Susie's Place in Oceanside, CA

Pros

• They are very professional, well run, and convenient; a model of how healthcare should be done in the USA.
• The nurses are very nice, there is little wait to be seen, and the costs are very reasonable.
• The staff are great, very friendly, and the facility is very clean.
• The staff are helpful and friendly; there was no wait, and the child felt comfortable receiving the shot.
• The new location is clean, with plenty of parking and a friendly atmosphere, and it offers same-day covid and flu shot appointments.
• The experiences are consistently good and the staff are usually very friendly.
• They are accommodating and can see patients even when GPS shows the location as closed.
• The process is simple and efficient, with quick vaccination appointments and an excellent staff that schedules the follow-up automatically.

Cons

• They were accused of not helping, being lazy and uncaring, and denying people assistance.
• Angelica, the front desk clerk, was described as extremely rude and unhelpful, with rushed service and no apology.
• The center closed early on a Friday without explanation, which was deemed unacceptable.
• The old location was described as a hassle with a poor feel and slow service, possibly due to a skeleton crew.
• One reviewer noted that even with no wait, the visit was still very slow.

Review

Susie’s Place in Oceanside, CA is best suited for budget‑mocused adults and families that want reliable, straightforward primary care, vaccines, and routine public‑health services without the overhead of private clinics. The center serves well as a practical option for those who value speed, accessibility, and low-cost care, especially for seniors needing convenient vaccination access or annual screenings, and for people who are uninsured or underinsured and can leverage waivers. It is important to recognize that this is a county health‑center model, not a residential senior‑living community; it does not provide long‑term, high‑touch geriatric care, memory care, or in‑house rehab. For those needs, exploring alternatives is advisable.

On the upside, Susie’s Place earns trust through professional, well‑run operations and genuinely friendly nursing staff. Patients report minimal waiting when appointments are kept, and the efficiency translates into faster visits for vaccines or testing. The environment tends to be clean, organized, and convenient, with new locations and ample parking reducing logistical friction. Cost effectiveness stands out: affordable vaccines and testing, with waivers available for the uninsured, which can be decisive for families watching medical expenses. The system also employs pragmatic scheduling, with second‑dose appointments often arranged automatically, reducing the risk of missed follow‑ups. In short, the core clinical experience tends to be smooth and predictable.

However, a pattern of variability emerges in hours and pace. Several reviews cite days when the office closes early or operates with a lean staff, which can disrupt plans and leave questions unanswered. Speed can swing from brisk to slow, with some visits feeling rushed or impeded by a lean footprint, particularly on busier days. Customer‑service touches vary as well: while many describe friendly frontline interactions, others recount brusque or unhelpful behavior from a front‑desk clerk, creating trust gaps at the outset of care. These experience gaps are not universal, but they are persistent enough to warrant contingency planning for anyone relying on Susie’s Place for time‑sensitive needs.

Despite those fluctuations, the substantive clinical advantages offset the downsides. The combination of skilled nursing care, straightforward pricing, and the absence of appointment hassles for common services makes Susie’s Place a practical anchor for a broader care plan. The new facility’s cleanliness and drive‑up parking reduce stress for older adults who might otherwise struggle with transportation. Efficient check‑ins and clear pathways, along with easy access for uninsured patients, ensure continuity for preventive care without forcing families into financial decisions or scheduling battles. These factors collectively bolster care continuity when used strategically.

For families evaluating assisted‑living options, Susie’s Place serves as a complementary resource rather than a substitute for on‑site medical oversight. It excels as a preventive and episodic‑care hub: vaccinations, screenings, rapid testing, and basic primary care can be handled quickly and affordably, freeing up the care team at a residential facility to focus on daily living support, rehabilitation, and complex medical coordination. In planning, the center should be integrated into a broader care strategy: arrange routine visits around the assisted‑living calendar, coordinate with the center for on‑site wellness events, and leverage its waivers to manage budgets. This approach maximizes value while acknowledging that more intensive geriatric services require other arrangements.

Bottom line: Susie’s Place is a solid, cost‑conscious option for urgent primary care needs, vaccines, and routine public‑health services in Oceanside, with a track record of professional staff and efficient front‑end service. It is best for residents who prize accessibility, predictable pricing, and minimal friction in getting basic care. Those who require constant, high‑touch scheduling reliability, a consistent level of customer service, or ongoing management of complex conditions should consider alternatives, private clinics, hospital‑affiliated practices, or dedicated geriatric providers, that can deliver steadier hours and more personalized care. In the right mix, Susie’s Place strengthens an assisted‑living plan by handling preventive and episodic care at low cost and with relative convenience.

This part of Oceanside, California, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering living in the area. There are several restaurants nearby for dining options, including fast food chains like McDonald's and Wendy's, as well as more specialized cuisine such as Ocean Thai Cuisine and In-N-Out Burger. Access to healthcare is readily available with physicians' offices and pharmacies within a short distance, along with hospitals like Tri-City Medical Center for any medical needs. For leisure activities, there are cafes like Starbucks and Panera Bread for social gatherings, as well as nearby parks like Marlado Highlands Park and Guajome Regional Park for outdoor recreation. Transportation options are also easily accessible with train stations like Melrose Sprinter Station and Vista Transit Center nearby. Overall, this part of Oceanside provides a comfortable and convenient environment for seniors looking to settle down in the area.

Restaurants

• Valerie's Taco Shop (0.1 miles)
• Jack In The Box (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.6 miles)
• Ocean Thai Cuisine (1.6 miles)
• In-N-Out Burger (2 miles)
• Wendy's (2.2 miles)

Physicians

• Lam H Do M.D. (1.2 miles)
• James C Kringel M.D. (1.2 miles)
• Morris Eye Group (1.9 miles)
• Orthopaedic Specialists of North County (1.9 miles)
• Ent Associates Medical Group (2 miles)
• Heart Care Associates (2 miles)
• Goldberg Barry MD (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Carlsbad Neighborhood Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)

Hospitals

• North Coast Surgery Center (1.9 miles)
• Eye Surgery Associates (2 miles)
• Tri-City Medical Center Registration (2.1 miles)
• Tri-City Medical Center (2.1 miles)
• Rady Children's Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Optum - Carlsbad State (3.9 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (2.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.8 miles)
• Beach Break Cafe (3.8 miles)
• Communal (4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (2.6 miles)

Parks

• Marlado Highlands Park (2.6 miles)
• Vista Sports Park (3.3 miles)
• Guajome Regional Park (3.4 miles)
• Holiday Park (3.9 miles)
• Luiseno Park (4.4 miles)

Transportation

• Melrose Sprinter Station (3 miles)
• Vista Transit Center (3.8 miles)
• Oceanside Transit Center (4.1 miles)

Theaters

• Cinépolis Vista (3.9 miles)