Up until last year, I was a patient of Dr. Stephen Sigmund for 15 years. His manner has always been too brusque for my liking, especially in recent years. One problem that I have with his approach is that he tends to treat "by formula" instead of treating me as an individual. An example: on getting up out of a chair after a dental procedure, I felt dizzy--it was not a syncope; I did not pass out. The dentist sent me to Sigmund who put me in intensive care overnight. His excuse was that my heartbeat was below some magic limit. The fact is that I have been a runner all my life, and my HB is regularly below 50 in the morning. Sigmund had records of my low HB, but I feel that he didn't take it into account. The bottom line--an expensive hospital stay for what I think was a momentary vertigo. On the positive side, he picked up my prostate cancer from a PSA test, and it was successfully treated. The reason that I stuck with him so long is that he is very intelligent, which I value in a doctor. The reason that I quit was that he didn't always use that intelligence, and became more and more brusque and less communicative in later years. read more

I went to dr. Sigmund for the first time today. It was an extremely bad experience. The receptionist was rude and involved with her work. She made my visit very uncomfortable. Because his name was not on my insurance card , he wouldn't see me. I will NOT be going back! They are extremely unprofessional. Don't waste your time going to him. There are plenty of other good doctors out there. He is a primary care doctor that will take time to serve your needs. read more

He is abrupt and doesn't listen to the patient. He is often unprepared . Often times l have to wait in excess of 45 minutes in the exam room only to have him in there for five minutes or less. I'm going to try to find another primary provider. read more

This was absolutely the worst experience I have EVER. He is ALWAYS 40 mins behind yet they want you to show up for your appointment 15 mins early. It was an hour past my appointment time when he finally decided to show up. Many Dr's have delays but this is chronic-happens EVERY TIME. This man has a real I am GOD complex. As I was leaving he and I were standing at the front counter, I turned and started to ask him a question, He refused to answer, turn his back on me and walked away. When I brought this up at the next appointment I was told my medical issues were too complicated for him and he told me to find another doctor. What a quack read more

was very rude. lacks compassion toward seriously ill patients. Told my seriously ill spouse that he didn't have to treat her. Time for this one to retire or lose his license to practice medicine read more

We knew something was wrong when he yelled at me after spending the night at Twin Cities Hospital. I had blacked out, fell down 4 stairs and hit my head on the wall and my head went through the wall. He yelled at me "Why Didn't They Call Me?". Meaning why didn't the ER dept at Twin Cities Hospital call him on 6-16-2020. 11-15-2022 Mark had a appointment with Dr. Sigmund to go over his recent lab results & CT scan Jennifer King, his PA had ordered. We get in, then he comes in says "Oh your both here? How are the kitty's are doing?". He put his laptop on the bed & started typing & ask "why Mark was there?" When Mark said "to go over the lab work that was done at Dignity Labs of Atascadero a week ago, he snapped & said in a angry voice of "They are a HMO & I NEVER get their lab work". He NEVER got up off his chair or his laptop to listen to Mark's lungs, heart, never look in his ears, nose or throat. He never went over Mark's CT scan or lab results. At that point he was very upset & said "Your not going like this, but the cat's have to go because your allergic to them that's, that's why your coughing" as he was looking at me. I smile & said" well that's NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!! He got up & walked out without explaining the CT scan results or the lab work Jennifer King, PA ordered for Mark. As we walk out to the desk where his medical assistant, Lillyana was standing at their counter and I asked her "if they got the lab work & CT scan of his chest for Mark ?" And she said yes, I have them right here (she's holding them in her hands). We never discuss Mark's lab work or the ct chest scan. Never got a follow up call regarding Mark's labs or ct scan of his chest and as of today I still don't know what Mark's lab & CT scan results. 11-22-22 I have been running a fever since 11-6-22 & have a lump on my inner left arm. I go to see Jennifer King, his PA, but Dr Sigmund comes instead. He sits his laptop on the bed starts typing & asking "why I am is here". I explain I have been having fevers, chills, nausea & stomach pain since 11-6-22. I advise I had seen Mike Blackwell, PA. at Urgent Care Atascadero on 11-10-22 tested negative for covid & flu. I held out my left arm to show him I have a lump on the inside of my left arm. He just said "oh your lymph nodes are swollen I'll give you Bactrim antibiotic's". He then said "you probably had RSV and nothing I can do now". HE NEVER ONCE GOT OFF HIS CHAIR & LAPTOP listen to my heart, lungs, never looked in my throat, nose or ears. I have Asthma, COPD, chronic bronchitis which he is totally aware of this. 12-19-22 back to Dr Sigmund for the fever, chills, nausea & lump on my inner left arm. He walks in sit the laptop on the bed & starts asking "why are you here now?". As I starts to explain the fevers, nausea, chills are still on going he getting grumpier and then sarcastically says "WAIT A MINUTE, tell me WHO you seen, WHAT dates, WHAT times and WHAT doctor they are". I said "I seen Mike Blackwell @ Urgent Care Atascadero on 11-10-22, seen you on 11-22-22, then I went to Twin Cities Hospital 12-7-22. Then I called my pulmonologist, Dr. MayLin Wilgus @ UCLA Thousand Oaks". That's when the shit hit the fan & he proceeded to getting a attitude, got nasty and yelling: "Why are you go to UCLA? What doctors are you seeing there, what dates did you see them and what happened?". He has known that I've been going to UCLA Pulmonary Dept since 2017. THIS appointment was shocking to us. To see your primary care doctor of 15+ years exploding, being so aggressive, belittling & have a nasty attitude like this took us both back. Mark said "ONLY her Specialist Doctors" are at UCLA". Then I said "my pulmonologist, endocrinologist, ENT, cardiologist, audiologist & rheumatologist". He said "Well Jennifer knows you better & I DON'T understand why you're seeing all these doctors at UCLA! " Then he exploded & said very aggressively "Then what are you doing here? Why don't you just go back to UCLA? He got up after this 9.45 minute aggressive ranting and yelling at me, he grabbed his laptop stomped out. 12-29-22 After these visits with Dr Sigmund, I finally got in to be seen by Dr. Sigmund's PA., Jennifer King for a referral to our 2 local infectious specialist Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Jetter in San Luis Obispo. After they received Jennifer King's referral, they Dr. Hamilton and Dr. Jetter requested a per to per review of my case with him His medical assistant Denise called me and said "Dr. Sigmund will not do their per to per review & if I want to come in & discuss why I can make you a appointment". I SAID " No thanks Denise ". So he refused to get me my referral with the ONLY 2 local infectious specialist, which HIS PA, Jennifer King's refered me too. With 3 different emergency room doctor's in San Luis Obispo recommended I see 1 of these 2 infection specialist after 4 months of running a fever of unknown origin. read more

I wasn't going to write a review. I don't like to spread negativity. However, I normally see Dr. King, the other doctor in this practice, she is amazing, but Dr. Sigmund, who owns the practice, is no longer allowing me to return. He is a horrible doctor and human. Against my better judgment, I made an appointment with Dr. Sigmund as my regular doctor was booked for another 2 weeks. I told the medical assistant, upon entering, all of my issues. She must have only wrote one in the computer. When Dr. Sigmund came into the room. He asked me why I was there. When I started to tell him everything, he wanted to go back to just one issue. He said, Well I only have this one issue in the computer so we need to talk about that. I couldn't believe my ears. I said, but I am a human not just what is in the computer, so shouldn't you listen to what my needs are? Plus, couldn't all the issues have to do with one another? At that he smirked and made me feel like I didn't know anything. I could tell he just wanted me gone. He asked what medications I was taking. I told him honestly because of my fears I stopped taking them a couple weeks ago to see if that was the issue. Then, He erased all of my medications from the computer. That was not what I expected as some of those medications I needed to continue, I was just letting him know, not expecting such harsh action. He wouldn't listen to my very real health fears and concerns. I felt belittled and like my concerns didn't matter. He seemed done, so I asked if he was going to send me to have some screenings or analysis done. To which he asked me what I wanted done. I was in disbelief, and bewildered, not expecting this attitude from a professional. He made some referrals for blood work and an xray, but did not explain to me what they were for, it was as if he did it just to get me out of there. I left feeling vulnerable, not believed, and I was sobbing still concerned about my health. Never in my life have I been so disrespected by a doctor. Then, I called back today to make an appointment with my regular doctor only to find out he cut me off from her. He decided I am no longer welcome in his practice and he was not going to allow Dr. King to have me as her patient. I suffer from anxiety and finding a new doctor does not help that, now, thanks to his inability to be professional, this is something I must do. Do not go to him. he will belittle you and make you feel stupid. read more

I'm going back to my old insurance. Asked for referral to Rheumatologist he walked out of the room. Was trying to tell him personal information he could care less. I've lived with chronic pain for 15 years. I've gone to pain management for 15 years. Done pain classes. He told me Morphine & Methadone is better than Tramadol. Seriously? I'm not taking either of those. Prescribed me Nabumetone which I was forbidden to take after my gastric sleeve surgery. His prescription nabumetone and a pill to contraindicate ulcers.. No compassion or understanding. I asked for a plan if I don't take Tramadol. I get no response from him or staff. I filed complaints. This is the wrong kind of care. If you treat a patient you care for all aspects. A doctor is supposed to help not hinder. Now I'm forced to go to urgent care or ER for help. I asked to have my thyroid medication refilled - I've taken for 15 years. He said unless you do labs I won't do. I had a family emergency. He could care less - He walked away. I asked for another referral he blew me off. Now I'll have to take my higher dose of thyroid medication. Bed side manner is awful. If you take any kind of pain medication he treats you like a drug addict. Who in their right mind says morphine & methadone is better than tramadol? Don't EVER waste your time with him. He is not in it to help people. He's lost his way. read more

This is by far the worst doctor I have ever experienced. He is too wrapped up in his laptop to even take the time to take care of is patience. My husband has seen him 3 times for an infection and instead of healing my husband he chose to drop us as patients. He never even looked at his infection, then when we asked to be seen by a specialist he approves it but will not follow thru in talking with the specialist so we are completley lost and doctorless now. Absolutely ridiculous. Office staff isnt very helpful either. Constantly being put on hold and ignored. Please avoid this doctor in the North County. read more

I can't believe this fool would send my girlfriend a bill for $200 after billing her insurence and taking her $20 copay which she had already paid before the for as he termed it the meet & greet This bill showed up after 4 months She's not paying it of corse instead she's being nice and returning it I hope he has better sense than bill me for his meet & greet of me in the hospital read more

I went to my first visit. After waiting over one hour, I finally was seen. This Dr was rude, snarky and condescending. I will not be back~

I don't know if I saw the same Dr. Stephen Sigmund as everyone else on here. I actually had a pleasant experience. He was friendly, attentive, and informative. I went in as a new patient with knee pain. I didn't have to wait very long to see him. He diagnosed me in just a few seconds and explained in detail what I would be facing in the future. He answered all of my questions and he didn't interrupt me while I was talking. He also requested that I get an x-ray. The imaging place was right across the hallway. Talk about convenient. Maybe people expect too much from a doctor. I've been in the Veterans Affairs system for 10 years and in the Army for 10 years prior to that. If you want to see a bad doctor....those two places are where you go. The difference is night and day with Dr. Sigmund. read more

Don't listen to the bad reviews on here - the patients are the problem in those situations, not the doctor for sure. Dr Sigmund is very personable, and keeps up good spirits and humor to make you feel relaxed. His staff was very kind and helpful too! I really appreciated Dr Sigmund's expertise, he finally helped diagnose my problems after several doctors couldn't. He is very good at diagnosis. He listened to me attentively and was very direct in his instructions. Best doctor I've gone to in years! read more

I found Dr. Sigmund to be extremely rude and non-professional. He spent more time talking to his computer than to me and never did spend any time on diagnosing what the real problem was as to why I was there. The wait was much to long and his "bed side manner" was non-existent. When I asked him why he didn't address the problem that I came to him for, he said "you have lots of problems, come back in two weeks." My pain level was about 10 at that time, which he never did talk to me about. read more

I'm not going to speak details... but I believe this doctor has fallen short on the care of my father for many years. My dad is in his late 70s and is on over 15 medications for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, etc... The medications do not compliment each other and my father is in a great deal of discomfort. Dr. Sigmund has treated him for many years and has never done anything to minimize these reactions or to help him with his overall health. My father doesn't like change and doesn't want to change doctors. Recently, the head nurse said that she needed to "ask" Dr. Sigmund if she could forward medical records to other doctors. There should be no permission to request, those are my fathers records and they should fax as requested. Cancer is a touchy subject but my father was also told by Dr. Sigmund that he has cancer recently and has had these symptoms for some time. I would not recommend this doctor to anyone. read more

He gets frustrated easily, loses his temper quickly, and does not want to deal with anything out of the ordinary. Dr Sigmunds office failed to follow through with an appropriate referral for my teenage sons medical issue. When I went in a second time for the same referral Dr Sigmund became angry with me as to why I was back again for the same issue. I explained that the referral had no been completed from the last visit (I was sent on a run around by one of his staff members who later quiet). Dr Sigmund told me it was my fault the referral didn't get processed because I didn't tell him which specialist I needed to see (how am I supposed to know, hes the Dr.). He escorted me to the office staff, asked them to help me and left, never to be seen again. Two days later, I received a certified letter stating "we are unable to establish and maintain a satisfactory physician-patient relationship". I dont think he even knew which specialist my son needed and rather than try to figure it out, he kicked us out of his practice. read more

Sigmund is a Quack, often had me confused with other patients. He also couldn't give me lab results when i asked for them saying he does not have records for the results but it was less than a year lab work was performed. Spends more time looking into his computer not paying attention to what telling him and spends more time talking about himself. I needed a insurance form filled out and signed to lower my deductable and totally blew me off. That was it i won.t be back. read more

Wow, it is hard to read these reviews. I have been a patient of Dr. Sigmund for 9 years. Yes there is a bit of a wait maybe 20 minutes but understand this. If he is listening to the patients stories who is in front of you than that means that he cares. When your turn comes instead of looking at your watch realize that it is YOUR turn and he will make those behind you wait. Are you really in the doctors office that much that you can't wait a few minutes. If so you have far more problems than any internist can handle. maybe you need a specialist. read more