Smidt Heart Institute

All the doctors here are incredible. Dr. Venkatesh always makes me feel cared for and confident in my health. After having heart problems for years and never getting an answer as to what was wrong then getting very sick and going to 4 different hospitals trying to get help and getting sent home saying I'd be okay, I came here and they saved my life. I'm alive today thanks to all their care and for believing me and checking me properly

Surprisingly, the Cedars sinai Heart institute is easy to get around in, has many different new and advanced testing techniques, and is much more hospitable than you would think. They were very helpful and efficient from check in to procedure, without long wait times and took good care of me while I was there. You never want to have a procedure done but if it has to be, it's nice to feel like a PERSON THAT IS BEING TREATED THERE, rather than a number or patient that they need to get in and done with so the staff can go home. They kept me there as long as needed afterwords, checking on me often and even making me stay a bit longer when the bleeding was still a slight level above what they consider okay.

Unfortunately, I've been trying to make an appointment for 3 weeks. No One Ever Answers The Phone In The Electrophysiology department! You have to leave a message, so No One Ever Calls You Back! I made the mistake of sending my medical information directly to the doctor. Apparently, you have to send your Medical records to the Doctor's secretary, receptionist for her review. When I finally got through to the secretary, receptionist she told me to send her the medical records. So, I did. Later in the day, I received an email in Caps, PLEASE RESEND IN PDF FORMAT! What? Are you kidding me! And This Is After Two Doctors Sent Referrals For Me To See A Doctor At The Smidt Insitute. Apparently The Smidt Insitute does not want any patients! Do Not Go Here If You Have An Urgent Heart Problem. You Will Die Waiting. Go elsewhere!

This place kept me waiting for two hours for what turned out to be a 5-minute follow-up appointment with my "doctor" (Ali Azzizadeh) who was rushed, dismissive, and condescending, and took no responsibility for the fact that my surgery (Great Saphenous Vein leg vein ablation) was completely ineffective for my circulation and swelling issues in my leg when he had promised it would be "perfectly normal" and "perfectly match" my right leg by two weeks after surgery. Three months after surgery, it's as bad as it was before surgery. And the front desk staff was rude and defensive when I complained about long wait, yelling at me, "We don't make the schedule! Take a seat!", seats which prohibit "all food and drink" when they keep you waiting that long. Plus the long, tedious, repetitious check-in process. They don't care. It's like a factory and as long as they have your insurance info and your money, they're fine. STAY AWAY! TOTAL FRAUDS! (I'm sorry; what was the name again? I didn't quite catch that. Oh, yeah, ALI AZZIZADEH!!)

I had a great experience with Shehata . highly recommend it. I had an ablation and my a fib stopped. I highly recommend.