Cuesta Medical Group

I have been to the Atascadero Cuesta Medical Group a few times now, and every single visit has been very pleasant. The receptionists are kind and caring, even walking elderly patients out to their car. They are professional and greet me before I walk all the way in the door. Customer service stands out here the best I've seen in years! The referral process takes a few days to a week, which is faster than any other Doctors office I've experienced. The referral girl was so helpful and awesome and treated me like I was her only patient. Dr.Ullah is very sweet and cared deeply for my situation. I've also seen NP Marcia Evans who is also outstanding. I plan on staying there as long as I can, including sending the rest of my family. more

I've been with Cuesta medical for over 4 years now. Dr. Goodman is outstanding, he is compassionate, takes the time to listen and genuinely cares. However, since he isn't taking new patients that leaves fewer options. My spouse went to see a Dr. Ulla (sp?) and I do not recommend Cuesta Medical any more after the terrible experience she had. She has been having terrible back pain the last few weeks and so went in for that. They prescribed a medication that has a documented interaction with one she is already taking, not to mention one I have tried that doesn't work for my back pain at all. Long story short the policy of Cuesta Medical group is that everyone is a Vicodin seeking drug fiend. They had zero compassion when my wife asked for just a month supply because she'd heard this other drug wasn't as effective. A one month supply!! She was told, ""no your pain isn't sufficient."" How can they possibly know that???? She was left feeling belittled, treated like a criminal, and not feeling cared for at all, not to mention put in danger by a physician who can't even foresee a possible dangerous drug interaction!! Scary.... Do yourself a favor find a Dr. who cares about people, not being the drug police. I might add my wife is a clean, well groomed mother of several kids who has never had an addiction problem in her life. more

The Doctors get a bad name from the office workers and from billing department. They are rude.... I wanted to find out about some bills that my Insurance did not pay because of billing codes they just bounced me around and then but me in Collections and never tryed to get the right codes so my Insurance would pay Thanks a lot for that... so now they have damaged my Credit. I have been there for over three years I will not go back I have paid my bill to the Collection bureau now the want more for Interest that was there mistake in the first place. They make me sick They should get some kind of trouble for the way they run this Medical poop more

I've been a long-time patient of Dr. Zinke and was assured upon his retirement that everything -most importantly my insurance billing- would be identical w/ the transition to CMG. more

EVERY time I use this facility I am greeted with rude, unpleasant staff: they never initiate a kind greeting to you or smile or even make friendly eye contact. They offer/advertise walk-ins then treat you as if you're a burden on their business. That's the problem: this clinic is run as a business, not providers of health care for local patients. Consistently unpleasant experiences. . I will give credit and praise the attitude and ability of their physician's assistant, Lane Price. He takes time to listen, then explain and listen more if needed: thorough and patient. . One doctor, in particular, Anna Talarico, is curt and just plain rude. She flat out refused to take some paperwork I needed filled out for work then stated, ""You need to make an appointment for that, I'm not going to argue with you."" Excuse me, you can't even take paperwork to give to another person? . So much for a ""primary care"" facility. Avoid this clinic: business oriented, yes. Patient friendly, no. more

I am new to the area and chose Cuesta Medical Group as my new medical facility. One my first visit I asked for a referral to a rheumatologist. I was told the referral would be sent shortly after my office visit in early October. I called the rhuematologist on 10/27, they had not received the referral. I called Cuesta on Oct 27 and left a message. A week later, my phone message was not returned. I called the office Monday, Nov 2 to report that I had asthma all weekend and I wanted to get a RX for asthma medication because asthma inhalers don't work long term. No return phone call. I called the office 5 times today just trying to get an answer from them as to whether or not they were going to give me a RX. If they were not, I would go to urgent care or an emergancy room for the RX. At 3:50pm today Julie called me back and told me she was faxing or calling the RX in to the pharmacy right now. I waited 20 minutes, called the pharmacy, no call or fax from Cuesta. I called the office again, and after holding, I was cut off. I called again and explained the situation. Wendy told me that Julie was helping a doctor with a physical and she couldn't be interrupted. I haven't been able to breathe good since the weekend. I just asked about the RX. I did get upset and raise my voice. All I wanted from this place was a fricken answer. Its the end of the day, 4:30pm and I still don't have my RX called in. They don't do what they say they are going to do and you can't get a call back. I really feel that they don't care about their patients and I also feel since I am a new patient they could care less. I do have to say that my visit with Dr. Brown at the beginning of October went well and I have trust in her but the office needs some help. They need skills on how to deal with sick patients and they need to learn how to be dependable. I am reluctant to entrust my medical care to this facility. I hope others have better luck. Cons: Staff does not live up to its word more

I've used this clinic in cases of extreme emergency only for my son and myself as it is close to my home, but every time I swear it will be my last. Appointments are two days out, walk-ins are hours of waiting, and the place is old and run down and smells odd. The latest group is a bit better than the last group, but even that is not saying a lot. Calling in gets a receptionist who's repertoire is basically ""I don't know. I can't answer questions. You'll have to come in."" Nurses are not available for the phone because they appear to be rather overworked. I have not seen an actual doctor there - only nurse practitioners, which is fine but I don't understand why they can't add more staff during peak seasons. I called with a simple question today and got a very un-helpful answer, and was told I could make an appointment for two days out. By then, I'll either be all better or in the hospital. Useless. Pros: parking available Cons: dirty office, long waits more