South of Market Health Center

Ineffective, inefficient, unhelpful, rude.
Waited half and hour to be denied after making appt that took almost 2 weeks to get.
Desk clerk was super rude (I’ve been several times, she’s always rude).
⁰⁄₁₀ never going back

Bullet points:
— Staff: Generally friendly and helpful, particularly Judy Anderson the NP and David (don’t know his last name, but he seems to be of significant importance to the clinic). Both Judy and David are professional, helpful, and seem to genuinely care about your questions.
— Facility: Nice and new. Not much to complain about.
— Accessibility: Can be a bit difficult to get a prompt appointment, but if you call back a few times usually they can get you in if you want to be seen.
— Location: On sort of the border of an «up and coming» neighborhood and «seedier» neighborhood — nothing that would ever prevent me from choosing this clinic.
Overall I would recommend this place.

Summary — Do not go here for STD testing if you have insurance. They will rip you off. It has been a nightmare.
Go here only if you are poor and qualify for financial assistance (I do not), and in either case you are probably better off with Planned Parenthood.
Details — I went here after someone I was dating tested positive for chlamydia. As a responsible adult, I figured I should get tested as well. I have a job with good insurance (BC/​BS) that South of Market Health Center accepts. I made an appointment, went to the clinic, didn’t have any problems getting seen, people were friendly, everything started off fine. I spoke to a Physician’s Assistant and we decided that since I hadn’t gotten the full STD test workup in a while, it was probably time, so I got tested for Chlamydia, HIV, Hepatitis, all that good stuff. Gave them blood samples, etc.
They sent my samples to SF General to get my lab-​work done (without my knowledge). This is where the problems started. They never sent my insurance info to SF General, so a couple weeks after I got my test results back, I got a bill from SF General for $ 1,600. I wasted a couple hours on the phone with both South of Market Health Center and SF General figuring this out. I gave SF General my insurance info and they said they’d contact my insurance and see what the new bill came in at. During this whole process, the people I talked to from South of Market Health Center seemed absolutely unfazed by the idea that someone could pay $ 1,600 for routine STD testing, which worried me greatly.
Well, my insurance company is now showing an explanation of benefits with patient responsibility of. .. $ 1,400. I am going to try to contact both South of Market Health Center and my insurance company and see what I can do, but I’m not optimistic and this has already been a nightmare. I will update this review if anything changes.
For what its worth, I tested negative for everything, including chlamydia, but the person I was dating who tested positive and wound up with a $ 200 bill from Planned Parenthood for testing and treatment combined. She got the better deal. So there you go: «South of Market Health Center — Worse than Chlamydia.»

This review is for prenatal care in 2012. Wow. How lucky we’re we? We scrambled to find a doctor to confirm if I was or was not pregnant one unexpected Saturday morning.
We drove across the bridge and back, no one was opened. Finally at the end of the day, 4pm, we learned that South of Market staff would see us, like right now. We quickly recrossed the bridge and made it last minute before they closed. Of course we’ll never forget the moment when they confirmed I was pregnant. And we went home feeling a little stunned, surprised but prepared for the next few early weeks.
The fine services did not stop at convenient drop in hours, but continued through out the duration of my pregnancy. Dr. Sprauge was encouraging and informative. I never doubted myself as a new mom to be even when I felt as though I had no idea what I was doing. She was a great listener and gave wonderful information about what to do next and what to expect.
Check in at the front could be a little tough. We always had issues with our mailbox, our landlord refused to buy the Post Office approved boxes (#eyeroll, #SFproblems). So confirming our address took time, but once we got through the doors and made a left for the prenatal side everything was easy breezy. From an inviting atmosphere, wait time, appointment check-​in/​check-​out, scheduling, everything unfolded nicely.
Even though we inevitably fled from expensive rents to hide out in our charming, hidden historic burb in the North East Bay, we still drove to SF to see Dr Sprauge in those final weeks of pregnancy. Her services continued up to delivery suggesting one hospital over another. Taking her advice we had a great delivery experience on our side of the county.
After going through so much trouble to get my son a decent pediatrician as well as a primary doctor for myself, I cannot believe how lucky we were to fall into the hands of South of Market that one Saturday. They made a very huge transition in our life seem so easy.

I registered with my provider here because of the availability of Saturday appointments. Big mistake, be prepared for last second day-​of notifications of Doctors cancelling appointments on you.
This happened 2 – 3 times in a row until I finally saw one that rushed me out the door without filling out an X-​ray referral correctly. I didn’t even know until I went to the hospital and was turned away for an incomplete form. I had to go all the way back to this place just to get it filled out properly.
If they don’t cancel they’ll show up late, so be prepared to wait an hour past your appointment times.

I went to see Dr. Wong to have my testosterone levels checked as I have several symptoms related to Low T. First he laughed in my face, then he kept saying «how weird, why do you want your testosterone levels checked?». Next we discuss my cholesterol. I told him the last time i had my cholesterol checked it was around 270. He said that was high and wanted to get new blood work done, and possibly put me on meds. I get the labs done and now have to wait 2 months to find out the results??? This doc belongs in a psychiatric ward if you ask me. Needless to say I won’t be returning.

This 5 star review is for my dentist, Dr. Gemma M. Ferrer, DMD. Dr. Ferrer is one of the finest dentists I’ve ever encountered. She thoroughly explained each of the procedures she performed. She was also incredibly gentle and considerate throughout my treatment, constantly checking to make sure I was comfortable. Dr. Ferrer’s professionalism and integrity are quite evident, I felt at ease with her from my first visit! I would highly recommend this dentist to anyone who feels any apprehension about visiting the dentist.

I never went to the old location, which I gather has a lot to do with the low ratings. I went to get a TB test for work on Saturday morning around 9:15am. I was expecting to be waiting a long time but there was only one other person there before me! The receptionist and security guard were sooo friendly. The facility still has that brand new smell and is completely spotless. I was seen in about 5 minutes. I came back on Monday morning at about 845am for my TB results and there were more people in the waiting room this time, but to my surprise I waited no more than 10 mins before being seen by a nurse.

Dr, Gregory Wong of the South of Market Clinic, Seventh St., San Francisco, CA is an outstanding MD. Truly dedicated. Well versed not only in traditional medicine but understands the value of diet ie nutrition, vitamins, mineral supplements etc. A rare trait in this overly medicated world.
I simply do not understand why anyone here would give this great man a negative review. Dr. Wong’s tireless, applied efforts have saved & improved thousands of lives. He could probably make a million dollars a year helping rich people but instead has dedicated himself to the poor and uninsured. We are lucky to have him treat us all. A kind gentleman he has the best presentation of concern for his patients.
Take it from me, Lee Cahalan a professional musician that regardless of your income you could not be any served better from another doctor anywhere in the world. I credit Dr. Wong fo keeping me in good health throughout the past four+ years that he has been treating me.
Dr. Wong IS the South of Market Clinic. God bless him!

I needed a new Dentist and found Dr Ferrar (Sp?) and assistant Daisy to be wonderful people. Dr Ferrar explained everything that she was doing so that I wouldn’t be too nervous during any procedure. Some things took a little longer than expected, but I feel it was a good visit. I have another appointment for a filling in 2 weeks so I’ll let you know how that goes… Ha… Really, I feel very fortunate to have had a great 1^st visit. (I STILL often get nervous before and during a Dentist visit. I was fine today) …
Bert

There us so much that doesn’t work at this clinic. Dr Wong is non-​responsive, you have to stay on them every minute to ensure any follow-​up. Hr is so completely overwhelmed and hasn’t any idea how to stay on top of patient care. It’s very frustrating!

Big disappointment with this medical service. Appointment times are routinely missed by as much as 30 minutes. Staff can be distant and even rude. There is much urging to join «Healthy San Francisco» implied as health insurance by staff when it is no such thing. You won’t be seen by a physician (usually nurse) without an upfront $ 25 fee. Patients/​Customers are pretty much considered by staff as «less than» and dismissed as such. Would not send my worst enemy to this health center.

Just this week, I had my first appt. with Dr. Pulverman at HAFMC; he’s to be my new Primary Care physician with Healthy SF. For the past 4 years, I’d been receiving my care at the SOMA Health Center, who recently moved to some really nice digs on 7^th St. The old office smacked of downmarket medical care for the «underclasses», as it was built in an era when public buildings for public health and housing were as grim and shoddily constructed as they could get away with, I guess to put us public care recipients in our proper places. The new SOMA Health Center looked as nice as the new Kaiser buildings on Divisidero, and both staff and patient attitudes changed for the better: everyone was more respectful of each other.
However, as much as I loved my primary care doctor, N.P. Judy Anderson, who has since left the clinic, prompting my move to HAFMC, there are parts of SOMA that hold on to too many layers of bureacracy resulting in some unfortunate instances of «not my job”-ism. A perfect example is the way you are handled upon first setting foot in SOMA. The receptionist, who can be guardedly friendly, and has been there for the entire 4+ years I’ve been going to SOMA, still has not, or does not wish to master the art of multi-​tasking and efficiently using the phone’s hold function. When you walk in to check in for an appt or ask for a TB test or any number of front-​desk functions, the receptionist has recently taken to asking you to go sit in the reception lounge before you even explain what you’re there for. She then will take phone calls, finish paperwork and other clerical tasks until there is nothing left on her desk – often a 5+ minute endeavor. Finally, you’ll get called to the front desk to check in for your appt, something that the receptionists at my new clinic manage to efficiently do while answering phones and taking paperwork from other staffers. More than once, after being sent to the reception lounge, and 15 minutes later, I was still not acknowledged for the simplest task of checking in, I’ve had to get back in the line and wait to remind the receptionist that I still need to be seen – this has resulted in me being over 20 minutes late for 3 different appointments.
It’s also nearly impossible to get through the phone tree. I only get through to an operator about once out of every 4 attempts, and even though i’ve brought this up in a letter, and verbally several times, my N. P is not listed in the dial by last name directory; if I wish to leave her a message, I have to leave a blind message in the general mailbox for the nursing staff. These messages are forwarded and problem-​solved about ²⁄₃ of the time – they fall into the ether far too often. Since it’s usually involving getting my doctor to fix something with the pharmacy, it’s time sensitive, yet I way too often have to personally schlep down to SOMA, sign up for the drop in sessions, wait 2 – 3 hours and finally get my pharmacy paperwork problem solved in a reprehensively long process that should have been handled with a mere phone call.
The doctors and nurses at SOMA are all really dedicated to their really hard positions; I’ve received great care over the past 4 years. But the support staff has fallen into a lackadaisical lethargy in which if there is an easy way out that doesn’t involve trying to solve a client problem outside of the strictest of normal guidelines, they will take it. Just little things like approaching a counter or window, and having to wait while two clerks leisurely talk about non-​work topics until they are ready, often with a sigh, to help you.
I’ve been transferred to the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic, and the difference is like night and day. The clinic answers the phone usually within the first three rings after a very short phone tree intro. I needed to transfer records from SOMA to HAFMC, and SOMA records told me it would take up to a month, and they guy they had to copy records was only there one day a week. HAFMC lit a fire and got my records in time for my first appt. Appointments are also much easier to make. My first appt was booked on July 5^th for a July 11^th appt with my new Primary Care Physician. Appts at SOMA take over 2 months in advance for booking.
Lastly, the people at HAFMC were really calm, educated and friendly, and very personable whereas at SOMA, I often got the feeling that i was a cog in the wheel of a bureaucratic machine where workers worked slowly and with a certain amount of «I don’t want to be here» attitude that spread out over the whole clinic, resulting in a kind of ghetto-​ish stressful atmosphere. In contrast, HAFMC, although housed in a ramshackle old Victorian house, is sunny, clean, and a very peaceful place, with an awesome selection of magazines in their waiting room.
Don’t get me wrong – the care from my doctors at SOMA was off-​the-​charts great. It’s just the support staff that could use a little bit shining up.

I joined Healthy SF (which they are encouraging for small business owners to adopt), and they assigned the SoMa Health Center to me. Some key notes/​observations should you be considering going here:
1. They blanketly tell you that your appointment is ½ hour earlier than it really is, assuming you aren’t responsible enough to show up in time. It was 1−½ hours after my reported appointment time before I saw my care provider.
2. Typically you will have to call 2 – 3 times and leave messages with the medical department if you need information. You will not be able to speak with your primary care provider.
3. Appointments are typically scheduled 2 – 3 months out if a current patient, longer if you are new. I called at the beginning of May for an appointment; i was told to call back the beginning of June in order to make an appointment as there weren’t any available before July, and that the July schedule wasn’t until then.
4. The front office staff can be rude if not downright abhorrent. It’s a trial simply get through them to see your care provider.
5. The waiting room is an adventure. In advance of my appointment today there was a fellow attempting to get a letter stating that he was under a physician’s care so that he didn’t have to «do time»; a drug deal being arranged on the telephone; and a baby crawling around unchecked on the floor. Quite the mélange, but kinda makes you understand #1. It is a block away from 6^th St.
6. The medical staff is typically caring and very helpful, once you get past the barriers to see them (hence the 2, not 1, stars).

This IS a clinic and you need to be prepared for the full experience of going there. They moved into a great new building and that makes a huge difference. The old location on Minna Street was rather intimidating for the uninitiated. The waiting area was way too small to have all those people coughing and hacking on you.
Now the new place is all fancy-​schmancy and there is a lot of space in the waiting room. They have been there for 2 months and there are still some kinks to work out. But overall the experience wasn’t terrible. This is a nice change from having to go through SF General.
Now only if you can get your prescriptions filled there instead of waiting at SF General. That would make it a 4 star rating.
Nurse Practitioner Judy Anderson is great. She listens to what you have to say and works with you to get your issue solved.
**It is best to walk-​in first thing in the morning 8am. Then they will triage you and determine if you need to be seen that day or to make an appointment for later. Be prepared for waiting about a month and a half to be seen. The appointment schedule is jammed packed. **

The staff at SMHC are great. I have Dentist Gemma Ferrar in the Dental Clinic. (Daisey is Administration and Maxine a great assistant these are Dr. Ferrar’s key assistants). They have saved my dental health. I am on Healthy San Francisco and the price of co pay is easy to pay. Secondly my primary care doctor is Gregory Wong also SMHC he is great too. I am greatful to all these talented kind health care people at South Of Market Health Center. P. S. The New Building at 229 7^th St SF CA Rocks. Thank you!

The ABSOLUTE WORST interaction I have had with a medical facility in my entire life. I was referred here by Healthy San Francisco for a bad tooth. Having no official medical insurance, sometimes you have to settle for where you can be accepted.
I called a week in advance to setup an appointment for 8am on Friday. Once I got there I found that I wasn’t actually scheduled. The showing up at 8am only meant I was eligible for an ‘emergency’ visit. So I wait two hours to be seen, paid $ 75 fee for an x-​ray only to be told they can’t currently develop it but will call me with results. A week later, still no such phone call.
I called back to once again check in. I was referred to another dentist, but they can’t schedule me without a diagnosis and copy of x-​ray. I get the standard, we will call you back, which again doesn’t happen.
Once more I call trying to get my x-​rays, once more told to expect a callback within the day with directions on how to proceed.
Never happened. So three weeks with a possible extraction or root canal on the horizion, I can’t get a simple diagnosis, let alone a phone call.
I finally decided on a day off work to go in and confront this head on. Not only do I find out that my x-​rays aren’t on file, but they can’t find ANY proof that I even had one. So the lady offers to take another one while I’m there. It will be 5 – 10 minutes. I am a patient person, but dealing with this sort of incompetence has me on edge. I wait 30 minutes before asking the receptionist for a status update. She comes back and says it will be another 20 – 30 minutes. No it won’t, I’m out of here. I’ll call on Monday to see about a refund.
I called a few hours after the facility opened to voice my concerns. I was met by confused half answers and never once offered an appointment which could’ve remedied this situation. I was yet again promised a call back which an hour before closing time still hasn’t been made.
After this experience I would NEVER let this facility touch my teeth again, let alone treat any medical needs. There is an obvious attitude of ‘I don’t care’ that permeates from every employee I encountered. I just never expected it to go this far!
I would advise anyone who reads this to make an appointment elsewhere, especially if you’re paying for it.
Pros: None
Cons: Sketchy Location, Apathetic Medical Staff, Extreme Incompetence

I went for TB testing. Just drop in. It was fast and the nurses, well, as friendly and courtious as you can get in a free clinic I guess. The service and the clinic are okay. It’s fairly clean.
BUT, to walk in to the clinic, going through the alley on Minna St. is the thing that scared me the most! When I walked through the alley, there was this woman that appeared to be «high» or some sort, and kept bugging and then when I walked in to the clinic, she was banging on the window. It was scary and crazy. GUESS WHAT?! there was a security, but he was only sitting on his butt! So, nothing was done until the woman felt tired, I guess and left.
Now, I don’t know if I want to return for another TB test. maybe I’ll go to another, saver place and pay… $ 20 won’t kill me as long as I feel save.

This review is being dictated by my roommate & I am so angered by her experience that I want it to be recorded on Unilocal.
DONT GO. IT IS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME. TRY THE HAIGHT ASHBURY FREE CLINIC INSTEAD.
Amy «I went for a TB test, and I called and had a confirmed appointment a few days prior. When I arrived I went straight to the window and they said they couldn’t do the test because they are out of the solution to do the TB test. The woman was adamant that there was NO solution for the test. However, a gentleman overheard and said oh wait — no — we’ve got it and said «let me check if we have it». they did. Which is good. But then he looked around and said he couldn’t find the FORM to do the test. The form! A piece of paper! What — these people don’t know how to photocopy or make 3 copies of the last triplicate? & With these errors aside, it would have been a lot better if they had apologized as I had wasted this time getting off work — but they didn’t see it as a inconvenience at all.
THESE PEOPLE MAKE ME REGRET PENICILLIN. (That was me, not Amy — hee hee) (& yes, that doesn’t make sense but we are incensed!)