UCSF or SEBMF: Which gets you to specialists without waiting?
I'm 52 and for a long time haven't had primary care, nor a need for specialists apart from ob/gyn and routine colonoscopy. I want to sort this out and get a primary care doctor, keeping in mind that SOMEDAY something will go wrong and I'll need some kind of specialist (cancer, cardio, orthopedist, who knows).
I want to know that if I find a lump, or develop symptoms of some kind, or end up needing a specialist, I won't have to wait weeks for an appt. SEBMF is closer, I'm in Berkeley. But I have the idea that maybe UCSF is more a "networked" operation, where primary care would be in communication with specialists, etc. Also my University of California insurance says that UCSF is covered for everything, and while SEBMF seems to be they aren't as tight a network and so I seem to have to look up doctors to be sure they are covered in-network.
Do BPN folks have experience with primary care at UCSF and/or SEBMF and whether, when something comes up, specialists are easy to get to and doctors communicate with each other?
Parent Replies
I have SEBMF (don't love Sutter, but love my primary doc). When I needed a specialist (endocrinologist) I could easily get an appointment at Eden in Castro Valley (I live near Alta Bates), I could not get in to see the group of endocrinologists in Oakland for several months. So that was annoying but it turns out that Eden is a slightly longer drive, but parking is free and easy. So I'm happy. I've been referred to other specialists as well, and it's been relatively painless, even if they aren't Sutter docs (I guess they contract with Sutter). I can't compare to UCSF. Would you have to go over the bridge to be seen for everything? That would be a dealbreaker for me.