Dr. Alicja Soczewko Steiner, MD

Dr. Alicja Steiner is a truly exceptional professional who has made a profound difference in my life. Over the last several years, I have had the privilege of being under her care, and I can confidently say that she is one of the most caring and knowledgeable doctors I have ever encountered. Her expertise and experience in her field are truly remarkable, and it is evident that she is deeply passionate about what she does. Dr. Steiner's dedication to her patients is unparalleled. She is not only an amazing doctor, but also a genuinely caring individual who takes the time to listen and understand her patients' needs. Her patience and compassion create a comforting and supportive environment, making each visit a positive and reassuring experience. The clinic where Dr. Steiner practices is impeccably clean, and the staff members are not only professional but also incredibly friendly. Their warmth and efficiency contribute to an overall atmosphere of comfort and ease, which is especially… important in a medical setting. I am particularly grateful for Dr. Steiner's ability to alleviate my pain and provide effective solutions to improve my well-being. Her expertise and proactive approach have had a significant impact on my life, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone in need of exceptional medical care. Thank you, Dr. Steiner, for your unwavering dedication and for positively impacting the lives of your patients. You are truly an outstanding professional, and I am grateful to have you as my doctor. Sincerly, Eran A.

Worst Doctor I have EVER been to. I unfortunately have been to many doctors over the years and specifically a few pain management Doctors over the last 10 years. I have never experienced anything like this. The front office was fairly nice however there was a very long wait my first appointment around three hours and a long wait the second time as well. Dr. Steiner was rude from the minute she walked into the office. She refused to listen, she assumed the worst of you, she lied, she was super obnoxious and all-around aggravating! If you were considering going to this doctor please reconsider it is not worth the stress. Both visits I left the doctor with so much anxiety I literally had to do a mindfulness exercise.

no respect for patients or their rights, wants to dominate you get you hooked on meds since she offers nothing else but expensive injections, blames you, tries to terrify others. never happy and cannot speak properly in english or any other language. will risk ur life if means making bank then habe u sign documents releasing her if u die. terrible experience

Dr Steiner burst into the room would not look at me and demanded i choose then and there would i take my psychiatric medication or the medication she was giving me she told me to decide right then and there and she would be back. left the room i called my psychiatrist in total fear, i was having a great panic! a bit later Dr Steiner came back I was leaving a message for my psych doctor Dr Steiner shouted at me to get off the phone it was not allowed here and I needed to leave right away. She then demanded to look at my phone to see if wasrecording!! i was crying then and she told me stop being a crybaby, this was only my third visit to her! so completely awful and scary i could not believe it. my daufghter was in ther waiting room she kept saying whats wrong, i just wanted to leave, the assistants came and asked me to please leave the building they would call the police.. this is how a woman treats another woman!!! never again

I'm no bot, no fake person with an agenda. I was with Dr Alicja S. Steiner for a few years actually. I was even a patient when her practice was in Mission Valley. Every time she, herself, saw me as a patient I was frightened and did not know what to expect. I was often left in exam rooms for hours waiting for her. I was told not to lie on the exam cot but to sit on it instead. They said they did not want to have to clean the cot after I was done. So, I paced in extreme pain waiting without complaint. Whenever I saw OTHER doctors in that office, I felt safe and well cared-for. Today, Dr Dr Alicja S. Steiner erupted and told me to "find another doctor" and rushed out of the exam room without an explanation. She sent an employee in later to wrap things up. She gave no reason. In the past, Dr Alicja S. Steiner had us sign waiver of liability (If I were to continue treatment with her). A waiver to exonerate her and her practice if I should die with the pain meds Dr Alicja S.… Steiner was providing. She told us in plain words I needed to write a letter "FOR THE DAY AFTER" (in her words - my death) to explain in my own words that she was not to blame or at fault. I never did this. Hearing that out of a physician’s mouth highly shocked me. Dr Alicja S. Steiner repeatedly made clear she was "uncomfortable" with the presence of my Patient Advocate (my legal Durable Power Of Attorney) at our monthly appointments. My advocate’s presence is fully lawful and complies with all HIPAA guidelines. In all her years of service to the medical community, Dr Alicja S. Steiner was completely unfamiliar with this process. She stated to be “uncomfortable” with this process and made clear without saying she did NOT want my advocate present. The very first time I brought my Advocate to an appointment with Dr Alicja S. Steiner, she stopped the session and brought in her legal in-office representative to make sure everything was in order. That is surely fine. But as much as Dr Alicja S. Steiner portrays herself as a long-standing member of the medical community, SURELY she would be familiar with HIPAA guidelines and Patient Advocates/DPOAs. What is she hiding? Why is she so upset with a legal third party being present? Before terminating service today, I relayed to Dr Alicija Steiner that I had a surgery scheduled in approx 2 months and everyone (from my GP to the Surgeon) kept telling me to work with my Dr Alicja S. Steiner since she was my Pain Management physician. This seemed to inflame and irritate Dr Alicja S. Steiner even more. She wanted to lower my medication dosage even lower than had been previously lowered without EVER addressing compounded pain or even presenting ways to accomplish relief that did NOT involve increased medication. In the past, I had – monthly – inquired about alternatives such as physical therapy or ANYTHING that did not involve pills. I do not even like pills. However, she became distressed as I relayed my status and chose to focus on the idea she did not want to be held responsible "if you die". She even sometimes displayed confusion saying “WHEN you die!” If this is the type of person you want in your life (physicians are a big part of our lives when we are unwell) please visit Dr Alicja S. Steiner now located in Hillcrest. Not as a complaint but as a REAL WORLD RELEVANCE, Dr Alicja S. Steiner constantly over-books herself for maximum profit - which is fine - except you should know your office visit (EVERY MONTH) will last 3-4 hours waiting to see Dr Alicja S. Steiner. I need to reiterate here, Dr Alicja Steiner NEVER offered me alternatives to pain management. I was only EVER offered pills. I was also, though, offered specific injections administered by Dr Steiner that never worked for me, and I stopped allowing them. Injections I now understand administered at premium billing for Doctor Alicija Steiner’s profit margin. Since I never received those shots, and only medication refill, I believe Dr Alicja S. Steiner only saw me as a liability that might "die" and damage her somehow. I have chronic pain which Dr Steiner is aware of, and she kicked me out when I needed her most. I have new illnesses and procedures for which she is the doctor of pain management, and should have been there for me. Instead, she saw me not as a human being but as a THING to manufacture money from. When my presence as a patient stopped being a profit value, she wanted nothing to do with me. Having unfortunately been in the position to work with the medical community due to my issues for the past few years, I have had the pleasure of dealing with many doctors, physician processes, and patient facilities. I have never – not once – encountered anything like I have today when Dr Alicja S. Steiner treating me as meaningless, worthless, devalued and SHAMED. Dr Alicja S. Steiner exhibited THE most unprofessional and de-humanizing and immoral behavior toward me. She does not deserve you. You are better. Please do not SETTLE on a doctor. I am confident there are other doctors out there who can and will address my needs. I am glad Dr Alicja S. Steiner terminated service with me, I sense an alleviated STRESS every month now that my appointment with her no longer exists. I would have been happy to discuss any of this with Dr Alicja S. Steiner herself but she fled from the exam room and vanished. I was told by the employee Dr Alicja S. Steiner “would not see me again”. To be fair to the employees working under Dr Alicja S. Steiner, I had seen them in the past have to deal with irate patients who (I can only assume) experienced the backhand of Dr Alicja S. Steiner themselves. The employees often are nice people who want to keep their jobs (doesn’t everyone?). I do not feel they should be blamed for being forced to clean up after the destructive nature of Dr Alicja S. Steiner’

I really enjoyed her in the beginning and felt that I finally found a doctor that could help my pain. After 3 months of seeing her I requested to be seen by only her because the other Doctor their did not make me feel comfortable. I had an appointment at 2:45 and was finally seen by 4 pm. During that time other staff members came in to ask if I would see their other Doctor because dr. Steiner had some where to be at 5. I didn't feel that it was fair that I couldn't discuss my issues with my current medication because she had some where to be. So I said " I'll be quick, I just need to ask her a few things". After that she came in and was yelling at me saying it would be my fault if her friend died I. The hospital and how selfish I am. I said sorry and that I wasn't informed of the situation. If I was informed things would have been different. I still didn't get to discuss my medication with her. She asked me what I want and wrote it down and left while still saying horrible things about… me. I was in tears at that point and not one staff member said a thing. It was one of the worst experiences I have ever had with a doctor or anyone. I went back today and was scared to go back. I was put in a room and when Doctor Steiner came in she said " Good afternoon" I smiled and she said " I am speaking to you good afternoon" I said sorry good afternoon. She then dropped me as a patient with no explanation on why. I was crying and so upset when I left. I never thought a doctor would treat their patent like that and I still don't know what I have done to deserve that kind of treatment from her.

ALWAYS an incredibly long wait in waiting room and in the room waiting for Doctor. Will NOT return phone calls for any reason. Did not discuss disturbing urine tests until months later; then dropped me with no recourse. I feel my health was in jeopardy for months.

I have been a patient of Dr. Steiner's for 7+ years. She is always very attentive, courteous and compassionate when dealing with her patient's.

The Doctor is great. She's very busy though. I would love a little more one on one, but that's just my greed. If you are patient, I don't think there's a more caring Doctor in pain management

I would NOT recommend Dr stiener to anyone. I would AIT in her waiting room for at least and hour or more then go in the room and wait 30-45 min to see her then she would only spend no more than 1 minute with me. I don't feel she took the pain I was in and still am in daily seriously AT ALL . she has too many patients there at once there is no way she could or ever did spend any quality time with me. To me its all about the $$ for her the more people she gets in the more she gets I do not know how she is still in practice at all