the receptionist that I was sick and needed to reschedule my appointment she told me something that really irritated me.
Namely, that they have a policy that you must cancel 48 hours in advance or they charge you $ 100 dollars for the missed appointment. (narrowed eyes)
Now, I go to Mercy Doctors Medical Group over at St. Mary’s – they don’t have a charge like this. My rheumatologist is at UCSF on Parnassus – that office has no such charge. What could possibly justify this charge? Nothing. It’s just plain old greed. Also, if someone is sick (and they aren’t visiting the doctor to treat that problem) do you really want them coming in to your office?
So I told the receptionist that I would come in today. When I get there I intend to ask what the fee is for having my records sent to another office (not $ 100 I hope). I’ll be looking at reviews here and asking a former roommate who also had sleep apnea where he goes for treatment.

David, what they don’t tell you and what I have since discovered is that the CEO of this co is not an MD and is also the CEO of a Medical equiptment Co that just happens to specialize in CPAP devices. So I’m sure they haven’t called you back because you already have the equipment they want to prescribe and then sell you. You are of no value to them.
Here’s a portion of what I experienced (I did snap pix and forwarding them to regulating authorites w/​a report of all of this):
–during the consultation I was very clear with the doc that I didn’t want to do a sleep study at their location and told him I was «scared» and it seemed «creepy». He didn’t listen to anything I said and insisted I immediately schedule the study and delivered me to the counter to do so. I had fought going for this consultation for a very long time telling my referring doc that I couldn’t do a sleep study. Well, I’m sure there’s a financial incentive for the referring doc because I was told I «must» go to this place.
–Before scheduling, they offered me nothing to explain the procedure so I didn’t really know what I was getting in to. This type of practice can easily buy cheap videos to explain the procedure or even refer you to a youtube video. Nope.
–I did some homework over the weekend and was pretty freaked out. From being at their office, it was clear they only had 2 beds and the «control room» was the receptionist desk. The office is in a desolate strip type office center, single story with doors that open to the parking lot. Picture a ghetto insurance agent’s office.
–It occurred to me early in the day of the study that I would be alone in this place with just a technician. I called and spoke to the «manager» whose name is «Anna» and who doesn’t work on-​site at this locatio. When she told me it was a male I was clear that based on things in my past that this would not work for me. Her exact response was «you should have asked if it would be a male or female when you booked the appointment» as if I should have known to ask this even though they told me nothing about the procedure. I was super upset and she agreed to try to get a femail tech to trade places. She also said if I cancelled now that I would have to pay $ 250 since it was my responsibility to ask about this by Fri of the wk before. When she didn’t call back I assumed she followed through, so showed up for my appt only to find that I’d be alone in this place with a guy they won’t even say is certified or has had a background check. I also learned the other patient that would be coming in later was a male and it would be just the 3 of us all night. I did ask Anna if I could leave if I felt uncomfortable and she replied «we’d want you to stay and finish the sleep study». You can’t unhook yourself so you are pretty much at their mercy.
— I was instructed by the male tech to change my clothes in my «bedroom» which a camera with the red lights on pointed directly at me. About ¼ of the room curtained off, but it was where they hide multiple (unsealed) bags of soiled linens. It was also their storage cabinent and unused furniture graveyard. With no privacy to change, I seriously slept in my street clothes.
— You are assured the tech will tell you what he is doing while hooking you up, well this too didn’t happen. I was so panicked that I broke out in a sweat and he couldn’t get the probes to stick to my head. Still, silence.
–The clearly hadn’t cleaned the wires they hooked me up to and I ended up with a huge rash on my neck the next day, go figure. I called and asked Anna to have a doc call me about the rash. Still no call.
–They instruct you to bring toiletries, specifically shampoo, but don’t tell you there’s no place to wash your hair or take a shower. I was sent home with tons of gunk in my hair and tape in it and it took me an hour to wash it out.
–you can’t get up at night because you are wired and the intercom they say you use actually does not exist. Forget using the restroom at night. The pix on their web site are NOT of what I was given at all.
–They have a sink in their kitchen and a sink in the bathroom. So the kitchen sink doubles as the area where they «clean» pastic masks they put on patients. They are not covered or bagged and are left open about 1 foot away from their kitchen sink with water splashing on them.
–they tell you you’ll be hooked up in one room and sleep in another. Also false.
–You are told on their web site that after you are hooked up you’ll be able to watch TV or read. NOPE. I was hooked up by 8:50 and told lights out at 9:00.
— I called the next day and spoke to the receptionist & Anna to tell them not to charge me for additional services or reports because I would not be coming back. Anna and the receptionist both said the sleep study report was done the day before (? I guess before I even did the sleep study). Hmmm. Fraud?
Just say no to this place.
CCS: SUE ME!

I actually wish I could give less than one star, but the system will not allow that.
While the receptionist was very pleasant, Dr. Bigelow was one of the rudest people that I have ever met. As she was asking the questions during my intake, she kept cutting off my answers, and not allowing me to speak. After doing this several times, she let me speak long enough to tell her that I had previously been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and she snapped «why didn’t you tell me that earlier?» to which I replied «because you kept cutting me off before I could tell you!»
After having to put up with her unpleasantness for about 20 minutes, I was told to go home and to see if my machine had a data card, and to either bring it in or leave a message stating it didn’t. I was told that if I left a message, I would receive a call back to schedule a sleep study. I left a message on May 16^th and here it is May 25^th and I have yet to receive a call back… which is fine with me as I do not want to see Dr. Bigelow again.
Avoid seeing Dr. Bigelow at all costs unless you like being talked down to by uppity, arrogant doctors.