One Medical Group

I never even made it to membership, but I’m so annoyed that I’m driven to write something on Unilocal.I was interested in the Berkeley office and saw that they did not have any MDs accepting new patients, although they did have two nurse practitioners taking new patients. I called to ask questions. First question, do they have parking? NO. Just street parking. I live in Berkeley, I’m familiar with Shattuck Avenue, and I know that metered parking is hard to find. Also, what happens if you end up needing more than an hour? OK, I could deal with that. So I politely asked how it would work if I were to join, but preferred to see an MD. The woman on the phone then adopted a shaming tone, and said, «Well that’s a shame [her word — in other words, shame on me] because nurse practitioners are «exactly the same,» and the care they give is «exactly the same,» as medical doctors. Uh, no. They’re not the same. Or they’d all be MDs. Which is not to discredit the good general care a NP can give. But I have diabetes and try to manage it tightly, and prefer someone who specializes. So I tried again. Could I get on a waiting list to see an MD? NO. Uh, what happens when a patient leaves the practice? Doesn’t a spot open up? At this point she took on her preachiest and snarkiest voice yet, and said, «NO, once a panel closes, it never reopens.» I see. I find that rather unlikely. But I thanked her for her time and hung up. This woman chastised me for making an inquiry. This woman tried very hard to make me feel bad for knowing what I want, and making a decision about my own medical care. Wow. Does that in any way represent what care is like at One Medical? I don’t know, but apparently there is NO way to find out.

Not much to rate One Medical on, as I never made it past the front desk. My appointment was cancelled at reception when I arrived two minutes (no exaggeration) past my scheduled time. I understand that medical care providers are busy and their time is valuable, but from a business perspective I would expect a little flexibility especially from a group priding itself on making healthcare more accessible. I was unable to schedule another appointment within a reasonable time frame to accommodate a 9 – 5 working schedule. Disappointing to say the least. I will be continuing my search for a local physician elsewhere.

My patience with One Medical has grown very very thin. I keep hearing these commercials for One Medical espousing «same day and next day appointments!» Sure, if you don’t give a crap who you talk to, what office you go to, and you only have a cold/​flu/​sinus infection.
If you want to be seen in Berkeley, by your doctor, for some more complicated… try again. I need to come in for a physical and don’t want to have to go all the way to the peninsula or into SF. The soonest I can get a physical in the Berkeley office, get this, over a month from now.
Considering that I’ve paid an extra $ 150 membership fee (which at this point I’d like to have back and will not be renewing) I expect to at least be able to get in for a physical within a week or so.
Also, the Berkeley office has no parking. This means that you have to either walk or take mass transit if you’re going to an appointment during the day. Parking is all taken up by students at Cal. Of course, we all know how impossible it is to get anywhere on time via mass transit in the bay area. My boyfriend left in time to get to his appointment almost 20 minutes early the other day. Bart car had a broken door. He called to office to say he might be late. Was told that as long as he got there before half of the appointment was done, he could see his doctor. He got there in time, but the person at the front desk wouldn’t even CHECK to see if the doctor had five minutes to talk to him. They then couldn’t reschedule another appointment for him until at least another week or so.
I half expect this stuff from other offices where I’m not PAYING EXTRA for good service.

A capable medical staff and friendly and helpful admin folks. I thought the iniitial visit fee of $ 490 was a little steep to diagnose. a cold that was bothering me, but maybe that is the norm in CA (I am from out– of– state)

I’m updating my review one more time to note that the owner, or manager who contacted me, was TOTALLY unhelpful, condescending and completely unwilling to acknowledge any poor decisions on the part of the One Medical doctor who messed up and sent me to the ER.
Screw this place, I am never going back and I highly recommend NO ONE ELSE PUT THEIR HEALTH AT RISK BY GOING HERE EITHER!

A coworker had introduced me to the One Medical Group website. I admit that once I had to change medical insurance from Kaiser to a different plan, I had heart palpitations. I couldn’t imagine going from comprehensive, seemingly all-​inclusive packaged healthcare, to a different model.
I had a sigh of relief, however, when I joined this group.
I love that you can virtually schedule appointments and have the ability to set up your own medical profile on the website. It makes doctor visits so much more efficient and effective, as they have a reference point and an open communication line for you to highlight areas of concern prior to your visit.
Their referral program is also great, as I was connected with a specialist and had an appointment scheduled at the specialist’s office within a matter of minutes.
Arrive early, however, as there is only street parking available, which can be a hassle.

Oh, I wish my time spent with them had been longer! Due to an insurance nightmare, I’ve had to leave the practice, but if I have my way next year, I will be returning.
The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful. Before the aforementioned insurance problem, which was no fault of theirs, they did an extensive search with my carrier to try and find me the specialists that I needed to see. Because their search was fruitless (again, no fault of theirs) I had to choose a new provider that sadly is not contracted with them.
The facilities are clean, relaxing and there was almost no wait time. The phlebotomist was great and getting my blood drawn was nearly painless. There was even a power failure during my first appointment with the PA, but they marched right on and we got the exam done in the dark, hah. Without being prompted, they were even kind enough to waive my copay for the visit, since the power outage caused an inconvenience. My PA was also responsive with emails and it’s great to have access to test results in my inbox. It’s the little perks!
I should be so lucky to get service like this with my new provider. Hopefully this is goodbye for now, and not farewell. I wish the team all my best!

I had my second appointment and I am happy to report everything was as great as the first time. The receptionist was pleasant and my appointment started pretty close to on time.
The medical practitioner I saw was extremely helpful and patient with me. She asked appropriate questions and gave some really good advice. I truly believe that she cares about my health. I am really glad I decided to give this place a try.
One complaint is that the waiting room chairs sit too low for some of us who have a hard time getting up from a deep seat.

Best medical experience ever, from the first call I made this morning at 8am, got a same day appointment and had my problem addressed by 4pm. Kind providers and support staff, great ambience and organization. I would recommend this practice to anyone! As I provider myself, I was very, very impressed. I will make this practice my new provider. Thank you !!!

The best practice that I have ever encountered. I’m able to make either same day or next day appointments via the app. They are always on time & quick with appointments. Even though they’re quick, they’re thorough!
I also love the feature on the app that lets you indicate a common illness (cold, UTI, yeast infection, etc) and talk to a doctor on the phone. He/​she can prescribe medication right then and there. I had two hours before my pharmacy closed & I had to catch a plane the same night. I was able to have an expedited call and picked up the medication within 30 minutes of the call.
The woman who draws blood is fantastic as well. She’s really good at her job and gets it done quickly and nearly painlessly.
I couldn’t recommend this place more!

From start to finish this was an excellent experience — the online appointment booking, the friendly receptionists and the appointment itself all exceeded my expectations. I had nearly lost all my faith in the medical profession after seeing countless doctors who only seemed to care about getting through the appointment as fast as possible and making sure they’d get their insurance reimbursements rather than being truly invested in their patient’s health and wellness. I got an appointment within the week (unheard of!) and when I arrived, I was called back ON TIME. Debra Goettsch (PA) is a godsend! She was so friendly and warm and also very knowledgeable and helpful. She listened well and made great suggestions (and a few jokes!). She was great and I couldn’t ask for a better practitioner. So glad I took a leap of faith on One Medical Group!

Very grateful for Covered California and the Anthem Silver plan that allows me to see the professionals at One Medical. At first, I was skeptical about paying the $ 150 annual fee, however my partner had many positive things to say about her One Medical experience, so I joined.
Until I met Sekai Chideya MD, i had some okay-​but-​not-​great primary care docs. Sekai is a real person and that warmth and humor shows through in her rapport with patients. I immediately felt comfortable sharing details of my history and current needs. What I especially appreciate is that I felt heard, and that our treatment plan was a collaboration. Sekai is unlike any PCP doc I’ve ever met, and I’m thrilled to have found such a compassionate doctor.
I also began seeing Brett London, DO following a car accident and the resulting injuries. His osteopathic manipulations have been gentle and helpful. I appreciate his kind and easy going demeanor. I would recommend his work over the standard high-​velocity chiropractic work, at least for us sensitive types.
One Medical Berkeley gets bonus points for being able to walk down the hall for bloodwork immediately. The phlebotomist was also kind, sweet, and a real person. Easiest blood draw ever!
Also, I am impressed by the efficiency and professionalism of the admin staff. Never any delays in assistance.
I have been very pleased with the excellent care I’ve received from the practitioners at One Medical.

I called to ask about becoming a new patient. The woman was very nice, but then immediately went into a sales pitch about their membership approach. She offered me a free three month trial and I said, «it sounds interesting but I really don’t want to consider that until after I have an appointment and can see how it goes.» She then said she’d waive a year’s membership if I wanted to consider it. I told her I was going to find another doctor.
Really, I was looking for a new doctor and to schedule an appointment. The hard sell within the first two minutes of a call where that was not at all what I wanted to talk about is really off-​putting. If you’re reading this, One Medical, think more about your patients and less about yourselves — especially within minutes of the very first phone call.
The idea was intriguing, but your approach was really poor

I have no issues with the actual medical professionals at One Medical but their administration is careless and appalling.
Yesterday I was prescribed medication which I took once in the afternoon and once in the evening before bed and awoke with a violent reaction and have not stopped vomiting since.
When the office opened this morning, I called One Medical in Berkeley to speak to the nurse practitioner because the pills were making me even more ill and I had many questions regarding the medication (Do I need to keep taking it? What are the repercussions of stopping now? How long would it be until my lab results come in? What other options do I have?)
The admin I spoke to told me the nurse practitioner was in the office but was currently with a patient and asked if she could take a message. I said yes, to call me back. She asked, «Are you sure you don’t want to leave a more detailed message?» and I said, «No, just have her call me back.» Frankly, I did not feel like discussing my diarrhea and vomit with someone who couldn’t answer my medical questions.
After waiting two hours, while I was sick in the bathroom, my partner called the Berkeley office again on my behalf and spoke with a different admin who said my nurse practitioner was still with a patient but that the call was marked on her task list as «high priority».
At 5pm, near closing time, I called the office again and spoke with a third admin who told me that the nurse practitioner was actually not in the office today. So I waited all day to consult with an NP without taking the meds, while still vomiting frequently, and found out I was waiting for a phone call that would never come.
I can’t believe this kind of irresponsible administrative behavior comes from an office that calls itself a medical facility. Despicable.

Appointments always start on time, you can get your blood drawn here instead of having to go to a lab, and they have a pleasant waiting area.
In general, I’ve been a member of One Medical for many years, and have always received attentive, in-​depth, excellent medical advice and attention from almost all of the staff, this location included. You can’t do better for a primary care doctor, and it’s well worth the cost to join.

Good at some things, unacceptable with others. Their website tells a nice story, but it does not match my experience.
I joined One Medical Group just three months ago and the doctor is now leaving. The specific problem I went in to address, and have been asking about for months, is still getting worse I’m having more pain and discomfort by the day.
I had asked for some urgency as I would be travelling for a couple months, and per discussions left with the impression that a plan was in place. When I went to the follow up appt, I learned that the plan was off because a diagnostic didn’t show anything. However, the next step in diagnostic would have to go through another round of approval with insurance. Why wasn’t the next step taken or looked into as soon as the plan was off, or why wasn’t I informed that the plan was off? I have no idea.
It was like the doctor hadn’t even listened or registered that I was going to be leaving in June. Why would he, he is leaving the practice anyways.
So after mentioning the urgency, weeks were wasted and the pain got worse. Now I’m in a lurch because I’m going to travel and am still experiencing the pain and discomfort. This experience has also been a major factor in my decision to leave the non profit world in favor of corporate employment with better insurance benefits.

Early this morning I posted a long, emotional review about One Medical providing me with a medicine yesterday that had did not help me. Within 2 hours of posting it, the hospital manager emailed me a sincere and heartfelt apology for my negative experience. The manager asked if there was anything One Medical could do to make up for this, and shortly afterwards I got a phone call and was prescribed a medication that effectively combats my symptoms.
I am very impressed and humbled by how wonderful, responsive and accommodating One Medical has been after I left the last review. My faith in this medical group has been restored 100% and I will definitely continue my membership with One Medical.
Thank you guys!!!

Is this some sort of a joke to you? Closing offices and labs randomly for some national meeting without so much as an email? I was told in early April I could walk-​in for a blood test between 8 – 11 and 1 to 3 any day from Monday to Friday. I fasted for 12 hours as part of a blood test for my annual physical to be greeted by a shut office and a gleeful automated message saying offices were closed for a national meeting, come back on monday. Isn’t the POINT of One medical to provide courteous medical services? Few other things that have pissed me off about this place
1) Same day appointments mean same day in ANY office in the CITY, not Berkeley. So if you have the flu, they’ll expect you to go to SF to meet with a doctor there for a same day appointment
2) They have only one functional female doctor at the Berkeley office. This means I had to fight tooth and nail to get a female health exam like a month in advance for a day in April.
3) They took 2 months to contact Sutter for results from a diagnostic test I did last year. I took the test in April and got diagnosed in June. GREAT service. They guaranteed a different doctor would look at my results once Jolene Beal took off. But the test results fell through the cracks. Thankfully my condition was not serious. Great show of TRUST guys.
Looking forward to NOT renewing my membership next year.

One Medical is ON IT. I’ve been a member for 3+ years and can confirm they make all things health-​related as painless and convenient as possible. Being able to book appointments online, choose from ANY of their locations, and get day-​of appointments is amazing. Then, there’s the after-​hours Med Team that will respond to any emergency inquiries in a snap. Finally, a healthcare enterprise that understands Customer Service!
The Berkeley office is great. Street parking is breezy, the office is clean and modern, and the doctors are personable and always on-​time (sometimes even early. Yes, you heard right!) I am a fairly low-​maintenance patient — I come in for annual physicals, girly visits, and the occasional cold/​flu. For me, the $ 149 annual fee is totally worth the 5-​star service and high-​tech perks that One Medical is known for.
For example, last weekend I realized my prescription had totally run out and I needed it ASAP. I left a message for One Medical and someone called me back within the hour to get a refill sent immediately to my pharmacy. On a Saturday! This is the kind of service I’ve gotten accustomed to with One Med, so if I ever have to leave them it will be a sad, sad day.

This is not a review of the health care providers in the Berkeley Office, but of One Medical’s administration of the Berkeley office.
I joined One Medical in June of 2014; the Berkeley Office was conveniently located and I need a new GP. I joined One Medical and everything seemed fine until I needed some routine tests. I asked for the appointments, and when I received them they were in San Francisco. This was in fall and the Berkeley office was affiliated with Hill Physicians SAN FRANCISCO instead of Hill Physicians East Bay.
What?
After 6months or so, the Berkeley Office had no East Bay affiliations?
It’s not exactly a medical desert here.
I also wanted to see my cardiologist who is affiliated with Alta Bates Medical Group.
While ABMG listed the Berkeley Medical One MD as a member, my insurer said no he’s not.
Crossed wires I thought, as is often the case in the medical industry. I called One Medical and they said yes, there is a problem, you’re not the only one. We’re working on it. It will be fixed in 2 weeks or so.
Weeks went by and no change, and almost no info from One Medical.
Open an «East Bay» office and send your members to SF? No East Bay affiliations? Poor planning indeed.
Some might call their performance incompetent, I’ just call it unlucky.
So one star for One Medical and one star for UnitedHealthcare {just because.)
To be fair whatever the problem was it seems to have been corrected as of this writing, 2÷20÷2014. It was not, however, corrected in late January when I was trying to straighten out my situation.
Doesn’t matter to me, I changed both my insurer and my provider.