UCSF Nancy Friend Pritzker Psychiatry Building — Psychiatric hospital in San Francisco, CA

REVIEW FOR: UCSF Radiology / MRI Imaging Center (Lower Level) I am sharing a review regarding the MRI facility on the Lower Level (LL) of the UCSF Pritzker Building at 675 18th Street. My appointment was Friday, June 5th, 2026, at 7:30 a.m. for a critical second opinion regarding a recommended extensive spinal fusion surgery (T10 to pelvis). Navigating transit early while managing severe back pain for over a year is an immense physical challenge, requiring me to wake up at 5:00 a.m. to arrive by 7:10 a.m. My experience was highly mixed, combining professional technical proficiency with notable gaps in frontline communication and hospitality. The Challenges: Arrival and Navigation: Arriving at 7:10 a.m., the main lobby was unstaffed. A mature woman at the entrance receiving food explicitly told me she did not work there. I took the elevator to the Lower Level, which was completely empty, deserted, and locked. Quite Creepy! Curiously, the same woman from upstairs then appeared in the basement to offer directional assistance. Frontline transparency is essential to avoid confusion for patients navigating severe pain. Waiting Isolation: After a staff member arrived at 7:20 a.m. to unlock the suite, I was registered and left in the waiting MRI room for 15 minutes in total isolation. A brief welcoming update from the clinical team would have significantly softened the pre-scan anxiety. Demeanor & Check-Out: The imaging technician demonstrated flawless technical proficiency, but the interaction lacked genuine warmth. Upon completion, the receptionist’s approach to explaining the standard imaging release form felt unnecessarily pedantic rather than simply guiding me to the signature sections. The Highlights: Professional Courtesy: While waiting, a gentleman emerged from behind the MRI desk to check on me. He maintained excellent, direct eye contact and exhibited a genuinely pleasant, comforting presence. This small gesture of authentic human connection was a distinct highlight. A Welcome Compliment: In the inner corridor, another female MRI employee walked by, took the time to notice my appearance, and offered a very warm, sincere compliment on my freshly done cobalt blue hair. Her spontaneous kindness lifted my spirits tremendously. Conclusion: While the technical execution of the scan was flawless, the surrounding interpersonal elements leave room for improvement. I hope this assists UCSF leadership in refining their early-morning patient reception standards. Thank you for taking time to read my review.

I’ve been waiting for a month just for a call back about my referral. I have repeatedly called but they have no contact information and refuse to speak to patients directly, I have to call an answering service that takes notes and refuses to call patients back. After my 4th maybe 5th call the operator says oh it’s because you didn’t fax the referral directly to them. How am I supposed to magically know my UCSF neurologist must fax my referral to this clinic if my neurologist doesn’t even have that information. Thank you for failing me before I even got to know you. I don’t know what’s going on here but I don’t feel safe with this clinic knowing they neglect patients right from the start.

Dr. Gomez is a great doctor, because she really listens to what you have to say and helps you figure out the best plan

I’m sorry, but I’ve been getting help from UCSF… off and on again, and they seem to be the most negligent, and dangerous that I have ever experienced in close to 30 years of behavioral health. They are severely under staffed, and you will most likely end up on a wait list that you will never get off of. It’s really gut wrenching to watch them boast about high ranking in the media, when anyone who has visited UCSF in the past 5 years would know it was scary and dangerous. Unreasonable long wait in their ER, to waiting months to see a doctor. It’s too bad considering they were once a respectable health care facility.

The pyschiatry dept here is very responsive to patient needs, and really great at anticipating what questions may be asked of them and the speed and thoroughness at formulating a plan going forward.