San Francisco General Hospital Orthopaedic Service

Today I went in for my three month follow up for my total hip replacement. Having been to the clinic, I knew what to expect wait-​wise and brought some reading material. My appointment was 10am, I checked in at the desk twenty minutes prior. A smiling staff person rmembered my name and sent me off to make my co-​pay. I was then sent to get fresh X-​rays and was back in the waiting room at 10:45 when I was called in for my meeting. Ace, the intern came in the examination room and gave me a professional examination and interview. Within a few minutes the surgeon who worked on me, Dr. Meir Mormar came in. Friendly and competent, certainly not aloof, Dr. Mormar answered all the questions I had as he went about checking my range of motion and other criteria to help him judge my recovery. Prior to my current situation, I had health insurance through another entity which will remain nameless. A member of «Health San Francisco» now, I can honestly say the level of heathcare I have received from the entire Orthopedic team at SF General has been superior to my prior healthcare experiences. These people honestly care about their patients! Kudos to all of them; the office staff, nurses, interns and especially Dr. Mormar who took on my difficult case and helped me overcome the debilitating pain which had impacted my quality of life.

Dr. Meinberg– the attending in ortho– is great! I had a hip replacement and they incorporated the most advanced surgical techniques to get me back on my feet within a few days and walking within a week and recovered in 4 – 5 weeks– so GREAT! This hospital also serves the communities around it… «working class” — no just the poor! BUT, having said that, the fabulous staff of nurses and doctors are clearly accustomed to serving people who are indigent, don’t get much family support, etc. So when they treat someone who has supportive family, friends… they seem somewhat surprised (but delighted) and I thhink the affects thier expecations a bit.

It’s really hard to evaluate community hospital since it serves the indegent people who can’t even afford the private insurances.
Moreover, sometimes this hospital serves prison inmates and homeless people as well.
Longtime of waiting can be expected. However, my experience with this hospital’s this particular department is very good.
All the staff are work hard and the Dr. McClellan is such a stellar great surgeon but also treat his patients with friendly warmth and caring. Dr. McClellan breaks the stereo type that surgeons are very cold and arrogant.
Dr. McClellan’s specialty is traumatic ortho surgeries so deals with a lot of physical wounds and pain. When I was hit by a car he had performed the surgery on me very successfully.
Every time he sees me always asks me about the level of pain. I think that this department serves the community so well. Hence although people who can afford to go to the private practice with their insurances they still choose to go to general hospital. Due to the fact that the SFG surgeons are a lot better off than any private hospitals.