UCSF Sleep Disorders Center

Review for UCSF Sleep Department I’ve always had great experiences with UCSF staff—they are typically very professional and understanding. Unfortunately, my recent interaction with someone from the Sleep Department was an exception. A woman named “Dishante” (not sure of the spelling) called to speak with my mother. I explained that I am her son and caregiver, but the conversation was frustrating from the start due to her unclear communication and difficult-to-understand pronunciation. She asked if my mother could join a meeting or conference call, to which I responded that she could not at the moment, but I would be happy to schedule something for later. I asked where she was calling from, and after some effort, I understood she was from the Sleep Department. She kept insisting I call back when my mother was “ready,” despite me explaining multiple times that I was ready to schedule the appointment on her behalf. When I asked her to repeat her name, she abruptly hung up on me. This was shocking, as I’ve never encountered such unprofessional and rude behavior from UCSF personnel before. I hope UCSF looks into this matter because interactions like this reflect poorly on their otherwise stellar reputation. Patients and their caregivers deserve better.

I really liked the resident I was assigned early on, but she left after her year was up. My regular sleep doctor (Dr. Rochelle Zak) was distant and uninterested and a little off-putting until my visit this summer. I asked her for her opinion on the tonsil surgery I was getting, and we set up an appointment. She spent the appointment telling me at least six times that my sleep apnea would be "cured" if I would just lose weight. I tried to tell her about my weight loss journey and got cut off so she could tell me how mad she was that I fixed my deviated septum with surgery. Another comment about my weight, so I tried to talk about my dietician and the steps I was taking. Cut off again. She was not interested in my history, my journey, my difficulties, or my basic dignity as a human. She just wanted to tell me how fat I was and how that was the only thing contributing to my apnea. And how DARE I consider doing a tonsil surgery! I tried to explain my reasoning, but she didn't want to hear it. By the 6th weight comment, I was just so uncomfortable I couldn't think straight, and when I finally left the office, I cried for 20 minutes straight, trying to figure out what to do. (For the record, I have lost about 100 pounds since my sleep apnea diagnosis, and it did not make a significant difference in the apnea. I sent her a message informing her of this when I fired her because she didn't let me talk during our appointment.) If you must use this office, request a different doctor than Dr. Zak. I requested a change in clinician, but the appointment was 6 months out at the time. I'm not optimistic. I was hospitalized in October and started using oxygen for a chronic progressive lung condition, but this office refused to move up my next visit. So that's not a great sign. I'm looking for other offices that will take my insurance and would not recommend this place. Each UCSF office has to be judged separately, I guess. Not all of them are as great as my PAH clinic people at Parnassus.

9/8/21: The front desk & medical assistant were nice, as was the clinician. I went there for a Sleep 😴 💤 Apnea check up. All was well. Everyone seemed to be very clean 🪥🧼 oriented with 😷 s & cleaning 🧹🧼 their hands alot. June, 2023: The Dr. said they do not schedule 1 year out appointments. I only go once per year, so I have to keep track of time myself & reschedule in 6 months (December) for my next 1 year appointment. At least now I know. My Dr. was nice. My sleep 😴 💤 apnea numbers were very good. 10/31/23: Polite helpful front desk staff & clinicians. Clean office. Efficient.

Complete scam. Details below: - Charged $769.44 for no services rendered - Call in September, claim they can't actually provide a consult until Jan 2nd. Feels suspicious given that's when my deductible will start anew. - I'm assured the consultation is no-cost, just see if sleep study is necessary - 30 min virtual consult, resulting in the doctor saying "you don't really need to do a sleep study" - Hounded with phone calls EVERY SINGLE DAY after the virtual consult asking me to sign up - Hit with the aforementioned bill later in the year and refused to waive it As I said, scam... avoid at all costs.

Beware setting up sleep studies here unless you are prepared to pay big $$$. I was charged $650 (that's *after* my insurance negotiated it down, total was really $850) for just the initial Zoom consultation. Scared to imagine what the cost of the actual sleep study will be - not going to be moving forward with that. Giving 2 stars rather than 1 because the staff and doctor were all very friendly.