Kaiser Vacaville Medical Center

Pros

• Holly was patient and genuinely tried to make the patient feel comfortable.
• She worked on the lymphatic system and right arm, and the patient moved the arm pain-free for the first time in over six months.
• Dr. Battenberg was on time, friendly, and made the patient feel comfortable and confident in choosing him as the surgeon.
• Great care from the doctor and all nurses; every step was explained and staff helped locate radiology and the doctor's room.
• Dr. Zhou is very caring, understands patients' feelings, gives great advice, and is a great surgeon; recommended.
• Dr. Pierson was very professional, answered all questions, and was familiar with the patient's health issues; the patient was very pleased.
• The facility is clean, organized, efficient, and professional.
• AJ is an amazing physical therapist, highly skilled, relatable, kind, and a good listener.
• Care during the colonoscopy was professional, skilled, compassionate, considerate, and friendly.
• Dr. Wiltse is passionate and demonstrates kindness, compassion, and patience.
• Tina is highly skilled, identifies pain precisely, and provides relief through massage and new exercises.
• Dr. Chen and the team were efficient, professional, and kind, thoughtful, and reassuring.

Cons

• They waited seven hours without seeing a provider during induction, which was unacceptable for a high-risk situation.
• The epidural was delayed to the point where they delivered without it, resulting in agony.
• They were essentially kicked out of their room to make space for another patient, with no consideration for comfort or well-being.
• They felt Kaiser staff across departments were more focused on profits than on genuine patient care.
• They perceived a deterioration in the patient-provider relationship, with less time to discuss symptoms, medications, and side effects, eroding trust.
• Kaiser Vacaville was described as having reached a new low regarding patient care and consideration.
• They faced an extreme delay in surgery scheduling, with the earliest appointment offered months away despite paying for Senior Advantage.

Review

The collection of experiences at Kaiser Permanente venues paints a broad and sometimes contradictory picture: many patients describe excellent, compassionate care from specific clinicians and a smooth, efficient experience in certain visits, while others recount frustrating delays, feeling overlooked during critical moments, and concerns about the system's priorities. Across the board, you can see a strong appreciation for skilled hands-on care, clear communication when it goes well, and a sense that some departments are able to deliver highly professional service even in the midst of a busy healthcare environment. The stories touch multiple locations and services, from maternity and orthopedics to urgent care, physical therapy, and primary care, with both praise and sharp critique coexisting in the same ecosystem.

On the positive side, several reviews highlight individuals who made a significant, lasting impression through their expertise, bedside manner, and attentiveness. Holly, working on lymphatic drainage, is praised for patience and for making the patient feel comfortable, to the point of meaningful symptom relief - moving the arm without pain for the first time in months. The orthopedic work in Vacaville is singled out as especially effective, with Dr. Zimmerman delivering excellent results on a trigger finger case, described as fast and fantastic. Dr. Zhou is commended for being caring, empathetic, and a capable surgeon, with patients noting that she listened and offered thoughtful guidance. Dr. Pierson is described as very professional and knowledgeable, thoroughly addressing questions and showing familiarity with the patient's health issues. The gastroenterology team, including Dr. Talley, earns thanks for professional, compassionate, and well-coordinated care, with a smooth experience and clear communication. Across primary care and specialty clinics, several clinicians (including Dr. Chen, a patient's positive note about the entire team, and an independent provider praised for clear explanations) leave readers with the sense that when care is well-structured and the patient-provider relationship can be built, Kaiser can deliver reliably good outcomes.

There are also stories of exceptionally attentive support staff and efficient logistics that contribute to a positive impression. One patient notes a nurse or staff member's help in navigating radiology and the doctor's room, and another describes a clinician who explained everything thoroughly, ensuring the patient understood the next steps and treatment plan. A physical therapist, AJ, earns high praise for technical skill, approachability, thorough explanations about root causes, and a respectful, unhurried visit - seen as the kind of clinician who makes patients feel listened to and valued. A separate account highlights Tina, whose expertise in identifying pain zones, providing effective massage, and offering updated exercises stands out as a key part of the healing process. The sense that Kaiser can deliver a satisfying, patient-centered experience is reinforced by comments about a clean, organized, and efficient environment at times, where care is described as real and practical rather than hollow.

But the other side of the ledger is stark. A number of reviewers recount significant distress and frustration during maternity care, detailing experiences that undermine confidence in the system's responsiveness during critical moments. One family recounts a high-risk pregnancy with an induction that deviated from a clear, pre-established plan, a seven-hour delay before seeing a provider, and an epidural that never arrived because of the delay, followed by being moved out of a room to accommodate another patient. The criticism centers on the perception that the environment was not patient-focused during a life-changing, painful time, raising a broader concern about how care priorities are balanced in urgent, high-stakes situations. The sentiment that "this isn't the ER" underscores a perceived mismatch between patient expectations during labor and the realities of care delivery. The experience is framed as a troubling counterpoint to the more positive patient stories elsewhere in the same system.

Beyond maternity, several reviews express concerns about the broader patient-provider relationship in a large health system. A long-tenured Kaiser patient (more than 15 years) describes a drift from genuine, relationship-based care toward a more transactional, time-constrained dynamic. The sense of being treated as a patient-number rather than a person, with less time to discuss symptoms, medications, and potential side effects, feeds a broader worry that the organization has grown too large to sustain the kind of personalized, trust-building care that once felt more feasible. This perspective suggests that while clinicians can be excellent and attentive, system-wide pressures and the scale of Kaiser's operation may dilute the time and space available for meaningful patient conversations - an important factor for those managing chronic conditions and complex health decisions.

A subset of the reviews also engages in comparative critique of Kaiser versus other regional institutions. One narrative pits Kaiser's focus on outcomes and practical care against UC Davis, which is portrayed as emphasizing optics and branding. In this framing, Kaiser is praised for delivering tangible results and respecting patients' time, while UC Davis is criticized for halo-building elements that don't always translate into the quality of patient experience or outcomes. The juxtaposition underscores a tension some patients feel between institutional reputation and the lived experience of care - from the efficiency of the appointment to the empathy shown by clinicians in moments of vulnerability.

In addition to clinical care experiences, scheduling and logistical concerns surface as a recurrent theme, especially for those facing orthopedic or major surgical interventions. A patient facing a knee replacement highlights an organizational disconnect: a surgeon's office stating a preference for in-person visits in a different city than the patient's residence, plus a long and uncertain wait time for surgery scheduling that could stretch months or even into the next year. This individual expresses frustration with the travel burdens and the notion that care coordination should be more patient-centric and conveniently located, especially for someone with significant mobility challenges. The frustration is compounded by the sense that even with a Senior Advantage plan, the care they expect - prompt access, clear scheduling, and continuity - might not be reliably delivered.

Overall, the collection presents a nuanced tapestry of Kaiser Permanente experiences. When the care team -- including surgeons, nurses, therapists, and support staff -- operates at its best, patients describe relief, understanding, and confidence, with clear explanations, effective therapies, and compassionate interactions. When systemic pressures, delays, or communication gaps occur, patients feel disappointed and sometimes marginalized, especially at pivotal moments like childbirth or serious surgical planning. Taken together, the reviews suggest that Kaiser Permanente's potential for high-quality, patient-centered care remains substantial, but achieving consistency across all locations, shifts, and services depends on addressing scheduling bottlenecks, preserving time for meaningful patient encounters, and maintaining a steadfast focus on patient well-being alongside operational efficiency.

This area of Vacaville, California, is well-equipped with healthcare services, including the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group and various specialty clinics nearby. There are also several pharmacies in close proximity for easy access to medications. In terms of dining options, there are fast food chains like Jack In The Box and McDonald's as well as sit-down restaurants such as Olive Garden within a short distance. For recreational activities, there are several parks nearby for leisurely walks or picnics. Additionally, there is a theater for entertainment and places of worship for spiritual fulfillment. The Fairfield-Vacaville Station provides convenient transportation options for exploring the surrounding areas. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of essential services and amenities suitable for senior living.

Physicians

• Kaiser Permanente Medical Group - Kaiser Psychiatry Department (0 miles)
• Kaiser Radiology (0 miles)
• Solano Diagnostics Imaging (1.9 miles)
• Bradley J Sandler MD (1.9 miles)
• Solano Eye Specialists (1.9 miles)
• Cancer Treatment Center Cancer Treatment Ctrvacaville Vacaville (1.9 miles)
• Community Medical Centers (2 miles)

Hospitals

• Occupational Health | Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center (0 miles)
• Kaiser Vacaville Labor & Delivery (0 miles)
• Vacaville Healthcare (2 miles)
• Vacaville Convalescence & Rehabilitation Center (2 miles)
• DGMC Radiology (8.3 miles)
• U S Air Force (8.3 miles)
• Travis Air Force Base (8.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Kaiser 24 Hour Pharmacy (0 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Longs Drugs (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Raley's Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (8.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Jack In The Box (0.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.3 miles)
• McDonald's (0.3 miles)
• Clay Oven Grill & Bar (1.3 miles)
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (1.6 miles)
• Carl's Jr. (1.7 miles)
• Olive Garden (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Pena Adobe Regional Park (3 miles)
• Andrews Park (3.3 miles)
• Cambridge Park - Community Services Department (4 miles)
• Keating Park (4.6 miles)
• John Arlington Park (4.7 miles)
• Lagoon Valley Park (5.5 miles)

Theaters

• Brenden Vacaville 16 (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Community Presbyterian Church (3.9 miles)
• Jehovah's Witnesses (8.8 miles)

Transportation

• Fairfield-Vacaville Station (FFV) (7.3 miles)