LifeLong West Berkeley Family Practice

30 minutes to talk to someone on the phone, 2 months before you can see a doctor, and office staff so stupid they can’t even get your name right. Enjoy!

The worst medical experience! This place would benefit from some LGBT health and cultural training. They DO NOT embrace diversity or value differences as they state in their mission statement, at least not when it comes to LGBT issues. They are extremely judgmental, dismissive and very unprofessional. My doctor was very surprised and uncomfortable when I told her that I was a lesbian.

Front desk staff and doctors are respectful, friendly, and helpful. This was the first place I felt like I actually was treated with respect, and like a person deserving of medical care, after months of struggling through the social services /​Medi-​Cal system trying to get assigned to a doctor.
I’ve had decent experiences overall with booking appointments… The medical establishment everywhere in the US is broken – it takes a ridiculous amount of time to get an appointment at any doctor’s office. And sometimes they do get behind on appointments. This one is certainly no worse than average, and maybe even better, on these fronts.
They have a new walk-​in urgent care, that was very useful when I needed a same-​day visit and their official same-​day visits (at the main clinic) were full.
Also, the waiting room is cozy. I like the wooden beams in it, the diversity of people. But then when you go up to the offices, they’re more modern. Overall welcoming and useful.

Overall: I have been going to Lifelong West Berkley Family practice for years with little positive result.
Though, I hear they have dentical so I’m hopeful
4 future.
Wait time: ²⁄₃ hr with apt: better luck with getting in on a cancellation. (Now I know why)
However, I have never had problems with any Dr. at any hospital– until now. Staff: changes often /​few familiar smiles. Maybe due to high turn over the staff can seem unfriendly? Ok I get that–
But kicking people out who have waited months for an apt and that are in need of help is low. Especially when you just put them on a terrible medication and they are there to ask you to please address the situation professionally. Along with existing severe PTSD and Social Anxiety it is hard enough to navigate as is, she treated me less then human in front of my boyfriend– we were both horrified.
I went in suffering from acute insomnia and terrible reactions (nightmares to put it mildly) from a medication Dr. Emily put me on that initially I said no to trying but at this time was the only given choice.
(After about 10 yrs of being on and off Meds I have extensive experience as a human guinea pig — I chose to give up all Meds. Mostly*
*However currently need help with sleeping/​anxiety as severe nightmares/​flashbacks are preventing sleep*
Review: what happened yesterday with Psychiatrist Emily Toch is unacceptable and now I have to file a grievance. Also lame, she is the only Dr on staff to prescribe Meds, unless referred to another location.
(I can not –warn more highly against seeing. Especially if you have severe PTSD /​anxiety)
Yesterday at my apt:
Happy mood walking in, brought my boyfriend along for moral support as the new med she put me on sucks and I had to «just say no» — but instead we ended up being rejected help, told to leave, and ultimately disappointed.
Because I’m in flux, I can not keep trying «new» Meds and asked her to please use something that has worked in the past– but that would mean anti anxiety Meds and she simply said «I’m NOT giving you any at all» but in a tone you use when talking to an idiot drug user off the street. Or hate to say it, someone with medical. Not a human w trauma —
This is what actually happened: instead of hearing me properly the first time I explained it to her (I ate 420 edibles due to inability to keep food down when stressed and without my Meds) turned in to:
Intelligent Dr. Emily put me at high DRUG risk because —- «I ate edibles to try to help my appetite when I was in between apts and Drs.»
and now she wouldn’t help me with what worked in the past. For 10 years of the system having no problem dishing out Meds suddenly Emily simply won’t because she labeled me a druggie without looking in my file once.
Not once did she look in my file to see that I am the one who has always weaned off these various Meds never wanting to rely on a faulty system. That if I say I’m eating edibles so I can eat food that’s a huge difference from being a Drug Addict.
She never actually looked in my eyes to see that; I’m asking for a few nights of nightmare less sleep. Not 5 refills of sedating Meds of her choice that I’m supposed to take multiple times a day forever– which she gave me no problem. (btw she asked me «you don’t have trouble taking too much medication do you, oh no– ok I’ll give you 5 refills of antipsychotic Meds.» As she handed that over no problem.)
Far worse then a few sleeping or anxiety pills.
When I said I was done trying new Meds:
She literally replied by saying «you are not allowing me to practice medicine» as if this were about her. She was so rude and spoke to me in a tone (in front of my boyfriend that made him ask me to please leave the room before I got more upset)
She is nothing but a contradiction that wiped her hands after 10 minutes of meeting me.
I have never been treated so poorly by a Dr. And put on such an intense medication without any actual assistance or help from a dr. When I followed up to tell her how horrible it was and to please help me get off of it safely I was rejected.
How sad to treat people this way. People who really need help don’t need to be made to run circles around getting some help. You are supposed 2 help people in need –not make them want 2 explode and breakdown. It was a shock to the people around me to see me upset– they usually see me smiling and trying to be kind. She is new there– I doubt she will last. And if she remembers she is only human like the rest of us. She may remember too that she may drive a car. And has four tires like everyone else. Someone one day may treat her tires the way she treats her «patients».
There used to be a psychiatrist there named of Dr. Kaymen who would keep track of my mental health Meds. He was pretty terrible but at least he was kind. All his patients now go to this woman who barely looks at you as she hands out meds. Psychiatrist Emily Toch– the resident psych at lifelong you should retire.

It’s incredibly hard to get an appointment. What good is a doctor if you can’t see them when you’re sick? By the time I was able to get an appointment the doctor made me wait in the room alone for 40 minutes, and then had the nerve to tell me that my time was up before addressing all my concerns and told me to make another appointment. She wouldn’t give me a referral to see a dermatologist even though I have 5 new moles I’m concerned about.

I have only been coming to clinic for eight and a half months since moving to area.
If you come twenty minutes early as asked by clinic or on time the clinic has always seen me on time.
The staff at front desk have been very helpful at this clinic.
Additionally, the medical staff always have been cordial with all my interactions with them.
We are lucky to have clinic in area to see us.
My only concern is the vaccination shots have left a hard bibi gun size material in my eight and a half month old daughter’s leg. I’d like to know what the hard composition of the material in my daughter’s leg is from vaccination shots?
More importantly, I’d like the medical staff to know what is in each vaccination shot and be able to talk about the chemicals that are in each shot being administered.
I’m setting an appointment today to have her seen by an MD who can answer my question.
I will change my post after next visit. I’m fully aware I need to do my own research what is in each shot.
I suggest to parents who care about baby to do vaccination shots one at a time and wait four weeks in between shots to see how your baby responds to shot.
Also, try and get shots without harmful preservatives like thimerosal.

people, this is a clinic, take it with a grain of salt. of course you are going to wait! ! the staff and doctors here are probably doing the best that they can. some doctors very much do care about there patients. if they didnt really want to help you, they wouldnt be working in a clinic. be greatful for the help you can recieve. :)

After today’s visit I’m not happy as like every visit but today took the cake. I went in for a appointment for sore throat and my tonsil are red, Sore and swollen making it difficult to swallow and i ask the doctor could I have something for pain and antibiotics for swelling and she began to tell me my tonsil look a little red and swollen but not enough for antibiotics and far as pain meds she said I’ll send you a Prescription of Tylenol to your pharmacy, ok I can buy that over the counter. Then I ask well can you at least put a prescription in for some medicated mouth wash, she reply I don’t know if your Insurance will cover it (I told her I have Alameda Alliance through my job plus blue cross with my husband) one of our Insurance will cover. she replied buy over the counter Listerine mouthwash. So at that point I seen this visit wasn’t going anywhere so I then I asked can I just have a referral to see a ears nose and throat specialist and she said I’ll notify one and You should receive a paper in the mail I’m 2 weeks and if not to come back. Then I told her I’ve had large tonsils all my life and for months now they have been bothering me non-​stop and now your telling me to go another 2 weeks in pain & discomfort and that I want them out, she then went on to say «I don’t think your tonsils are Bad enough to be removed.» … I finished my visit with her walking out with nothing, still in pain and waste of my co-​pay. Tomorrow I will be making a Huge Complaint and I’m changing my doctor office asap!
Ps. I’ve been a patient there for over 2 years and the last 6 months my visits have turned out bad & unresolved

Scarey. Run.

Aside from not being able to see MD’s, only nurse practictioners who then must refer you to qualified doctors through a brutal referral process which they call back asking for information you already provided, they suffer from both staff and practitioner inefficiency and incompetency in their processes, which if were in place would alleviate most of patient concerns. I had a 2:45 apt, waited one hour and doctor never showed, so I had to leave. If my arm was falling off, I would wait in line, and wait 5 days for my referral, to see if medical covers «falling off arms» Luckily I was able to get a make up apt the next morning.

Great staff. The nurses here are incredibly knowledgeable and caring. Thank you so much for the awesome care you guys provide. I’m really greatful. Keep up the great work.

They have a ridiculously long wait for appointments and when I finally got in this week, my doctor refused to give me a referral for a neurologist because «it didn’t sound like I needed one.» Meanwhile, my body is going numb and getting progressively worse and I can’t see a neurologist without a referral. She told me to come back in 6 weeks, as if I can just go on living my life happily and my body isn’t falling apart. Tried to get an appointment with another doctor at the practice who can only see me at a time that I cannot come in, and I’ve been told she will likely refuse me a referral too. Is this about money for them? What harm does it do them to get me off their backs and going to a doctor who will hopefully actually help me or care about helping me?
For a regular check up, I guess it’s fine, but if you actually need help with a medical issue, I do not recommend.

Ive been going here for several years and have never had any problems registering, getting appointments, being seen promptly… i have no idea why people are complaining. Best county healthcare i’ve experienced in a beautiful craftsman clinic… what’s not to like?

I’ve been waiting at this medical center for literally two hours, and I still haven’t been seen (yes, I had an appointment). The doctors and some staff have been very professional, but unfortunately I can’t say the same for some of the admin staff. One woman was going around the waiting room yelling «I want to go home, I want to go home!» It was the height of unprofessionalism.
Again, I want to stress that this isn’t a reflection on the care I’ve received here, but rather the way in which the office is run. Admin is a crucial part of healthcare, and it is failing here.

As a 6-​year patient at Lifelong West Berkeley, I have been exceptionally pleased and supported by the care I have received. It may take a few hurdles to become a new patient, but I found that it was completely worth it. With any community clinic, I expect to wait. But the benefit is that my providers spend as much time as we need to resolve the issue.
I might be a unique case because I have a chronic illness, but I my health care team at Lifelong West Berkeley (in the same building) includes a Primary Care Doctor, a Physician Assistant, a Nutritionist, a Naturopath, and an Acupuncturist. I also attend yoga classes and receive fruit and vegetable donations (available to all Tuesday and Thursday.) I am there 1 – 3 times a week and always benefit.
While people might have complaints about their organization or hiccups in the system, I would gladly deal with a few of these inconveniences to get the spectacular care I’ve received. Without Lifelong, I would be trying to manage my illness by myself and piecing together information from various specialists. I rely on Lifelong’s team to put everything together.
I am much healthier because of Lifelong.

All right people. Let me give you the 411. First do not call. You will either get the run around or the wrong info. Go into the office. BEFORE you go in the office make sure you got a book, your phone, head phones, a stress ball, whatever works for you. It will be a wait so you got to make sure you got something to entertain yourself so you don’t get angry. Ok, now you’re in the office. Ask questions. Lot’s of questions. If it doesn’t sound right ask again. They will then ask one of their coworkers and usually one of them has the right answer. Be demanding. I know, this sounds like a being B ending in itch. But believe me, it’s worth it. It’s your health. Now, I’m not actually hating on the staff. They are working in a bureaucratic awful system. That equals enormous red tape and lack of training. So, with that said. Be polite, prepared, and vocal. All right! Go to it! :D

Dear,
Whomever it may concern,
Regards,
The frustrated soon to be ex-​patient
P. S. I luh-​Ju

I started going to this clinic about 14 years ago when I was really sick. Dr. Starks, was the best, he saved my life. The clinic ended up in a crisis and was about to be shut down due to of funding, so I was asked to personally speak at a meeting in uptown Berkeley regarding how important the clinic was to me at that time.
Now, everything has changed. My doctor has quit and left me out there. I called for an appointment because I am supposedly under continuous blood pressure watch, and that is out the window. I have no medication and the appointment I was given for a new doctor was over a month away. They do not refill a person’s medication until being seen. I could have died by now waiting on this appointment. The clinic has really grown, so I know that they could have had a staff member go through Dr. Starks patient’s charts to see who needed to be seen immediately due to chronic conditions. I will go to this appointment at the end of the month, but probably look for another doctor. And as for the receptionist, Barbara who use to be a supervisor is now working at the front desk and her attitude really suck now.

First of all, there are two «LifeLong» buildings for patients along 6^th street in West Berkeley, and there is zero signage to clarify that the other location is not actually the «West Berkeley» location. (I can only blame my Google’s mobile site for the bad directions).
You will likely wait for a month for an appointment, and then feel like the doctor is in a rush to get you in and out. I didn’t get the sense that the doctor I saw wanted to zero in on my issue, but rather use more of a trial-​and-​error approach. However, they get two stars for the customer service, and not having to wait more than a few minutes for my appointment time.
But the worst part is how disorganized my referrals and prescriptions have been. I have spent hours on the phone since my last appointment calling LifeLong, getting them to send faxes that they forgot to and correct out-​of-​date addresses and phone numbers in their system. And one of the places I’ve been referred to is booked for the next two months! So much for my semi-​urgent and disabling condition.
This is not health care.

I really wanted to like this place… I really did. Making an appointment was a real horrible experience. The lady on the other end of the phone was rude and indifferent to my questions and concerns about my condition.
I was supposed to be screened for certain things, but never got the test results? Who knows if I was actually tested???
The doctor was supposed to prescribe me certain meds, and forgot to send them over to the CVS, but the ones he did manage to send, he sent them to the wrong store.
Was supposed to talk to a referral specialist about my condition but never received a call. Started to bug them about it, and it turns out the doctor said I needed physical therapy in the notes, not dermatology, which is what I actually needed.
It’s been over a month and I still haven’t gotten a call for a referral, and I’m almost out of the prescription meds that are keeping this condition I have under control.
And for that lady down the way calling everyone freeloaders for not being appreciative of this shitty service? You can GFY.