Freedom Vision Surgery Center
16255 Ventura Blvd # 100,
Encino, CA

This place is a factory. You are hustled in & out for surgery & you're jammed into the prep area like sardines, separated only by curtains. I could hear every medical conversation. There is zero privacy. …

I was there yesterday to pick up a friend after his eye surgery. They allowed me to visit him at the post op recovery room. I was shocked to see a female nurse wearing a leggings as part of her uniform. There she was walking around showing her Camel Toe. This is not the attire of a professional more so of a noble nurse. And why they’re allowing this hideous outfit in a medical profession. I called their attention about this and hope something can be done.

I had two surgeries in as many months at this center. I had one in between at St. Johns hospital Santa Monica, because Freedom was closed due to COVID19. The first time, I felt the staff was friendly , however during the procedure my pulse ox dropped to 93% due to sleep apnea. The anesthesiologist entubated me and hurt my throat. I work in the medical field. That was not necessary . Then post op, the staff complained TO ME, that I was taking too long to wake up. They wanted to go home. As if I had control of that. I wasn't languishing in their comfortable bed for a nap! The second time, the anesthesiologist Dr. Phillip Schaeffer was HORRIBLE!! He said I would be awake and able to speak but not in pain. I was in EXCRUCIATING pain! My doctor was doing eye surgery. The pain was NOT dulled as he was piercing my eye with bilateral needles. I asked them to do something for the pain. My doctor told the anesthesiologist Dr. Schaeffer to give me some thing. He came over and put something in my IV. So I waited for it to take effect. Meanwhile my Doctor is scraping the inside of my eye with needles. I trued to control the pain with breathing while my toes were flexed and hands clenched. My doctor said I need to slow my breathing. I told him he needs to do something about the pain. He told the anesthesiologist to give me something more. Dr. Scheffer the anesthesiologist argued that he already gave me a lot. My doctor told him to put me under. He then argued about how long it would be more I may not need to be under. My doctor said 40 more minutes. Then as Dr. Schaeffer prepared to do it, the nurse argued. He had to tell her my doctor said it will be 40 more minutes. Finally they put me under general anesthesia. When I woke the nurses in post op complained again that I was taking too long to wake up!!. Also when I got home I slept for four hours. This was highly IRREGULAR. When I had surgery at SCOI, I was put under with propofol. I went under nicely no pulse ox issues, woke easily, wide awake ready to go. If I could have chosen to wait a week I would have gone somewhere else. My doctor said the surgery was time sensitive and he didn't want me to wait. I am fighting to keep the the sight in my eye. DR. PHILLIP SCHAEFFER was incompetent. He knows his procedure was bad. Usually the anesthesiologist comes to you after the surgery to see how you are doing. He didn't. He knew he screwed up. Unfortunately I was pushed in to going to Freedom surgery center. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. The insensitivity, callus disregard for the patient is inexcusable.

My reason for the horrible rating is that although the surgery center had my correct phone number and alternate contact details on record, there was an error with the primary mailing address so I never got a bill for the small coinsurance amount due. 3 YEARS LATER, I get a call from a collection company demanding payment. Of course since the collection company had multiple alternate ways to reach me from the account record the surgery center gave them including an unchanged phone number it took all of about 5 minutes to clear the account after the collection agency made one phone call. SO BEWARE of billing that never reaches you. Remember that the surgery center charges separately and apparently makes no effort other than snail mail to reach you if payment is not received.

This place is not very professional. A 20 minute procedure turned into a 3 HOUR ordeal! Even though we came in 30 minutes before our scheduled appointment, they had my mom wait for Two hours!!!! Meanwhile there were no updates from nurses. …

there's too many people here. my 91 years old mom is waiting for 2 hrs for a laser surgery. desk doesn't even know when it'll start!