Are you a healthcare professional?
Is this your profile?
background
background
Dr. Irene Wu, MD

Dr. Irene Wu, MD

Pain Medicine*

Dr. Irene Wu, MD is a pain medicine physician in Santa Monica, CA. She is affiliated with medical facilities such as Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital. She is accepting new patients and telehealth appointments.

2.3 Star Rating
Based on 22 reviews 2.3 Star Rating (22 reviews)

Practice

1245 16th St Ste 225 Santa Monica, CA 90404
Telehealth available

Make an Appointment

Show Phone Number

Compare Dr. Irene Wu, MD with other Pain Medicine Physicians near you

Filter by:
Provider Ratings
Show more providers

Experience Check

Search for experience in a specific area

Learn more about experience and why treatment frequency matters

Dr. Wu's Reviews

Likelihood to recommend Dr. Wu

2.3
22 ratings, 16 with a written review
5 star
32%
32%
4 star
0%
0%
3 star
0%
0%
2 star
5%
5%
1 star
64%
64%

Your trust is our top concern.

We strive to keep reviews honest, trustworthy, and fair.

Doctors can not pay for good reviews, nor can they pay to have negative reviews removed.

We monitor all reviews to ensure they comply with our guidelines and don’t include personal information, profanity, libel, defamation, harassment, obscenity or fraud.

Any reviews that are deemed fraudulent or violate our guidelines will be removed immediately.

All reviews are confirmed and audited before publication, and community members have the ability to flag inappropriate content for further review by our team.

No!
I was seeing her for two years for chronic nerve pain. Although she is intelligent, it's her attitude that has made me to change doctors. She simply doesn't care, listen, talk, or has any empathy nor a clue as a pain management doctor. She is definitely in wrong specialty as someone who is dealing with people with painnn!
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • I didn't feel respected
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
2 others found this helpful
Helpful
Nov 20, 2024
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Dr. Wu will raise her voice and interrupt you when she is done listening. She is rude, condescending, cold, sarcastic, and uninterested in discussing any other options for treatment. It is impossible for her to imagine a patient having anything beneficial to ask or suggest. During procedures everyone is nervous to set her off. The energy in the room is so uncomfortable. She is very irritated by patients and makes sure you feel like an annoyance to her. She is a pain management physician who has no empathy for people. This has been a problem for years at UCLA, but nothing changes. Other doctors have warned me about this also. Every time I see her I leave feeling depressed and deflated about my life and pain management options. She also does not work well with other physicians and avoids collaborating with them for treatment plans. She doesn’t care about peoples’ goals or concerns. It the opposite of what I’m hoping for. Time for a change.
What went well
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Staff friendliness
What could be improved
  • I didn't feel respected
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
Sep 28, 2024
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
The worst, most condescending, negligent physician
I have never written a review for any provider, but Dr. Wu was truly the worst physician I have ever encountered. Besides being incredibly rude and condescending, PUSHING opioid medications (was not taking any pain medication), berating my family members and I, and being dishonest about risks and benefits of treatment options to fit her narrative. She pushed opioid medications of me rather than alternative safer options while telling me 'they were completely safe' since they were FDA approved. Not only was she incredibly rude but her 'advice' was dangerous. Luckily, I did not take her advice. Once again, I have never written a review for a provider or establishment again but any potential patients should be warned about her dangerous practices and horrible attitude.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • I didn't feel respected
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
5 others found this helpful
Helpful
Aug 06, 2024
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Saved my leg
I'll keep this review brief. I was a bad case when I got to Dr. Wu. My leg was in bad shape. Dr Wu preformed my surgery and saved my leg.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
AV – Jan 20, 2024
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Received excellent care
Examination was thorough; she recommeded an injection that has been extremely helpful to me. Dr. Wu may not have the warmest manner, but she seemed very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions.
What went well
  • I felt respected
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
What could be improved
No results
3 others found this helpful
Helpful
Aug 12, 2023
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Pain is much worse
My pain got 10 times worse after Dr. Wu gave me a lumber decompression procedure. I really regret that I trusted her and did the procedure.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
8 others found this helpful
Helpful
Apr 04, 2023
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Coerced tapers and frequent threats to abandon care. The worst bedside manners imaginable. Cold, and uncaring.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Long wait times
12 others found this helpful
Helpful
Jul 10, 2021
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Dr, Wu is a delight to be around. She conquered my arthritic pain in my neck. I can now turn it without pain or restrictions. Surgery went exactly as she said it would.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
No results
1 other person found this helpful
Helpful
Candace Yeamans – Nov 12, 2020
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
She will lie to cover her mistakes or the mistakes of others she is training. I had surgery and I could feel them cutting me but they couldn’t hear me because they had loud music playing in the OR room .. when I confronted her about this she lied again and said everything went fine.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
9 others found this helpful
Helpful
Nov 02, 2020
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Very frustrating. DO NOT SEE IRENE WU. Disrespectful, sarcastic, condescending.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
10 others found this helpful
Helpful
Josh Rapp – Aug 08, 2020
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
I have suffered from chronic back pain for many years. I've been to 2 other anesthesiologists and also a neurologist. Dr. Wu was the first doctor to actually see beyond the obvious and come up with a treatment plan which actually gave me some relief from constant low back pain. Dr. Wu is also very responsive when I email her a question. She has been kind and patient and always explains my options in detail. I couldn't recommend Dr. Wu enough.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
  • Wait times
What could be improved
No results
2 others found this helpful
Helpful
Jan 06, 2020
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Dr. Wu is careless and lacks accountability. She created a surgical nightmare for me due to her negligence. I shudder at the thought of her being anyone's Anesthesiologist.
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Staff friendliness
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
10 others found this helpful
Helpful
Oct 03, 2019
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
Worth a second review. Dr. Wu, her staff and the office in general are just amazing. I have been going to her for several years and she is by far one of the most professional doctors I have ever seen. She is determined to help you and always provides a clear path forward. She listens and adjusts her treatment plan, if needed, based on carefully listening to my symptoms and general feedback from the previous month. As for bedside manner and caring? Top notch! The office staff are super helpful!
What went well
No results
What could be improved
No results
2 others found this helpful
Helpful
Mar 22, 2019
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
I have had only positive experiences with Dr Wu. She has treated my back issues with expertise. Her ability to get to the cause of the pain is outstanding and her treatment plan successful
What went well
  • Office environment
  • Appointment scheduling
  • Listened & answered questions
  • Explained conditions well
  • Staff friendliness
  • Appointment wasn't rushed
  • Trusted the provider's decisions
What could be improved
No results
2 others found this helpful
Helpful
Annie in Brentwood, CA – Oct 11, 2018
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
The word the best describes Dr. Wu is “negligent”. Other words are also easily applicable, such as “bureaucratic“, “unaccountable”, and “harmful“. Her ratings average between 1 and 2.5 stars, I’m delighted to discover, because she has the bedside manner and clinical efficacy of a pig. She terminated treating me with no forewarning, no discussion; couching the termination on a simple miscommunication, and relying on plausible deniability to enforce it. Luckily, my GP called her and yelled.
What went well
No results
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
11 others found this helpful
Helpful
Zachary in CA – Feb 02, 2018
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?
This is one of the most upsetting doctor experiences I have had. She makes patients feel incredibly uncomfortable. She explains her medical recommendation in a way that makes you feel as though you are wasting her time. Her bedside manner is sad and her level of "expertise" trumps any pain or discomfort the patient may be having. She is unwilling to cross reference with any other doctors or hear a patient out which makes her very difficult to trust. Its unfortunate she is in the pain field.
What went well
  • Office environment
What could be improved
  • Difficult to schedule appointment
  • Didn't listen or answer questions
  • Didn't explain conditions well
  • Staff wasn't friendly
  • Appointment was rushed
  • Didn't trust the provider's decisions
  • Long wait times
27 others found this helpful
Helpful
Beverly Hills, CA – Aug 25, 2016
×Post a ResponseAre you Dr. Wu?

Leave a review

How was your experience with Dr. Wu?

Know Before You Go

About Me

biography

Dr. Irene Wu, MD is a pain medicine physician in Santa Monica, CA. She is affiliated with medical facilities such as Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center and Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital. She is accepting new patients and telehealth appointments.

  • Pain Medicine

  • Anesthesiology

*Healthgrades does not verify qualifications for medical specialties. Please verify your provider's specialty and qualifications directly with your provider and applicable medical board.

  • University Of Chicago Hospital / Roosevelt University

    Medical School
American Board of Medical Specialties®
American Board of Anesthesiology®
- 
Anesthesiology
- 
Pain Medicine
For detailed information about any of the below board actions, please search for the provider's records on the linked state licensing board or the Federation of State Medical Boards. To learn more about the difference between these sources, please refer to our FAQs.
Healthgrades has not received any data indicating a board action exists for this provider.

Healthgrades receives board action history for physicians and physician assistants. The information displayed here is sourced from independent information providers, such as state board websites, and may not be the most up-to-date information. Healthgrades makes no representations with respect to the accuracy of any information provided here and assumes no responsibility or liability for such information.

Learn more about medical license public record check

  • English

  • Chinese

Healthgrades Tips for Getting Orthopedic Care

Insurance Check

Search for your insurance carrier and choose your plan type

Locations

Practice

UCLA Health Santa Monica Pain Medicine1245 16th St Ste 225 Santa Monica, CA 90404
1

Affiliated Hospitals

  • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

    757 Westwood Plz
    Los Angeles, CA 90095
    Recipient of 35
    hospital awards

    America's 100 Best Hospitals Award™ (2025, 2024, 2023)

    Top in the nation for overall patient experience based on nine measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, and medication and post-discharge care instructions

    America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™ (2025, 2024, 2023)

    Top in the nation for overall patient experience based on nine measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, and medication and post-discharge care instructions

    View all awards

    How patients felt about the care they received at this hospital.

    86%
    Patients said they were given information about recovering at home

    2% higher than the national average

    81%
    Patients would recommend the hospital to friends and family

    16% higher than the national average

    View all patient feedback

  • Santa Monica UCLA Medical Center and Orthopaedic Hospital

    1250 16th St
    Santa Monica, CA 90404
    Recipient of 17
    hospital awards

    America's 100 Best Hospitals Award™ (2024, 2023)

    Top in the nation for overall patient experience based on nine measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, and medication and post-discharge care instructions

    America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™ (2024, 2023)

    Top in the nation for overall patient experience based on nine measures related to doctor and nurse communication, hospital cleanliness and noise levels, and medication and post-discharge care instructions

    View all awards

    How patients felt about the care they received at this hospital.

    84%
    Patients said they were given information about recovering at home
    79%
    Patients would recommend the hospital to friends and family

    14% higher than the national average

    View all patient feedback

  • Providence Saint John's Health Center

    2121 Santa Monica Blvd
    Santa Monica, CA 90404
    Recipient of 16
    hospital awards

    America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Excellence Award™ (2025, 2023)

    Superior clinical outcomes in surgical care across 15 of the most common in-hospital surgical procedures including cardiac, vascular, joint replacement, prostate, spine, and gastrointestinal surgeries

    America's 250 Best Hospitals Award™ (2024)

    Superior clinical outcomes in surgical care across 15 of the most common in-hospital surgical procedures including cardiac, vascular, joint replacement, prostate, spine, and gastrointestinal surgeries

    View all awards

    How patients felt about the care they received at this hospital.

    83%
    Patients said they were given information about recovering at home

    1% lower than the national average

    78%
    Patients said that doctors always listened to them and explained things well

    2% higher than the national average

    View all patient feedback
Learn more about how Healthgrades measures Hospital Quality

Compare Dr. Irene Wu, MD with other Pain Medicine Physicians near you

Filter by:
Provider Ratings
Show more providers
See all Pain Medicine Doctors in Santa Monica, CA