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Best Critical Care Specialists in Chula Vista

Written by Andrew Le, MD

Updated December 24, 2024

Introduction to Critical Care Medicine in Chula Vista

Definition and scope of Critical Care Medicine

Critical Care Medicine, also known as Intensive Care Medicine, is a medical specialty that focuses on the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions. Critical Care Specialists, or intensivists, are physicians who are trained to provide comprehensive care for patients with severe and complex illnesses or injuries.

These specialists play a key role in managing patients in intensive care units (ICUs), where they oversee a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals. Their responsibilities include monitoring vital signs, managing life support systems, and coordinating care with other specialists to ensure the best possible outcomes for critically ill patients.

The importance of Critical Care Medicine in healthcare cannot be overstated. It serves as a cornerstone in the treatment of patients with acute, life-threatening conditions, providing advanced interventions and continuous monitoring that can mean the difference between life and death. In Chula Vista, as in other parts of the country, Critical Care Specialists are essential in managing complex cases and improving patient outcomes in hospital settings.

Overview of Critical Care services in Chula Vista

Chula Vista, the second-largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, boasts a robust healthcare infrastructure that includes several hospitals and medical centers equipped to handle critical care cases. The city's healthcare landscape reflects its diverse population and growing healthcare needs.

Based on the data provided, several major hospitals in Chula Vista offer critical care services. These include:

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center: This hospital is frequently mentioned in the hospital affiliations of many Critical Care Specialists in the area. It likely serves as a primary center for intensive care in the city.

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego: While not located directly in Chula Vista, this hospital is affiliated with several of the top-rated Critical Care Specialists serving the Chula Vista area.

Paradise Valley Hospital: Located in nearby National City, this hospital is also affiliated with some of the Critical Care Specialists serving Chula Vista.

These hospitals, along with others in the San Diego area, provide Chula Vista residents with access to advanced critical care services. The presence of multiple facilities offering critical care indicates that residents have options when it comes to choosing where to receive intensive care treatment.


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List of Critical Care Specialists in Chula Vista

PC

Dr. Pedro Dammert Coronado

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 862-6673

American Board of Internal Medicine

English

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

Neurocritical Care

RS

Dr. Richard Sacks

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Afrikaans

Phone

(858) 939-3400

American Board of Internal Medicine

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN / FACULTY OF MEDICINE (Medical School, 1996)

English

Afrikaans

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

RG

Dr. Roland El Ghazal

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 397-3184

American Board of Internal Medicine

LEBANESE UNIVERSITY / FACULTY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES / SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (Medical School, 2004)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Palomar Medical Center Poway

Palomar Medical Center Downtown Escondido

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

Neurocritical Care

SI

Dr. Soud Sediqe I

5.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(858) 650-5036

American Board of Internal Medicine

Ohio State University (Medical School)

English

Sharp Coronado Hospital

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

Dr. Hassan Bencheqroun

Dr. Hassan Bencheqroun

4.3

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Arabic, French, Spanish

Phone

(760) 618-1353

American Board of Internal Medicine

American Board of Medical Specialties

Beth Israel Harvard Med Sch/Deaconess Medical Center|Caritas at Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center|St Elizabeths Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 2010)

SUNY Syracuse|Upstate Medical University/ College of Health Professions|Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 2007)

English

Arabic

French

Spanish

INTEGRIS Bass Baptist Health Center

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

Desert Regional Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Dr. Luis Sanchez

Dr. Luis Sanchez

3.6

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(619) 426-9610

American Board of Internal Medicine

Jackson Mem Hosp/jackson Health|Johns Hopkins University School Med (Residency Hospital)

English

Spanish

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

Dr. Frank Grassi

Dr. Frank Grassi

3.5

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Internal Medicine

Naval Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital)

Tulane University of Louisiana (Medical School, 1997)

Tulane University School of Medicine (Medical School, 1997)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Pulmonary Disease

Critical Care Medicine

Internal Medicine

RL

Dr. Rosemarie Lim

3.3

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English, Mandarin, Spanish

Phone

(619) 472-2665

American Board of Internal Medicine

University of California-Los Angeles (Fellowship Hospital)

University Ill College of Medicine (Internship Hospital, 1991)

University of The Philippines College of Medicine (Medical School, 1989)

English

Mandarin

Spanish

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Paradise Valley Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

BL

Dr. Bao Luu

3.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Vietnamese

Phone

(858) 824-5400

American Board of Internal Medicine

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK / HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT STONY BROOK (Medical School, 1994)

English

Vietnamese

Scripps Green Hospital

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Dr. Martha Lozano

Dr. Martha Lozano

2.4

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(619) 363-4000

American Board of Internal Medicine

Baylor (Fellowship Hospital, 1989)

University de Monterrey (Medical School, 1982)

English

Spanish

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Sharp Grossmont Hospital

Internal Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Critical Care Medicine

ER

Dr. Edward Racek

2.3

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 216-9549

American Board of Surgery

Seton Hall University (Medical School, 1972)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Critical Care Surgery

General Surgery

GJ

Dr. Gilbert Seda Jr

1.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 862-6673

American Board of Internal Medicine

Naval Medical Center|University Of Colorado School Of Medicine (Fellowship Hospital, 2013)

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (Residency Hospital, 2007)

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (Internship Hospital, 2005)

Eastern Virginia Medical School (Medical School, 2004)

English

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

Dr. Luis Fiallo

Dr. Luis Fiallo

1.0

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(661) 644-8840

Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez UreA (Puerto Rico) (Medical School)

University Tn (Fellowship Hospital, 1999)

Vet Affairs Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 1996)

Methodist University Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1992)

University Natl Pedro Henriquez Urena (Medical School, 1989)

English

Spanish

Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital

Pulmonary Disease

Critical Care Medicine

SC

Dr. Samuel Clark

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(858) 494-8230

American Board of Internal Medicine

Vanderbilt University (Medical School, 1992)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

SK

Dr. Spyros Kamarinos

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(602) 609-2600

American Board of Internal Medicine

Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Medical School, 2013)

English

Sharp Coronado Hospital

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

WF

Dr. William Fisher

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(858) 650-5037

American Board of Internal Medicine

CASE WESTERN RESERVE CARE SYSTEM (Medical School, 2013)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Sleep Medicine

Internal Medicine

Dr. Brian Tabila

Dr. Brian Tabila

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 472-4900

American Board of Internal Medicine

American University of The Caribbean School of Medicine (Medical School)

English

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Paradise Valley Hospital

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

SM

Sonja McAllister

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(619) 691-7345

English

Critical Care Medicine

BI

Dr. Benjamin Illum

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(858) 554-8860

American Board of Anesthesiology

University of Utah (Medical School)

English

Scripps Green Hospital

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

Southwest Healthcare Palmdale Regional Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Internal Medicine

RD

Dr. Randy Dalugdugan

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(877) 236-0333

American Board of Internal Medicine

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine (Medical School)

English

Kaiser Permanente Zion Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

DW

Dr. David Willms

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(858) 939-3400

American Board of Internal Medicine

Baylor University (Medical School, 1982)

English

Spanish

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

SG

Dr. Samuel Glickman

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(858) 554-9489

Brown University (Medical School, 2009)

English

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

DW

Dr. Davies Wong

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(858) 939-3400

American Board of Internal Medicine

New York University (Medical School, 1985)

English

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

WC

Dr. Walter Chou

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(858) 939-3400

American Board of Internal Medicine

Wayne State University (Medical School)

English

Spanish

Sharp Memorial Hospital

Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Internal Medicine

DN

Dr. David Norton

N/A

Chula Vista, CA

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(858) 824-5404

American Board of Internal Medicine

University of Virginia / Main Campus (Medical School)

English

Scripps Green Hospital

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

Critical Care Medicine

Pulmonary Disease

Choosing a Critical Care Specialist in Chula Vista

Factors to consider when selecting a doctor

Board certifications and qualifications

  • Review the doctor's board certifications, particularly from the American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Consider additional certifications in subspecialties like Pulmonary Disease or Sleep Medicine

Hospital affiliations

  • Check affiliations with reputable hospitals like Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center and Scripps Mercy Hospital
  • Consider the proximity of affiliated hospitals to your location

Patient reviews and ratings

  • Examine star ratings and review counts on platforms like Healthgrades
  • Look for consistent positive feedback across multiple sources

Language capabilities

  • Consider doctors who speak languages you're comfortable with
  • Note multilingual capabilities, such as Spanish, which is common in Chula Vista

Resources for finding Critical Care Specialists

Online directories and review platforms

  • Utilize Healthgrades and similar websites to compare doctors
  • Check for detailed profiles, including education, certifications, and patient feedback

Referrals from primary care physicians

  • Consult your primary care doctor for recommendations
  • Ask about their experiences or knowledge of local Critical Care Specialists

Hospital recommendations

  • Contact local hospitals like Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center for specialist referrals
  • Inquire about Critical Care programs and associated physicians

Top-Rated Critical Care Specialists in Chula Vista

Dr. Pedro Dammert Coronado

Rating and Certifications

  • 5-star rating from patient reviews
  • Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine

Specialties and Affiliations

  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Internal Medicine, and Neurocritical Care
  • Affiliated with Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego

Dr. Richard Sacks

Background and Languages

  • 5-star rating from patient reviews
  • Medical education from University of Cape Town
  • Fluent in English and Afrikaans

Specialties and Affiliations

  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Internal Medicine
  • Affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center

Dr. Roland El Ghazal

Education and Rating

  • 5-star rating from patient reviews
  • Medical education from Lebanese University

Specialties and Affiliations

  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Internal Medicine, and Neurocritical Care
  • Affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital and Palomar Medical Centers

Dr. Soud Sediqe I

Education and Certifications

  • 5-star rating from patient reviews
  • Medical education from Ohio State University
  • Board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine

Specialties and Affiliations

  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, and Internal Medicine
  • Affiliated with multiple Sharp hospitals in the area

Dr. Hassan Bencheqroun

Rating and Languages

  • 4.3-star rating from 7 patient reviews
  • Multilingual: fluent in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish

Specialties and Affiliations

  • Specializes in Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Disease
  • Affiliated with Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego and Desert Regional Medical Center

Additional Considerations for Choosing a Critical Care Specialist

Importance of communication and bedside manner

Significance in critical care settings

  • Discuss the impact on patient outcomes and family satisfaction
  • Highlight the need for clear explanations of complex medical situations

Evaluating a doctor's approach to patient care

  • Suggest asking about the doctor's communication style during consultations
  • Recommend seeking feedback from former patients or their families

Understanding hospital quality and resources

Assessing intensive care unit capabilities

  • Discuss the importance of advanced medical equipment in ICUs
  • Mention the role of nurse-to-patient ratios in quality care

Considering hospital rankings and specializations

  • Highlight the relevance of hospital accreditations and awards
  • Note the benefits of choosing hospitals with comprehensive critical care programs

Evaluating accessibility and availability

Location and convenience factors

  • Discuss the importance of proximity for family visits and emergencies
  • Consider transportation options to and from the hospital

Availability of the specialist

  • Importance of timely access to the critical care specialist
  • Inquire about on-call schedules and coverage arrangements