Palo Alto Medical Foundation

PAMF is the bomb.
Monday (today) at 4:35pm:
Got my TB test for work in less than 3 minutes. It was ridiculous fast. I never go anywhere but PAMF. Ever. Well except when they say I need surgery, but you get my point.
I actually went to another clinic for this per my employer but they freaked me out with their «new patient forms». The papers were a stack of identical forms on a single clipboard. I worked in the medical field (psychiatry) too long and have watched too much «Forensics Files» to not envision being able to do «a rubbing» to get my data on the left over depressions of the fat pen leaving a visible trace of all my personal identification. They wanted my name, address, phone number, DOB, Social Security #, drivers license number, marital status, JOB TITLE?, my employers name, employers phone number and more.
But I digress — I walked out that door with several sheets of paper (the ‘indentions’) and came right here to PAMF in Watsonville off Green Valley near Home Depot. They only have one set of private papers per clipboard over here.
Easy to get to.
Easy to park.
The receptionist talked to me immediately.
After paying I asked the Receptionist «how long will it be?» and another woman came through the side door and called my name (they were that fast). We all laughed at that.
I’ve been going to PAMF since they were Santa Cruz Medical Clinic. I’ve always had exceptional care to the point that I’ve never gotten around to getting a primary physician. Lol. They are the ones who figured out my kidney stones when the local emergency room did not. (Tam Holbert, MD deserves that credit — and just a super nice guy too).
Love these guys.
And at all three locations I’ve been to.
Tip: Want the fastest service?
Go to the Watsonville Urgent Care (this one). «Main» is most popular (off Soquel near Harbor High).
Tip 2: Go to their website to see approximate wait times before you go.
Now to come back in two days to have my test read, do another check-​in and maybe I be the Dutchess? Oh yeah!

Dr. Kaplan was fantastic. Very kind and patient on my follow up appointment.
Everyone thought I just had a bad cough & cold but it turned out to be bronchitis.
Wait times are a bit brutal when you’re in pain but everyone was nice.

Great office if you have an appointment but they only get 3 stars because the wait times are insane for urgent care. There seems to be tons of people working here but they aren’t organized enough to get people through in a timely manner.

Great staff. Love that all of my records are accessible online. Professional, resourceful physicians. They spend time with me which is rare and appreciated!

Clean office and friendly staff. Used them for Urgent care. The receptionist was nice and efficient. The nurse that got me situated in a room was very nice. The Doctor… Dr. Todd did not make me feel rushed and did a thorough check. She also asked questions. A very good experience for a Urgent Care. (I had been here about 3 times before with my girlfriend when she needed a Doctor and each time it was like today) I drive 45 minutes out of my way to go here because of the great service!

Went here with no insurance for an infection on a small cut, got blood tested and a penicillin injection.
I asked what the cost would be and they could not tell me. They said the doctor writes up the codes and billing department costs it. They agreed that it could not be more than a few hundred dollars. So I get the injection.
I called billing and they told me that they could not give out price because the doctor needs to supply codes and that is the only way to get a price on something and that I have to wait for the bill.
I get a statement 2 weeks later and the bill is $ 6,884. There is no breakdown or an actual bill/​invoice. I call them up and they say yes it’s correct!
Unbelievable — so if I had insurance — no problem because they pay it!
But how or why is this bill so high — I called them and got no answers.
Pay cash on your own but how can it be $ 6,884. ???
AVOID THIS PLACE — COMPLETE RIP OFF WITHOUT EXPLANATION OF COSTS BEFORE A PROCEDURE!!! AVOID AVOID AVOID
To follow up — I know it’s a long time.
They amended the pricing they got incorrect. But it took seeing a manger because they would not back down in accounting.
It took another 2 weeks to get adjusted — you should not go through this stress while you are sick and recovering.

Been here a few times with my wife. Never had to wait more than 5 minutes. The staff and the doctors are all super friendly and very professional they go above and beyond to help their patients. Glad they are here.

This is the second time that I have been here and been told, when I asked, that we were all set upon leaving to have them hound me for an added charge later.
Is this common practice for the uninsured?
Is makes me VERY angry that they said they would call with my lab results, never did, but managed to send me a bill TWICE, after I had made sure before leaving that there were no further charges.
What a bunch of garbage. Instead of giving me the information so I can make an informed decision, even when I ask more than once, they say everythings fine, that they will hold up there end of the deal «well let you know» and then have the nerve to say «oh hey, here’s a bill for all that stuff we didn’t tell you cost extra when you where here, either before or after! Enjoy!‘
I’ve been to a few different veterinarians throughout the years, every single one of them has given me a breakdown of possible treatments and their cost. Without me ever even asking.
I think it’s totally wrong to assume in these situations, this is why I went out of my way to clarify the charges before leaving.

This is where my Doctor is. Nice friendly staff, if you have an appointment you are seen pretty much right on time. Nice big waiting room, good magazines, and a giant chalkboard for the kids. The Urgent Care Doctors & Staff are great also. There’s a Physical Therapy dept here so you don’t have to go to the Santa Cruz facility.
They are currently expanding so, again, you don’t have to trek all the way to Santa Cruz for some lab work or tests. It’s nice to have my Doctor so close to home.