UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services

Pretty standard care for a university health office. Nothing phenomenal, but I’ve been able to get my needs met in a timely manner and the caregivers are very attentive to my requests when I communicate them. Just like any health facility, the medical staff seems short on time and I need to be my own advocate, but that’s standard in this country. I really like Elizabeth, my RN, because she is easy to talk to and has very friendly bedside manner, and has helped me get referrals for outside care that is covered with UCSHIP. Great provider.

Wasn't sure what to expect given the mixed reviews, but my kid came down with a cough and congestion on the day before the start of classes and was seen quickly and efficiently as a walk-in patient. All the appropriate tests done and a prescription written and filled in under an hour. Couldn't have asked for it to be handled any better.

I am a second year law student as UC Davis. I am writing this after having experienced harm — twice — with UC Davis Student Health. In this post I will describe my experiences of harm re: informed consent, and then describe how the UC Davis Student Health & Counseling Services responded to my request for a sign about informed consent. My first experience of harm was with my physical therapist, who did not ask for informed consent before putting his hand down my shirt, under my bra strap, to 1) apply K tape the first appointment and then 2) to massage my shoulder blade the second appointment. For the massage, he asked me “is this ok” as it was happening. I was laying on my stomach while my hand was in his lap. I wish I had had the ability to address it on the spot, but I came to the physical therapist after experiencing an acute injury. I was still in shock from the level of pain I was experiencing and honestly, would have done anything to experience some relief. I felt like something was off, but because of the radiating pain in my bicep that had kept me up the night before, I couldn’t physically pull my hand away, nor did I speak out in the moment. My second experience of harm came after I shared this incident with the Medical Quality Management officer, Mary Macias, UC Davis Director of Quality Improvement & Risk Management. When I first reached out, my one and only request was that there are signs about informed consent in each of the rooms at the physical therapist office. After about 2 months, I was told that the request was denied by Student Health and Counseling Services with no information. While I was told that the providers received trainings on informed consent (which is great) there are 3 reasons I asked for the signs INSIDE the room: 1. it puts the power in the hands of the patients who deserve to know their rights, rather than solely in the hands of the practitioner. When a student is in a small space with a treatment table where there is 1) a power dynamic, 2) a gender dynamic, 3) a size differential, and 4) the patient is laying down, it takes a lot more to put the two people on a truly equal playing field. 2. UCD SHCS said that there are already signs inside the PT rooms informing students that they can request a chaperone. However, it will usually be the people who are at risk of most harm in the healthcare setting — women, LGBTQIA+ folks, people of color — who are the least likely to request a chaperone out of fear of being an inconvenience. 3. Putting the onus on students to affirmatively ask for a chaperone can also facilitate situations where people are more likely to ignore their own experiences of harm. (“Well I was uncomfortable, but never asked for a chaperone, so I guess it’s on me for not speaking up.”) It is concerning to me that my request for simple signage about informed consent, which is one of the lowest barrier requests anyone could ask for, was denied and I have not been given a clear reason why. — despite the fact that the Patients Rights & Responsibilities outside of the PT’s office states that patients have the right to understanding — the right to know and understand SHCS procedures. So I am posting this in the hopes that all students and patients know of their rights, and for students to know what they are in store for if they ever have to make a report about something that concerns them at UC Davis Student Health & Counseling Services.

In my experience, the nurses and nurse practitioners in acute care at the health & wellness center are phenomenal. The same is absolutely NOT true for the medical doctors. A few years ago I came in with a heavily productive cough with green phlegm that I hadn't been able to recover from for over a week. The doctor I saw tried to tell me that green sputum is normal and not a sign of infection, and that I should return the following day for a chest x-ray before he prescribed any antibiotics. Essentially, he wanted to ensure I had pneumonia before giving me medication. I'm in nursing school right now and am learning about how colored sputum (including green) is absolutely an indicator for infection and is abnormal, and it made me so mad I came back to write this review. On a separate occasion, another medical doctor refused to strep test me, and I ended up with scarlet fever. Every time I visited this location (save for appointments with the nurse practitioners -- who are WONDERFUL), I ended up having to go to the ER to get antibiotics or actual help.

Really happy with my care here - had to go to urgent care here twice in the past couple weeks (separate issues) - once I scheduled a same day appointment before coming over, and once I just went in and was seen quickly. Dr. Eaton was great each time - very competent care, professional, friendly, good manner, and patient with me and explaining what was going on and answering my questions. Nursing staff were friendly and helpful, and front desk too. I talked to the advice nurse once, and she was great. Radiology staff were friendly, and remembered me between visits. Bonus - something I've never seen before is that Dr. Eaton knew the prices of quite a few of the procedures and 1) they're legitimately lower than elsewhere and 2) doctors almost never know what anything costs. He understood that students are price-sensitive, and was very up front with me about what it might cost and why he was recommending it. Didn't push anything expensive. Facility still feels very new and well cared for. Would definitely recommend it and would go back again for future care if needed.

They end your Summer quarter health insurance plan at the beginning of the month (Sep 11th, in 2022), knowing that all commercial plans only begin on the 1st of the month following the end of benefits. Every heath insurance company I called was in complete disbelief this was being done by the university. Their availability also deserves zero stars. I called their insurance phone number numerous times and never got through. I sent an email asking about the end date 2 weeks ago, plus numerous emails over the following days/week asking for them to check on the request. No answer for the entire period. They got back to me today (2 weeks after), one day after the insurance ended, with no apologies whatsoever. Their "solution" for the gap period was for me to pay to extend UC SHIP for the entire Fall quarter (1750$ +), while I only need coverage for 3 weeks. Very frustrating experience.

A really mentally unhealthy department, many of the workers in the office are disinterested medical workers who, unless coming in with a proper disease, don't work much to comfort you when you are feeling mentally unwell. The staff were at times very rude and not caring, if you wanted to get a picture, imagine if a VISCO girl were your doctor. My experience with the person I were given to talk to were not only super uninterractive, but I felt much worse after it as they simply seemed very disinterested in what I were going through.

I've never had a good experience here. It took me a week and several calls to simply get a referral faxed. Ended up delaying my appointment by three weeks. Another time their scheduling system got messed up and sent me to the wrong place, and I was met with condescension from the doctor and nurse. They also gave me an injection once before I had the chance to read and sign the consent form. Would recommend that UCD students seek care elsewhere if possible.