Cancer Center at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

Oct 2024

i have a 5 year old with sickle cell disease who was in and out of BCHO for years. Inspite of shockingly high clinician turnover, we were happy with the level of care our child received in the outpatient clinic. Inpatient care was another story. Last year, my son was admitted during a sickle cell pain crises that prevented him from walking. My son was admitted to a hospital room with a kid who had respiratory precautions, for reasons still unknown. We languished in the hospital for days with no one having a plan for figuring out why my boy couldn't walk. We were then kept in the hospital waiting on a PT to evaluate my son to confirm the obvious: he couldn't walk. Of course my son caught a respitory virus (we suspect from his hospital room mate), and was released from the hospital only to be readmitted days later to figure out why he still couldn't walk. We languished two more days waiting for an MRI because one the machines was broken. When I demanded my son be transferred to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, they pushed to transfer him to Benioff Mission Bay campus. I declined as I had lost all faith in anything associated with UCSF at this point and demanded him to be transferred to LPCH forthwith. Magically, an MRI appointment opened up for the following morning at 7am. Ultimately, the clinicians figured out what the issue was and my son was able to walk again. We were hit with a hospital bill full of errors, that it took me 6 months and numerous hours on the phone with insurance companies and the hospital billing department to straighten out. Everyone pointed fingered at the other. My son now receives care at LPCH and the level of care is like night and day! I feel horrible for putting my son through the tortuous care at BCHO. We should have been at Stanford all along. The folks at John Muir NICU highly recommended the Sickle Cell program at BCHO and we didn't know any better. It wasn't easy leaving the BCHO program. The doctors and nurses all knew my son by name and would stop in to his hospital room to say hello during his admissions. Last year's experience really took a lot out of us and affected my family in a negative way. It just about broke us emotionally. We had to leave! It is so sad to see so many caring clinicians at BCHO with their hands tied by working in a system that is set up for failure. The plant itself is falling apart. My son's room had a bathroom with holes in the walls, where equipment had been removed and no one cared to patch and paint. There were lights that didn't work! Only go to this hospital if you just can't help it. If at all possible, make your way down to Stanford.

Sep 2024

I go to their labs relatively frequently to get my blood drawn. I'm trans, and my legal name does not yet match my actual name. Every single time they've called my name, it's been my deadname, despite the fact that both names are listed. It's not due to malice-the staff have been apologetic every time and used the right name afterwards, and I wouldn't care much except for the fact that it happens literally every time

Aug 2024

UCSF Benioff Hospital partnered with Oakland Children's Hospital to save this hospital from foundering. Thank you Salesforce.com's Marc Benioff! This children's hospital is an important, essential part of the community not just for the East Bay but also the entire Bay area: The pediatric neurology department is second-to-none. My son was seen here following two serious concussions after being beaten up at school. He's still not out of the woods. He was seen by Nicole Ionescu, MD for neuro-psych testing to see how his brain was affected. Staff is top notch, even reception as you walk past on the way to the elevators, they're welcoming and helpful. Parking garage is only $3 (credit cards only). Highest level care! They lose a star because the building doesn't seem adequately reinforced for earthquakes- but I'm far from an expert.