COH Building - Duarte, California

Patty A.

City of HOPE is were miracles n science come together to help people live life. I volunteer with the Red Cross transportation and I had the honor of making a delivery of blood products to this very special place with its beautiful gardens n quiet resting spaces. Met some very nice, helpful people while I was trying to navigate my way around. THANK YOU C OF H for EVERYTHING you do every day for US!!

Eric&Lorena A.

I had surgery there on 12/18, best experience by far to any other hospital I’ve ever been too. I also worked at a Hospital for years before and it doesn’t compare to City of Hope . As soon as you arrive they have an Embassador station ready to answer questions and ready to take you to any department you have to go too. From beginning to end every staff member I encountered was nothing but caring and compassionate and helpful. For a minute there I forgot I was there for cancer treatment. They have nothing but the BEST and I’m so thankful for everything. They truly stand by their name City of Hope. May God continue to bless this hospital.

Annie

The level of care my mom received here varied wildly. Some nurses are competent, some are not. If you need your catheter to be emptied you better hope you have a good nurse who will answer your call in a timely manner. Or that if you require extra care they will take the time to make sure you aren't sitting in filth for a prolonged period of time. Or that they even check up on you at all.

The front desk was generally very good, however, this too varied. One woman, Latisha (an older woman), was condescending in her manner of speaking and appeared to be deliberately typing slowly because she didn't like how I came up to her desk (which was empty). Additionally, the security guard at the lobby came up close to me and asked if I was with the group of girls behind me even based on the assumption of a shared race. This was incredibly inappropriate.

I understand that the hospital staff are busy and human as well, but that does not excuse the callous behavior so many workers display. Patients and families are going through some of the most challenging periods of time here, but some of the staff don't seem to care or understand this.

Jowen P.

Best Cancer hospital in the town👍👍👍
I will be part of volunteer soon
Really love hospital culture
Very patient and show empathy
and all employee have a good heart ❤️

So basically, we have a amazing experience with
Eric Mecusker DO
Hou Amanda Badrzadeh DO
Henry Tung(Chinese translator)

Love you all and thank you so much again 🙏🙏🙏

Jaclyn V.

Posting to get someone in Techs attention: Please expand your WiFi network for patients and guests. It’s absurd that it’s never available because it’s overloaded daily. We’ve been here daily by 8am for 10 days straight and the only days we can get on are weekends. Some caregivers need to manage work and caregiving. Unreliable WiFi is another worry to add to the daily list.

Steve W.

I had been trying to get an appointment here since Oct.13, 2023. I was not contacted back until Oct.23. Long story short, getting an appointment to be seen here is time wasting and overwhelming when one needs care. I called one time to UCLA and got the service I needed to be seen, no hassle. I'm sure CoH is good, but their admission process is like whoever is still standing wins an appointment. No thank you, City of Hope. Treat your potential clients like you're happy they chose you.

Matthew

Watch out for City of Hope on the financial side. If they don't contract with your insurance, they neglect to inform you of that fact at the beginning. A family member got a referral to them for oncology. We had his appointment set up with them for weeks. Then they drop the bombshell on us, forcing us to start all over again with trying to get another referral. For a supposedly top-notch hospital, very poor communication.

Lisa L.

If you want to see an actual oncologist good luck. My first one left CTCA and then City of Hope took over. My new oncologist is leaving (although he was so busy he only saw me a few times). There are some very nice staff there unfortunately those are not the people that can help you with your health. CTCA made me feel like they cared and I was in good hands. Dr. Galamaga, his PA’S and staff make me feel like I am part of a herd of cattle and I am not immediately dying so I am easily overlooked and my concerns are not important. At least my last Oncologist told me that she was leaving I had to hear it from other patients at the hotel we stay at Dr Galamaga is leaving.
I assume the intentions of City of Hope are to let NP’s and PA’S care for me. I wouldn’t know what their intentions are since they do not communicate and good luck getting through to someone on your care team or scheduling because they’re too busy too!
It’s really awful to think I will have to start this whole process over at another hospital. City of Hope has so many patients that they don’t mind you leaving to start over somewhere else. I was told “we’re sorry you feel this way” by a very nice patient advocate. She was very nice I am not being sarcastic which makes it worse because some people there are still kind and caring but they’re not the ones who care for you medically. I hope that I can find a place where this is not the standard of care. A place where I don’t have to be on my deathbed to see the actual Oncologist. PA’S are not trained the same amount as the actual doctor and if I had some other disease besides cancer I may not mind seeing a PA but I do have cancer and I would like to be seen by an Oncologist and one who isn’t dismissive of my concerns.