Worse Hospital. Don't risk your health by going to City of Hope. I had a surgery with one of their doctors. I developed pain and could not lift my arm few days after the surgery. I called the doctor's office and his nurse and left messages for the doctor to call me. The doctor never called me for two months. After weeks, his nurse called me for the office visit after I left a detail feedback of what happened to me on their server. In brief; I suffered and still suffering until today. The city of hope did not want to pay for my physical therapy. I contacted their CEO, never received an answer. I contact their chief, he sent me two letters that city of hope is not responsible. Do not go to this hospital. Worse Hospital ever.
Very disappointed I thought doctors were supposed to care about patients who have cancer especially this hospital and doctors. I was discharged cause Dr Lorena Rodriguez said she would remove my entire cervix cause of my anxiety I will not go through this any more. And I tried to get the surgery scheduled and then she decided not to do it and discharged me. I am looking into suing Dr Lorena Rodriguez for discharging me a cancer patient. I'm very angry.She discharged me after one visit the consultation cause of my severe anxiety. I would not recommend her or city of hope to anyone.
My son was 28 and died March 1st 2023 he was fine the way he was they started a new treatment he passed a few hours later from the treatment I can't get over what they did just because he was in there for months and there wasn't more you could do you started a treatment and he is gone you are supposed to give them and there family hope and tell us but instead you let him die alone when he passed you told me his own mother I had 15 minutes to see him I live more than a hour away you don't know the pain and suffering I'm going through you took my heart when you let my son die I never was able to hold my son or tell him I loved him because I was never able to get in or you would not tell me how bad my son was because of the patient confidentiality screw your rules we as parents want and need to know what's going on his nephew will never know what a loving person he was I wish I never let him go there
I just read one review and it said they heard you in like cattle. That is exactly how I felt. Uncomfortable atmosphere, overcrowded, and disorganized. I worked in health care for forty years and was absolutely shocked. The follow up horrible. I would never recommend treatment at this chaotic and poorly run program and if they want to continue the outstanding research they are doing they have to improve processes on the front lines. It was a mad house.
Terrible care. They let my daughter go 2 months after relapsed acute myeloid leukemia with nothing. The cancer went extramedullary and she died.
I was offered free flying ticket , in addition to 3 days in a hotel in order to come to New Hope City if I need more test, i think I am reconsidering my options here after what I read regarding patients.
City of Hope touts itself as "the" cancer treatment center. However, if you are not on a PPO or government assistance, good luck getting in. They take only MediCal or PPO insurance. So the middle class is effectively prohibited from going to City of Hope. Yet, they raise funds like they are open to everyone! They are, in fact, a 501 (c) 3 charity but do not serve families on an HMO. My son was treated at City of Hope for Stage 4 cancer when I had corporate EPO medical coverage. When he needed to go back to City of Hope because his treatments caused him to have a serious blood clotting disorder and he needed to see a Hematology Oncologist, City of Hope would not allow him to return. What about all those millions of dollars they raise?
Here's my take on the good and bad at City of Hope. I am a thyroid and breast cancer patient. My first visit with the breast cancer surgeon was phenomenal. Compassionate, knowledgeable and all questions were answered. The reconstruction plastic surgeon provided answers to all my questions as well with informative literature to help me make an informed decision. Roughly two months later, I was scheduled for an extensive surgery. The hospital nurses in the surgical ward were compassionate and competent in my after surgery care. The only downer was my jewelry being "misplaced" from my personal bag (their bad) as I inadventently forgot to remove it prior to coming to the hospital (my bad). The cell phone from the personal bag did make its way back to me though. After my discharge home, I developed a high fever. I called City of Hope back and they told me to come back in for evaluation. Upon arrival, the attending nurse's first words to me were "From your call, I didn't think you really had a fever". Strange comment as who fibs about a fever. As my condition needed IV antibiotics and observation scans, I was admitted back to the hospital (general ward). The only comment I have about this ward is the availability of bladder scanning machines. One machine is shared between two floors so by the time it makes its way back to you, you already emptied your bladder and have to start the process over again. Frustrating to say the least. Five days later, my infection was stabilizing and I was set to be discharged. As I am walking down the hallways with the physical therapist, I had an unexpected and rare life threatening complication where an artery burst in my chest. A rapid response call was made as I fainted in the hallway from a hematoma. I had an excellent team of doctors and nurses come to my aid and an emergency surgery was performed which literally saved my life. Here's the kicker which should be of concern to other City of Hope patients...there was no available surgery room for my emergency situation. I was not stable enough for transport and the only reason I was able to have my emergency surgery performed was because the doctor for another scheduled surgery was running late for his procedure and my doctor was able to take over his operating room due to the precedence of my condition. City of Hope briefly changed their policy following my incident to keep an operating room available for emergencies. Soon thereafter, they ultimately decided to resume their prior policy of booking their six operating rooms to full capacity with no waiting availability for emergency situations. I am currently receiving continuing cancer care at City of Hope and have no qualms with their services on that end. That being said, if I ever need another cancer surgery, I would seek a surgeon and hospital outside of City of Hope to address that need. Just not worth the risk of being in need of an operating room and there being none. In addition, over the last two years, four of the surgeons who operated on me have since left City of Hope. Some were reknown long term City of Hope surgeons so the recent turnover seems to be a concern as well.
We went to City of Hope Upland to schedule cancer surgery for my wife. They herd you in like cattle at that location and it became clear to us early on that they don't care about the patients rather how much money they can make. Not once in four different visits did the surgeon ask my wife how she felt! Deplorable!
They did a scan prior to surgery and the surgeon indicated that it indicated she had stage 1 uterine cancer. After waiting at the hospital all day on the day of surgery, the surgeon came out and said she had stage 4 advanced cancer. I attempted to discuss this with him but he said to call the office and make a appointment in 2 weeks.
We made a telephone appointment and we assembled 6 family members who each drove from over 1 hour away for the consultation. The surgeon was late calling us and only gave us 5 minutes on the phone.We didn't have the opportunity to ask all the questions we had. I called him several days later to complain about his attitude and lack of caring and compassion. He said he didn't remember the conversation but said "we are surgeons and sometimes we get called away" I told him I felt that I took me wife to the wrong place and he said " well ,I'm sorry you feel that way" and hung up.
I filed a grievance with the patients advocacy department regarding all this and I received a form type letter from the head of surgery which didn't address any of it. I attempted to contact him and he refused to return my calls after I left 4 messages. They simply don't care about the patient here. It's all about the money to them.
Be warned! Stay away from this place.
Deplorable! Don't for one moment believe the commercials you see on TV. That's a marketing company who put that together but it's not who they are. Far from it!
Great hospital and staff...however, never try to reach your physician, the way they control calls in to the doctors is ludicrous. Or worse yet try to reach your doc in an emergency situation while sitting in a different ER. They just cant pull it together! Horrible service.
Dr Karras killed my 16 year old son!!! They lied to me and used him as a experiment !! Performed a bone marrow transplant on him to cure him and killed him !!! No apologies are ntn just moved on with their life while I’m left to suffer with unanswered questions ! Do not trust this hospital nor that doctor. I’m disgusted with that hospital I will never be the same. I wish I could give 0 stars but I can’t. I’m forever broken
The city of Hope has first-class equipment, but the system is chaotic, and it is shocking that some doctors lack the basic love for patients.
Entered this hospital for treatment in November, and was assigned to a doctor who had no medical ethics. This doctor never answered the patient questions in the patient portal (twice to ask important treatment questions) and the hospital's private email (5 times to ask important treatment questions) ). so many patients need to enter treatment from the fourth week after the cancer surgery, but the doctor just meet patient once then never answers any questions, asks for a meeting again, no answer also.
In this situation, the patient had to request a change of doctors. What is unbelievable is that the procedure for changing doctors in the City of Hope lasted for two weeks. At this time, it was the eighth week after the cancer surgery. All treatment options depend on the patient's own search for answers on Google.
After the hospital arranged a new doctor, the first appointment of the new doctor was arranged a few weeks later, at twelve weeks after the cancer surgery. This is also the deadline for cancer patients to receive treatment. the patient once begged to make an appointment with the new doctor earlier, but although the appointment was made, it was canceled the day before the appointment, the reason is that "the new doctor does not want to see you at this time". This is a shocking answer.
it is worth mentioning that city of hope upland radiotherapy department is very efficient and top-notch,
If the patient enters the city of hope, if he is assigned to a doctor who has no doctor's ethics, then your life is not guaranteed. Once, the enthusiasm of the staff of the City of Hope was moving, but the chaos of the hospital system was shocking.
I recently visited Woman Center in the city of Hope. I arrived at 11 o'clock for an interview of 11:20. The receptionist was very mean and had an attitude with me. They put me in a room. I sat there for more than an hour. No one acknowledged me that I was sitting there except this rude nurse who came 3 times in the room pretended not seeing me washed her hands and went out of the room. The next 2 times she came in she took something from the cabinet and left. She did not acknowledged me like I was invisible. After an hour and half I went out and asked someone how much the wait will be. They said she is finished with the one before you and she is going to come in right this minute. I sat there for another half an hour and nurse did not show up. Then I put on my clothes and went out and asked them to cancel my appointment. No apologies, nothing. In addition to the difficulties a patient has to suffer because your hospital is under construction, now your staff turned rude and insulting. I give this place a Zero.
I’ve been going there for 9 mos. & have had numerous problems, IV’s placed in wrong/lab draws painful/bruises/wrong labels on blood vile/scheduling nightmares/incompetent nurse in treatment clinic/lack or incorrect information/wrong directions given (had a print out) /nurses leaving because of management & narcissistic dr. /billing problem, they charged $1,714. For a pneumonia shot that could be done for $170 at most (ck internet)/lack of communication/anesthesia problem (not enough) etc. I have been given great help by very few & the medication I‘be been given has reduced my cancer & I’ve had side effects. Although I’ve been lucky to get into a trial.. there’s been many problems & I don’t believe they’ll ever be properly addressed & never fixed. I’m sick & tired of constantly having to “being on my toes” as they say, can’t imagine the problems others have especially the older/sicker patients. It’s definitely for profit & lack of empathy or fixing problems management!!
City of Hope is a fully corrupt institution: Steals money from the community because it does not offer patients a good and promising treatment. City of Hope, for example in the case of cancer, just offer the same killing treatment and that is chemotherapy. Where does all the money that receives goes? Thousands of millions of dollars in founding just for the pockets of the administration and the health mafia: I am a witness and I can prove it.
In June of 2016, I was diagnosed with a very rare form of Leukemia called BPDCN, at the time I was only the 7th child in the entire world to be diagnosed with it. The City of Hope was the only hospital that had a clinical trial treatment for me, and even MD Anderson referred my mom and me to the COH. I can't express how wonderful the nurses, doctors, and basically all the workers are, this is a hospital that "gives hope" to many people. I am currently 2 years post-transplant and am now a pediatric speaker for this hospital, check out the links below and watch some of my speeches!
https://www.cityofhope.org/breakthroughs/music-powers-pediatric-patient-through-treatment
https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/caitlinherron
I recently lost my daughter to cancer and received one of your donations in a lovely card with a Japanese garden on the front and very kind message inside. I needed to send a card to my nieces in New England when their mother passed away, so I gave donations to your City of Hope in their names. I have not received any communication from either of them about the cards which leads me to believe they never got them. Please follow up on this for me. Thank you. Nancy Hamilton
Compassionate care and world class research for new treatments and cures is what they do every day. Senior doctors do weekend rounds which is almost unheard of elsewhere and the speed with which they diagnose the problem and begin treatment is unmatched. Their scientists developed the humanization of monoclonal antibodies, which was the basis for the invention of 4 of he most important cancer drugs in the last 30 years. They are smart, hardworking, efficient, and they truly care about the patients. City of Hope saved my wife's life by putting into remission her rare, aggressive lymphoma.
City of Hope is NOT a fundraising organization that sends some of its money to other outfits that fight cancer. It is a full-fledged hospital and research institution at the forefront of cancer treatment. That all patients cannot be helped by City of Hope is tragic for those individuals. That care and survival of millions of cancer victims continues to take strides forward thanks to City of Hope makes it highly worthy of charitable contributions.
Review from CharityNavigator
Despite having over $300 million in reserve assets and holdings at the end of 2008, comprised partly of nearly $97 million obtained from public donations, City of Hope refused to provide lifesaving treatment to a cancer patient of mine whose limited Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid) would not cover the cost of her rare cancer. Instead of hope, they gave her a death sentence. Now she is dying painfully and hopelessly in my hospital while the City of Hope for Rich People Only continues to collect donations they will not use to save her life.
I have been treated at the City of Hope for lung cancer. I can't rave enough about the fantastic medical treatment, the caring and concern demonstrated by everyone in the entire organization.. EVERYONE from the custodians to the upper management of the facility. Everyone has a smile and is willing to go the extra mile to help you with anything you need.Rather than give directions to some lab or office, people actually will TAKE you to that location! Medical treatment is thorough, with state of the art equipment. I have no doubt that I am here today because I have been in their care. 2 of my coworkers (that I know of) are also patients at City Of Hope.. we all have the same opinion... they are marvelous!