Need Recommendations for Physicans at Kaiser in Santa Clara

Hi S.,
I've been going to Kaiser for 10 years now. I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old and I love their pediatrician. Her name is Elizabeth Copeland and she is located in Santa Clara. She only works M, T & F as she has two little kids of her own. She is easy to talk to and very knowledgeable. I totally recommend her. My primary care dr is not that great so I'll let someone else recommend theirs.

I've belonged to Kaiser for a long time. I reccomend going to the Mt. view facility for your OB/GYN and Pedi. I love both my Ob/gyn and pedi up there. Dr. Rao (ob/gyn) and Dr. Tuch (pedi. Although we have seen the other doctors in Mt. view and all of them are great. Dr. Forgy (ob/gyn) would be my second choice. My son is only 10 months so we haven't seen many of the other pedi's. Dr. Johnson was nice. We just love Dr. Tuch and so does our son. As far as a primary, I like Dr. Susan Yang. She's at the new Santa Clara facility. Which, by the way, is realy nice. Also, with Kaiser you can go online to check lab work, e-mail your doctor and all sorts of other things that is very helpful.

I have been with Kaiser all of my life and absolutely recommend the new facilities in Santa Clara on Lawrence Expy. I would have to say go the their website kp.org and look at the directory to pick drs. If you are ever unhappy you can always change. I don't have any specific dr recommendations but everyone that I have seen has always been great. My 18 month old was born at Kaiser and I am currently pregnant with our second. Dr. Miller is my ob and I can only say good things about him and the staff. Always nice and professional. Good luck to you :)

Hi S..

I have been with Kaiser all my life (over 40 years). I changed insurance once and immediately went back. You can choose your own doctors, so yes, you may find some that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, but I have had tremendous luck finding good ones. Once you find them you can stick with them. I have been to Santa Clara for emergency situations and have had wonderful care. Dr. D. Ray, (I can't remember her title), but her specialty is problem pregnancies (neonatologist?). She saw me through 8 pregnancies in which 6 ended in miscarriage and she and most of the staff were wonderful. There was one rude male nurse who asked why I wanted to see my dead baby, but the rest made up for him in their thoughtfulness and care.

I regularly go to Santa Teresa even though it is farther for me, just because my doctors there have been seeing me and my kids for years. Dr. Thomas Lin, OB/GYN, is absolutely wonderful. He knew my history and ordered every test possible to keep track of my babies. I never had to ask, but when I did he was quick to say yes. He did an ultrasound every week until I reached 36 weeks just so we could see how things were progressing.

Dr. Otto Yu is my primary care physician, and again, goes the distance in making sure I get what I need or ask for.

Dr. Mina Pai has been our pediatrician since the day of my first son's birth. She is excellent and really allows the parents to be the decision makers in the care of the child. She is very thorough and explains everything (my boys going through puberty since I am a single mom now!)

I would also recommend Dr. Biller (ENT), and Dr. Peters (Nephrologist) if these special care doctors are ever needed.

The new facility at Santa Clara is beautiful, clean and quiet. I think you will be happy there. Remember, you have the right to interview your doctors before you choose them to be your primary doctors. You can also change any time if you see someone who doesn't click for you. Don't rule out the possibility of going to another facility. You will still get the same benefits. Good luck.

My sons 1st pediatric doctor was with Kaiser. (We no longer have Kaiser). Her name is Eloise Joseph. Last time we saw her she was at the Mountain View Location on Castro St. She was wonderful to our son. In fact she was the doctor on duty the day I gave birth. The only problem we had with Kaiser was the fact that our son has Eczema and when we asked for him to be seen by a specialist to see if there were any allergy related problems causing flare ups we were told flat out no. Their reasoning was he was under the age of two therefore there's nothing they can do. We went to a Dermatologist and he couldn't believe we were told such a thing. He of course has patients of all ages. My son did in fact have a lot of allergy problems after all. I now go to Camino Medical Group. Hopfully with your husbands job their he'll have insights to who's great and can get around the road blocks.

Hi,
Ken V., one of your Camino Medical group physicians, is a good friend of ours. :) We are not Kaiser members, but I know of a good podiatrist (incl surgery) there. I know that is not a primary doctor, but with all the potential sport related injuries, you never know. Podiatrist- Dr. Jon Risser

Hi S.,

Do you have to sign up with Kaiser? Sounds like you have a great team of docs. I love all my docs at Camino Medical Group! R.C Hill delivered my last 2 children and his wife delivered my other daughter. They were great! If not, I'm sure you'll find some good doctors at Kaiser too. Just wanted to put in my two about Camino Medical Group. Good luck in your search!

Hi there.

We used to have doctors with Kaiser until my husband's job and insurance changed. My pediatrician was at the Campbell location so I don't know if that helps but her name is Carol-Lynn Barsky and her website is www.permanente.net/doctor/barsky. We really liked her and we were sad to leave. My OBGYN was at Santa Clara and I enjoyed him. His name is Brian Sitarz and his website is www.permanente.net/homepage/doctor/briansitarz. I hope this helps! Good luck!

R.

Hi S.,
Wow, you are a busy mommy. I, myself, have 4 children. Daughters, ages 16, 11, 9, and 4 so I am quite aware of sports related injuries as well as the "ill dominoe affect". Anyway, we've been with Kaiser since our first daughter was born and I highly recommend their pediatrician. Her name is Dr. Elaine Chen at Kaiser Milpitas. She is very attentive and takes her time listening to the girls' issues. Whenever we need to see her for any advice or treatment, from acne medication to tantrum behaviors, she is quick in returning our calls or getting us in for an appointment. She is also a mother of 2 toddler girls, so I know she understands my concerns on a personal level.
Good luck in your quest and whoever you choose, I hope you and your family will be happy with them.

Kris T

Hi S.,

I have been a patient of Kaiser Permanente for 40 years and absolutely love it. I have had many opportunities through the years to change to something else and have always opted to stay with Kaiser.

I am currently with Kaiser Santa Clara and have been since 1989. I adore my primary care physician who is Dr. Teresa Dao. She is very caring, remembers who you are the your history (or else she is good about reading your chart beforehand), and takes the time needed with you. I have never felt like I was being rushed.

My Ob/Gyn is Dr. Ghaffari and she also is very good. I had a hysterectomy when I was 29 (I am now 61) and so I don't have to see her every year (every other year now) but I have always felt like she was thorough and also very caring.

I do not know about any pediatricians because my little girl is now 38 years old but I do have friends who have kids who go to Kaiser Santa Clara and I can ask them. I know they are also very satisfied with the care they have received. E-mail me directly if you are interested in any further info. I also have a dermatologist, rheumatologist, orthopedic surgeon, optometrist, and opthamalogist. (Damn, the old body is falling apart.)

C.

Hi S.

I have had really bad and really great experiences with Kaiser. I think it's not much different than any other place you can be. But I have noticed that you do need to be your own advocate. If your gut is telling you that further testing or treatment is needed for something you need to insist on it, otherwise it will often go untreated. And if you're not happy with a physician you can always switch. My mother was so upset with her lack of care with a doctor at Campbell that she went to Santa Clara to complain and they listened to her and matched her with a doctor that really fits her needs.

Good Luck!

If you are all in (and stay in) perfect health, then Kaiser will be fine. However, if, God forbid, anything should ever happen to any of you, I fear for your health and safety. A friend of ours went to Kaiser SC on three separate occassions, asking for an EKG, but because Kaiser doctors are given annual kickbacks if they don't use all of the funds alloted to them for testing, he chose not to take her seriously. She was, after all, an athletic woman in "good shape". Well a month later, she dropped down to the floor after exercising, had a coronary attack, and ended up with an ischemic brain trauma that has left her in a semi-comotose state ever since.

I also personally accompanied a different friend of mine, who was miscarrying at 16wks gestation to Kaiser (this time in Almaden), and their lack of care was abhorrent. They made her stand there waiting for more than 20 minutes, didn't offer her a wheelchair, and when she did get into her room, the nurse couldn't figure out how to operate the bed. It was two hours later that a doctor finally got to her, and much longer after that before she got any help at all. Oh, and to top it all off, they put her in the maternity ward where she had to walk past the nursery, and could hear newborn babies all around her.

These are only two precautionary tales among many. I do wish you and your family the absolute best, and hope that you never have to endure such things.

Not sure exactly where you live but there is a Kaiser clinic in Campbell and we love our pediatrician there her name is Dr. Barsky. I have an ob there and a general practioner my ob is Dr. Stark (female) and my gen dr. is Dr. Fetters (female) love her! As far as Kaiser goes I have been with them for nearly 30 years with only about a one year break because it wasn't available where I worked. You can choose any doctor as your primary care, ob, etc and each doctor has an autobiography listed on the web site which you have access to immediatly on joining. There are many advantages especially if your husband works there. You can change your doctor at any time with no questions asked and there is an urgent care with easy access at both the Campbell clinic and the Santa Clara facility. I don't know about sports medicine but I'm sure you can find out more specifics. I don't work for Kaiser but I really like care myself and family have received. I have 10 and 7 year old boys. The younger of which has been in twice to get stitches and all worked out great. If you have more questions send an email to me at ____@____.com