El Cajon Family Health Center

The Worst Medical Experience of My Life - Completely Inhumane I don't usually write reviews, but what happened at the El Cajon Family Health Center was so unbelievable that people need to know. My son was sick with a high fever, nonstop coughing, and was clearly miserable. We rushed to urgent care, checked in immediately, and waited patiently for over 2.5 hours. Families came and left, but we kept waiting because we trusted that at the very least, an urgent care would help a sick child. Instead, after all that waiting, a nurse finally came out only to tell us they would not see my son because their time was "over." No apology. No concern. No compassion. Just a cold dismissal like my child's health meant nothing to them. I asked to speak with a supervisor because I was shocked, confused, and desperate for help. No one came. Not a single person took responsibility or even bothered to talk to us. They simply ignored us and left my sick child without care. We went home with my son burning up with fever and coughing through the entire night. This is a health center? This is how they treat sick children? The level of disrespect, negligence, and indifference was absolutely unbelievable. The nurse name was Hector. This place needs serious accountability. No family should ever be treated the way we were. I will never trust this facility again, and I strongly advise others to think twice before going here.

I got my prescription eye glasses from there. The front desk staff were nice to me on the two or three occasions I was there. I ordered the medi-cal pair. In other words there are certain glasses that medi-cal will pay for and the fancy ones you have to pay extra. I sat down with a representative in the back cubicle area. What I was chagrined about was that when ordered the pair she then asked if I wanted to pay an extra $30 and get a better quality pair. I had already selected the frame that medi-cal provided but later at her desk she asked me if I wanted to pay the extra cash for a better pair? It immediately seemed like I was being ripped off for an extra $30. The frame was already chosen moments earlier. There were NO options; the frame is provided as is. It was the see-through, clear glass pair pictured here. So, why the extra $30 in cash she wanted to charge me for a "better pair"?? The glasses I have are the ones I ordered and they are a very good quality and very durable. The tray of glasses they bring out to show you are medi-cal only. There is a SEPARATE tray of glass frames to choose from if you are willing to pay the extra cash. I've been around for over 6 decades and I know when I'm being ripped off. I wonder how many people she has done that to?

Crappy services. They never answer there phones, never calls their patients back. When they send any of the referrals in even as a stat referral they dropped the ball on them. Never sends the right paperwork in and when other medical staff from other places call them to get the referral fixed or to obtain the right paperwork they still never answer the phones from them neither or returns their calls neither. Worst place to go for care. They treat patients as their care does not matter to them and even if you call the director to file a complaint, she doesn't answer neither nor returns phone calls neither. Poor place to get treatment by far. Big waste of time and the place should be shut down for malpractice and acting unprofessional when handling the care of their patients.

Dr. Ahmad is an amazing and caring doctor. He always listens with kindness and takes his time to make sure I feel comfortable and understood. The staff at the Family Health Center LAP office are also very friendly and respectful. I'm truly thankful for Dr. Ahmad and everyone there -- they always treat me like family.

I had yet another disappointing experience at Family Health Centers. Just because this clinic serves low-income communities does not mean patients deserve substandard care. These are real people's lives, and it's disheartening to see how little concern is shown. My experience with Dr. Zambrana was particularly negative -- he came across as dismissive, rushed, and unwilling to answer questions without attitude and unnecessary arrogance. It felt like he was more focused on getting through the appointment quickly than actually providing quality care. Patients deserve respect, compassion, and thorough medical attention, and unfortunately, that's not what I received here.