*COUGH* When I got sick, I called my regular medical office to find that my doctor was on leave. I went searching for a new office that I could pay directly. Being that I am an avid Yelper, I searched and picked this place based on the review. Just so happens you also get $50.00 off your office visit when you mention Yelp. I scheduled an appointment online using the website and headed down to Care Practice. So when I get there, it's a beautifully decorated office with cool books on the table. I checked in and as soon as I settled in, my Doctor was calling. Sad to say, I'm really not used to fast service at a medical center before now. I met with Dr. Vinh Ngo, who checked me out and spoke to me about my poor little cold and sore throat. He wrote me a prescription for the medicine he did not have, but the others he gave to me and charged me for them. I was impressed! You just saved me another 45 minutes waiting around in Walgreens. I really enjoyed the visit. The Doctor was great, the receptionist was great. I was in and out with my medicine in less than 30 minutes and spend a total of $112.00 with my meds. How could one sick girl be happier than that? Care Practice is a great alternative to paying the big bucks for medical insurance. I hardly get sick and paying $112.00 is way cheaper than most monthly plan preminums. read more

Care Practice - Cool books in the waiting room. - Family Practice Near Me - San Francisco, California

This review is specifically for Jessica the admin and Dr. Wardwell. Where to begin, how about with absolute racket. Its funny that they call themselves Care, such a misnomer. They should just put "$ Care". At every interaction I've had with them, its been about more appts, more money, oh and by the way, THEY DON'T TAKE INSURANCE. Many of their fees might even be covered by your insurance, but they don't want to do the paperwork. So seeing how its out of pocket, I wanted to be very clear about the cost up front. By phone, they told me "$185 per visit, thats a discount since you found us on Yelp." They scheduled the visit for Saturday, the only day Doctor Wardwell was available. When I came in for the visit, I asked again to verify the price and the admin told me $240. I mentioned to her the discrepancy and she said, "oh, thats our weekday price, its more on the weekends". I mentioned the Yelp discount and she said she could bring it down to $210. Ridiculous but I reasoned it was only $25 more. I told her I knew the test I needed based on two other phone calls with Naturopathic doctors and didn't want to waste Doctor Wardwell's time without having the results first, which were a 3 week turnaround by an outside lab. Doctor Wardwell took me back to his office and instead of a quick 5 min chat, it turned in to 25min with the same result, he recommended the same damn test. I exit feeling cheated that I just did a visit for no reason and no progress. And here's the kicker: Admin: "Your total for today is $290", she says with a straight face. Me: $290!, why $290?" Admin: "Its says here your visit was of medium complexity" Me: "what does that even mean? Is that an actual line item, can I see it?" Amin: "no" Me: "a half hour ago when I came in you told me the visit would be $210" Admin: "okay, I can bring it down to $240" Me: "no, you told me $210" Admin: "okay, $210" I left with a sour taste to say the least. 3 weeks later she calls to tell me my results are in and wants to schedule an appt. Not wanting to return, I said I was feeling better and would call if the symptoms re-surfaced. Two days later, another call from Care, "Dr. Wardwell would really like to discuss your results with you." Me: "I thought I already told you what I wanted the other day". Admin: "Well, he would like me to send you the results" I'm thinking perfect, then I can decide if I need a follow up visit. Two days later Admin: "Dr. Woodward is in the office today (sat) and would really like to either set up a visit or he can speak with you by phone" Me: "I'm at the gym but can do a quick phone call in an hour" She calls me back in an hour and says: "Hi, I have Dr. Wardwell right here, is this still a good time" Me: "yes" Admin: "ok, I'll pass you right over. The call will be 175, is that okay?" Me: "WHAT! $175 dollars? American? Definitely not!" Admin: "oh, okay. Is money a problem?" Me: "Yes, $175 for 5 - 10 mins is a problem, why didn't you tell me this an hour ago when you called?" Admin: "oh okay, I'll tell Dr. Wardwell you don't want to talk to him" Absurd on so many levels. First that she didn't tell me the price of the call beforehand and second that she made me feel like an ass for not wanting to pay a rate that is higher than any lawyer in SF. My two interactions with Care: 1st one I was scammed, the 2nd they tried to scam me again. Not kosher. In retrospect, any doctor who is right there and their patient says, yes money is an issue and doesn't get on the phone to discuss for at least a couple mins, doesn't give two shits about their patient and is purely money driven. To sum it up: Maybe there are other good doctors at Care, but there are a lot of good docs in this town. If you don't want to get totally fleeced and feel like a jackass for asking about the price of your out of pocket care, I would stay away. read more

Care Practice - My first 25min visit was deemed "moderate complexity". When questioned what that even means, no response. Absolute sham! - Family Practice Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here only after my own urgent care place couldn't take me on a Saturday. Made an appointment online, got a Yelp discount, saw a doc and his med student for like 15 minutes and he said I just had a little cold virus and would be soon without antibiotics soon. He gave me a script just incase the fever were to shoot up again but told me only fill it if I have to. Their receptionist was super and she guided me through the insurance paperwork I'd have to file soon. The only odd thing is the MD tried to push some homeopathic "virus reducer" tonic on me...I asked him "do i need that, what does it do exactly" and didn't get a good scientific response. I told him, unless you would actually prescribe it, I'm going to pass on it. He was cool with me not taking it. I'm not in the habit of paying people with advanced degrees for hippy advice. read more

Care Practice is like everyone else, flawed. That's fine. It's how we handle our flaws that defines us though, and at least one doctor who is a member of the Care Practice team has failed to live up to the first tenant of medicine: "do no harm". Every experience I had with Care Practice tells me one thing: the administrative staff there really does seem to care. They were polite and respectful at all times, and tried their best to help me out as another human being. My hat is tipped in their direction. But when two Care Practice physicians (who had very little experience seemingly) told me on my initial examination that I had a significant mid-abdominal gastric mass that needed a CT scan (mmmm radiation!), I believed them. My condition could lead to that some day, yes. However, when the CT scan revealed specifically that there was no mass of any sort in my abdomen, it's not like they pressed forward to see what the problem really was. They basically ignored me, ignored the fact that I had spent time and money on the scans, and ignored the fact that I could still be sick. Okay, you wasted my time on the CT, put me through radiation, don't you think the least you could do is try and figure out what's actually wrong? The bigger problem comes with "do no harm". One doctor at care practice had assumed the role of my Primary Care Physician... he had taken over two medical prescriptions I had been on for over a decade... and was prescribing them for me. Then, when I asked him to refill these prescriptions recently, he told me that he couldn't unless I came in to see him -- a lie, at least by AMA standards, and by the standards of some 10 other doctors who had prescribed this med for me before at the same dosage. Right now, I'm not doing so well in the money department -- every bit helps, and I'm about to be on Medical. I asked him to please just tide me over 30 days or even just two weeks until I could start seeing my Medical doctor. Ignoring the very dire warnings posted by the AMA, the Mayo Clinic, and every doctor before him I've talked to, he seemed unphased by the fact that I couldn't afford to pay him to not go into medical withdrawl. He hung up knowing full well that his actions will cause me pain, suffering, and could lead to really severe side-effects... all because he wanted some money from a person infinitely poorer than he is. I hope he sleeps well tonight. I won't be able to because of his lack of compassion. I'm sure I'll be able to go to a hospital if necessary. More wasted time and money. Thanks Care Practice! From the other reviews here, it seems Care Practice will treat you right if you have A) great insurance, or B) lots of money. Otherwise? Best be going someplace that cares about human beings who are still alive, rather than dead presidents. read more

I think I would rather wait all day for a doctor that actually cares about the patient rather than waiting for one that wants to get you in and out as quick as possible. This isn't fast food - it is a medical office. I read decent reviews about Dr. Blackledge on Yelp and when I noticed Dr. Ngo wasn't available, I decided it was fine to see him. Forgoing waiting all day in an uncomfortable urgent care center - I scheduled a quick and painless online appointment. I was telling myself I would rather go to a facilty where I was familiar with the environment than wait all day to find out I had a viral infection, as I had already predicted. Dr. Blackledge was inattentive after I told him that I had a presistent cough (since October) that has worsened in the past 4 days. In fact, I had to correct him when when he wasn't listening to what I said. I was worried, that since I had asthma, that it could go to my lungs and I hoped to prevent that. Instead of getting care, I was slapped with a fee for an herbal supplement ($24) and codeine-laced cough syrup. He sarcastically asked me if the "company" I worked for gave me insurance and shooed me out the door - not even a "take care". Nice. Now, I wasn't hoping for pampering but I expect to be treated as if the doctor actually cared - even if I just have a "cold". This was possibly the worst experience I've had with a doctor and I'd rather not go back. I'll gladly wait in the stuffy, overcrowded urgent care for $20. Overall: Dr. Ngo - I'd give 4 stars. Dr. Blackledge - I'd give 1 star. read more

I have recommended Dr. Blackledge to several friends based on the A+ experience I had when I discovered him this Fall (4am on a Saturday looking for Urgent Care for a severe upper respiratory infection following the flu). I was in a lot of pain and had already been to my primary care physician where I had been refused antibiotics despite a ruptured ear drum and a serious infection. I was almost a month to recover and returned to Care Practice 4 times for adequate care and follow-up. When a specialist was required, I also went to see the ENT folks at UCSF thanks to Dr. Blackledge's referral - they indicated that his treatment plan was spot on and to stay the course. I appreciate that housecalls are available and that basic medications can be purchased on-site like antibiotics or standard prescriptions -- when you are sick the last thing you want to do is stand around at the pharmacy. Pricing was very fair given the convenience factor. The office is warm, comfortable, well appointed and doesn't feel clinical whatsoever. The staff are professional, responsive, and courteous at all times. Dr. Blackledge is competent, patient, and empathic. It was so easy and straight forward to get an appointment plus there is no waiting - you are in and out so quickly. Parking is also very easy. I found the pricing structure to be reasonable and filing my own insurance claims was a straightforward process plus the staff gave advice as needed. Definitely go for urgent care or travel clinic needs - especially if you are uninsured or under-insured. I have a high deductible health savings plan and will likely abandon my primary care physician to see Dr. Blackledge exclusively. read more

Dr Ngo is the MAN. I went there today with no appointment, no insurance and had what I thought was major issues...the Doc took me in and was just amazing. He made me relaxed during the entire visit...we even kicked it about my work and his and his brothers...just making conversation kept me at ease the entire time.. I love this guy, he is truly a great doctor...doesn't give you meds just to give them, doesn't crap on you when you tell him what you think may be wrong. nope...he was patient, kind, and caring...and now..he is my ONLY dr that I will see ...PERIOD!!! read more

I woke up one Saturday morning and opened an eye to greet the world. The other eye, however, decided not to open at all! I had come down with a nasty conjunctivitis ("pink eye" is what I called it the last time I had one of these, back in grade school). Saturday I did my best to clean up the eye and read scary information about pink eye on the interwebs. Sunday I woke up and things were not good, way way worse. I needed a doctor ASAP. I called up my HMO nurse line, and the nurse did her diagnosis thing on the phone and said, "Yep, you should get to a doctor right away." So I asked, "Ok, where's the nearest urgent care in San Francisco?" For almost half an hour the nurse and I went over the listings on her insurance internal site, and the options were down to St. Luke's ER or UCSF Urgent Care. So, first off, what the heck that there's only one normal urgent care in this city? And, second, thank goodness for Dr. Blackledge! I called him at 9:30AM on a Sunday, saw him at 10:30AM, and walked home with eye drops, paperwork to submit to insurance (we'll see how that goes), and set back by a very reasonable amount out of pocket. read more

It really doesn't get any better than Care Practice. -Because I took the time to talk to Aaron about my initial 4-star review...he offered to give me the H1N1 vaccine for FREE! He is a man of his word. When the vaccine came in, an employee at CP personally messaged me to remind me about Dr. Blackledge's offer. -I had a 10am appointment....and I was done by 10:10am. Afterwards, Aaron gave me a tour of the clinic. I felt like a bad ass haha. -After I got my vaccine, I made an appointment for my dad as well to get his vaccine. Having a place like Care Practice really gives you a peace of mind. I can sleep well knowing that if I need anything, I can go to Care Practice immediately. Thank you! read more

After finding out my school was requiring an update of my MMR's & TB I came straight to Yelp to find a nice place with good reviews lol & yess I found it!! I called right away and was able to set up an appointment for the next day :) the woman on the phone was extremely nice & helpful; answered all my questions. Places like this really make it a lot easier. I came in the next day & got my shots, yucccck as much as I haaaaate shots & act like a 4 year old who seen Chuckie come to life I actually didn't have such a bad time here. I alwaaaays squirm around & say, "Wait just a few more seconds then I'll be ready" LOL but not this time! Very nice doctors. Plus, the inside is soo cute. I love their art, comfy couches, and in all their decor. read more

I went to Dr. Blackledge as a new patient last week and it was one of the most enjoyable patient-doctor experiences I have ever had. He was a great listener, really got a sense of what was going on with me-- it was the first doctor visit I've had where I haven't felt rushed. The billing at this practice is set up differently in that they don't deal directly with insurance companies. If you have an HSA, this is precisely the billing structure you are looking for as you don't have to pay their overhead for insurance claims BS. Highly recommended. read more

I called on a Sunday expecting a voicemail and actually got a human! Was able to get an appointment for the next day. Dr. Cooper was attentive and thorough. She immediately knew what was ailing me and gave me medication on the spot I am almost 100% today - I haven't felt this well in over 2 weeks. I highly recommend them - worth every penny. read more

Great experience.. I flew in to SF and came down with a pretty nasty sinus/throat infection (acute tonsilitis as it turns out). Called them around 9AM on a Tuesday, and made an appointment for 11:30. I was in by 11:35, and out by noon.. Doctor Cooper's questioning was more thorough than I've had from some primary care providers back home.. The on-site drug distribution is nice, as well, as I certainly didn't feel like trekking to a pharmacy with a 101 fever.. Also, their office is nicer than my apartment. read more

Aaron Blackledge for Secretary of Health and Human Services! This practice is AMAZING. The model is what we need as a country. The hours are realistic. The office is comfortable and well run. The doctor and staff are human, humane and genuinely compassionate. Seriously - we need you in control Dr. B! and thanks for curing up my bronchitis on a Saturday. read more

Think the exact OPPOSITE of every doctor's visit you've ever had and this is what Care Practice is all about. On a Sunday. Two hours after your initial call for an appointment. After waiting less than 10 minutes for your appointment. Dr. Blackledge was professional, personable, and made me feel like I've been his patient for years after only being there for about 15 minutes. Yes, they don't take insurance, but they tell you exactly what to do to get reimbursed. So...I don't know exactly what's ahead of me once I submit my claim to my insurance company, but if all goes smoothly, this experience was so easy and painless that it's ABSOLUTELY worth the tiny amount of paperwork you need to submit and the upfront payment to CP. I would highly recommend CP to anyone. read more

When I was a child I used to LOVE getting sick. Sick for me meant staying home from school (yay), being pampered by mom (yay), and all the tv and soup (my favorite food then) I could have. Fast forward to adulthood and my attitude has substantially shifted: getting sick SUCKS. As a self-employed contractor, getting sick means lost work time and no pay. And the older you get, the longer it takes to bounce back. Not to mention the dent it does to your social life. There's no better way to clear a room then a hacking cough or sneeze that renders you a pariah. I used to never get sick, but this flu season must have made up for all my healthy years. The same vicious cycle occurs where I develop the scratching throat, sniffles, sneezing, and progress to the flu. This time, though, it was sneaky. I thought I was on the rebound from my latest relapse, and I wake up on night in a coughing fit, hacking up something gross, and feeling a tightness in my chest. Sleep is impossible because lying down only made it worse. The next morning I'm exhausted from not sleeping and coughing, plus I'm running a low fever. Researching my symptoms, I realize I might have bronchitis or pneumonia and had better get myself to a doctor stat. I didn't want to deal with the ER and was worried about exorbitant costs at the urgent care rooms (my insurance is limited), so I decided to call one of the fee-for-service private practices. I'm so glad I did..you can never go wrong with investing in your health. Care Practice had the most positive reviews, and was the closest to my house. I was able to snag an appointment that afternoon, and was comped a $50 discount for mentioning Yelp. The waiting room was chic, elegant, and professional. Service was courteous and I didn't have to fill out a ton of paperwork. Dr. Brandeis was nice and funny: after listening to my lungs he said they "sounded funky," and asked about my symptoms. He didn't do a barrage of tests, was straightforward and informative. Dr. Brandeis is a naturopathic doctor (very cool), meaning he is trained not only as a medical doctor, but utilizes vitamins, herbs, and nutrition to cure the body. After diagnosing me with bronchitis, he asked if I wanted to go the herb or antibiotic route. I chose antibiotics, and he also provided some cough syrup with codeine to help me sleep at night. I am so grateful for facilities like Care Practice; they are life-savers for people with high-deductible health insurance or those who just want to skip the haggle with their local hospitals. read more

Easy 5 stars 1. You can usually get an appointment for the same day 2. Knowledgeable and friendly doctors 3. Up front and fairly priced 4. Nice office 5. They tell you how to work with insurance Disclaimer: I have high-deductible insurance, so pay for everything up to $1XXX myself. read more

In my opinion, Carepractice is setting the bar high for the future of western medicine. I've known Dr. Blackledge professionally for a while now. Stumbled into his clinic one evening just to see what was going on and was immediately impressed with his relaxed, professional and caring demeanor. i've gotten to know the staff there and can say that they are all interesting, dedicated, talented and genuinely warmhearted people that I have no problem sending my friends and clients to. Don't let it's size fool you. This is a serious clinic. From treatment for opiate addiction to prolotherapy to flu vaccines, carepractice is full service and with their innovative pay structure, it is no surprise that they're doing well. As for myself, I don't get sick that often and so haven't had much use for their services until a few weeks ago.... It was a sunday evening and I felt the inspiration to have some friends over for dinner and watch the world series. I decided to make butternut squash soup on a bit of a time crunch. I got a really large butternut squash. a really large and particular tough butternut squash. I started vigorously chopping it. And I'm chopping and chopping and watching the time slip by. So I start chopping even more vigorously. The next thing I know, I've split the top of my thumb to the bone and nearly severed the pad of my index finger. I freaked out for about 3 seconds and then called Carepractice. 10 minutes later Dr. Ngo called me back and had me glued up and back at home finishing the soup 90 minutes later. It was quick, painless and not only did he save my dinner party but since he used glue rather than stitches, it healed really quickly and I only had to cancel one day of clients. What more can I say. Stop dealing with the emergency rooms and assembly line health care system. Call carepractice. read more

I still do not have a primary physician, even though I have health insurance. I had been feeling crappy for days and was hoping it would go away. Finally, after taking a sick day from work, I decide, at about 3:30pm, to do something about it. If you haven't already noticed, there are not a lot of medical service centers in this city that fit between the make-an-appointment-and wait-6-months and the someone-just-cut-your-throat situations. This place does - I called at 3:30pm, got a 4:30 appointment, was seen by Dr. Blackledge promptly at 4:30. The office is very nice, and when I needed a follow-up prescription, he was very easy to get on the phone and dialed in the prescription immediately. If you are sick, can't see your normal physician, but are pretty sure that you aren't dying, this is your place! read more

This place is unbelievable. I have really good insurance, but when I'm ill and faced with the decision of calling my doctor and getting an appointment 2 weeks from Tuesday from a harassed-sounding front office person, or spending a couple hundred bucks through my Flex-Plan for a same-day Care Practice luxurious appointment, I spend the money. Health care is pretty screwed up if these are my choices. I was inspired to write this review today because hubby needed an MD stat. I left him the phone number at 9 this morning, and at 11:15 he called me on his way back from seeing Dr. Blackledge, prescription in hand. Now THAT'S amazing. read more

This was BY FAR the best doctor/hostpital experience I have ever had, ever. I think that the other reviews sum it all up very well, so I wont say too much. So if you are looking for a Doc, or some urgent care, go here! My partner needed to get something checked out on a Sunday night, and Dr. Blackledge had an appointment for us 20 min. later (amazing already.) It was so easy, and the amount of stress and annoyance we avoided by going here worth anything that insurace may not cover. I now feel like I have a doctor/clinic that I like. I dont understand this feeling.... is it... trust? Trust in healthcare? Amazing! :) read more

I have mixed thoughts here. I'd give them five starts for same day service and I can get in and out quickly. However, last time I was there they prescribed me a homeopathic remedy for my injured finger. Homeopathic remedies are snake oil and aren't regulated by the FDA. According to Wikipedia: "The scientific community regards homeopathy as nonsense,[11] quackery[12][13][14] or a sham,[15] and homeopathic practice has been criticized as unethical.[16] The axioms of homeopathy are long refuted[17] and lack any biological plausibility.[18] Although some clinical trials produce positive results,[19][20] systematic reviews reveal that this is because of chance, flawed research methods, and reporting bias.[21][22][23][24] The postulated mechanisms of action of homeopathic remedies are not only scientifically implausible[21][25][26][27] but precluded by the laws of physics.[28]" ... This seems like a major deal breaker and a violation of their hippocratic oath. Specifically, by prescribing me a snake oil remedy, they're doing harm as I would have been able to receive real and genuine medical treatment (as opposed to faux medical treatment via homeopathy). read more

Student Health at SFSU is closed between Dec 23rd and Jan 3rd, so I came here for an infection that was quickly moving into my kidneys. I couldn't afford a trip to the ER, and my boyfriend found Care Practice here on Yelp. They had great reviews, so we called first thing in my morning. First Impression: I started to love CP just through my interaction with Nicole, their receptionist, over the phone when I made my appointment. She was so professional and helpful, and told me about the Yelp discount they offered ($50 off your first visit). She knew I was a student and helped make my visit more affordable. Upon Arrival: Nicole hadn't lied when she said street parking wasn't a problem. We found a spot quickly and didn't have to stress about making the appointment on time. The lobby is welcoming, modern, and very cozy. I absolutely LOVE all of the artwork, both in the lobby and throughout the office. This place has class and a lot of fun touches of personality. My appointment: I met with Dr. Alex Zaphiris, who was incredible. She was direct, well-informed, and talked to me like a person. I've been to Student Health at SFSU for the same problem countless times and not ONCE has a doctor there sat me down and told me about practical, non-medicinal ways to prevent these infections. NOT ONCE. How hard would it be for them to look at my record and say, "Oh? You have this issue a lot? Well, I've seen this research on this one vitamin you can take...." This is what it feels like to talk to a GOOD doctor! They asked for a sample and after testing it, Dr. Zaphiris even brought me the test strip and walked me through the key to show me exactly what was going on and how she came to her conclusions about my treatment. I loved being so involved in the treatment process, because your treatment should never be a mystery! Dr. Zaphiris also asked me about myself so she knew I was in research, and would want to know more about the vitamins she recommended to prevent future infections (vitamins she knew I could get cheaply at any health food store, not some product they were pushing at CP). In addition to printing out a health plan for me, which included a list of all her vitamin recommendations and warning signs to watch for just in case I needed to come back, she sent me an email attaching the research articles supporting the vitamins she recommended!! The way out: CP also has their own small pharmacy because, as Dr. Zaphiris said to me, "The last thing you want to do when you're not feeling well is to run around all over the place." I was in and out in less than half an hour with meds in hand, on the fast track to feeling much better. Overall: I hope not to have to go to Urgent Care anytime soon but I feel so much better knowing that Care Practice is a wonderful place I can go if I need to. All health care practices should be like Care Practice. read more

This is not a review of any individual as a Family Dr., but of the prices of the practice itself. HARM REDUCTION PATIENTS BEWARE! Judging by the phone call I had, it is my opinion that this is a money maker. The entire interaction smacked of elitism and I was shocked at the price just to walk in (an entirely different price than that of a "regular" patient) I am referring to a specific course of therapy they offer through the practice. I called on behalf of person I was in charge of setting up ORT for. The price is unnecessary and sickening, it really is. Exorbitant beyond belief. Clearly the folks who run this place must know that the people who most need their help can't afford it. How could they not? They can say all they want how they offer a "holistic approach" to harm reduction and replacement therapy, when truly (if you've been around the block a few times), it is plain that this is a cash cow. Specifically CASH ONLY. That alone is bizarre. So, if you all want to serve your community, you need to do your job and make it fairly priced. A sliding scale would be a start. No amount of smudge sticks and talk therapy can make me think otherwise. They found a need and are cashing in on it, at the highest price I've seen quoted anywhere, and jeez, the phone operator doesn't have to be such a condescending dick about it. Keep looking. read more

My regular (usually very awesome) GP wasn't getting back to me fast enough to set up an appointment, and I was in need of help immediately. I walked into CarePractice around 5pm and was seen on the spot, after a 20 minute wait. Knowing that they didn't take insurance, I sucked it up and took the hit financially. I was in a pretty bad way. About an hour after I'd come in, and 200 dollars later, I had had a consultation, lab tests done, and got my antibiotics comped! Color me impressed. I'm still going to go to my regular GP, but I like knowing that Care Practice is there if something should happen to me that can't wait a few days. read more

I've been spoiled by being on someone else's fancy corporate insurance for pretty much my whole life. The low co-pays, the easy refills, easy appt scheduling....yep, livin' the insured dream. Then I graduated form college, became over 21 and was left with crappy insurance. The insurance I have now doesn't let me make appointments with a doctor easily, nor quickly. I would have to wait until February I think for an appt, and I'm not exaggerating. To see a doc of questionable quality, I'd have to go the ghetto at 7am and wait in line. I don't know about you, but I can think of at least one thing I'd rather be doing. This crum-o insurance also only covers this one clinic, which only lets you pick up Rx refills at one Walgreens location. I didn't know my fancy Kaiser insurance ran out until I had to refill an rx and couldn't. I looked for options and found that I was over-insured for planned parenthood and not insured elsewhere. My assigned clinic certainly put up enough barriers for me to get that taken care of (not to mention Walgreens didn't carry my regular rx and the quote they gave me for the rx pick up was a little high AND they didn't know how many months worth of med that quote would cover. WTF. seriously. I'm paying $X for ?number of meds). So, plan b (no pun intended) was Care Practice. With good reviews, an office not in the ghetto and an ambiance to serve my previously-spoiled-medical-experience-butt, I gave this chic little office a try. I didn't have to wait in a long 7am line for an appt, in fact I got a same-dat appt bc my reasons were simple and straight-forward. They didn't have my meds on hand so they ordered them for me and I was able to pick them up 3 days later!!! AND it was cheaper for me to pick up my rx from this office than from Walgreens with my insurance! If you don't have fancy insurance you can still feel like you are in good hands with this practice. I seriously felt abandoned when my Kaiser ran out. Don't let the spa-like ambiance of the office fool you into thinking you'll have to pay a foturne to get proper care. I was offered insurance reimbursement forms, but I knew my insurance is very limited so opted out of this. Honestly, it wasn't that much for my visit, it was pretty routine and didn't cost me more than a nice dinner and what I spend in a month on lattes. Highly recommend! read more

Care Practice The title says it! When you need care, go to those who practice it. Their location is very accessible and the people are great. And most of all, IT WORKS! As for my experience with Care Practice, you can read my Yelp for Tatiana Granik who is on their staff. She's a treasure! read more

After a summer of running myself ragged by traipsing all over the country, I was so ill I could barely walk from one end to the other of our rather small space at work. Yes, it was time to get to the doctor and more urgently than a primary care provider could see me. Making a same-day appointment online was super easy. I'm not especially picky when it comes to waiting room decor, but Care Practice's waiting room blew me away. I felt like I was going to the spa, not like I was about to die from coughing and sniffling. I barely had to wait, and the doctor spent more time than I'm used to for what was a minor illness. They had the antibiotics on hand, which is nice when you feel so shitty you can't stand the thought of dragging your ass to the drug store. When I paid, the receptionist was really nice and helped me fill out the claims for my insurance. Considering what I received the price was not very expensive. I prefer just to not get sick, but if / when I do I will return here! read more

I have been a patient of Dr.Blackledge since 2012,when he helped me with my chronic pain medicine and my life in general.I will never forget the feeling I had leaving the office after that first meeting... HOPE ! May God Bless You Dr.Blackledge. read more

This review is for Tatiana Granik weight loss program. Tatiana Granik is professional, very knowledgeable, and easy to talk to, and really want you to see results. Simply put Tatiana Granik rocks! I have been having issues with my weight ever since I remember. I am not very overweight but I am not at the weight I like to be for my frame. I have tired a lot of yoyo diets on my own and many advertised diets. With all the previous experiences, I would loose about 5 pounds first week, was mostly starved, and then I would stop loosing weight the following weeks. Not loosing weight and being starved made me get off the diet after few weeks. I am in my forth week seeing Tatiana and following her weight loss program, I have lost total of 6 pounds at steady of rate of about 2 pounds a week and I have not once felt starved. It is not to say that there are not times when I miss my old eating habits, I do miss eating my big bowl of creamy pasta with a loaf of fresh bread but hey I do miss how I looked in a size 4 dress more :) I like that Tatiana takes a very personal and human approach to weight loss. For example when we first started she went to my favorite grocery store with me and helped me pick the right foods and educated me on why the choices I was making (thinning that I were picking the right food) were actually making me fat! Her positive friendly attitude and her guidance made me want to stick with the plan and think about what I eat. And when I had emotional melt downs (caused by what was going on in my life) that resulted in over eating, she gave me help I needed to pass the stage and get back to my eating routine. I highly recommend Taitian to whoever that wants to loose weight. read more

Nice looking office and they had the H1N1 vaccine when other medical care providers didn't. They are even open Saturday! If I wasn't happy with my current primary care provider, I would probably try them out for other medical needs. read more

So I have to admit that its been about 6 years since I've had a doctor. On election day a friend of mine was at an election party and I showed up to play some music. Turns out it was a doctors office. Well a couple months go by and I'm fighting a cold and my same friend who told me about the election day party told me to go see the doctor at the slick clinic on 14th @ Guerrero. So I did, and what do you know, great service and a really cool vibe for the office. Dr. B is definitely the doc for me. Cheers! read more

Care practice has helped me change my life so much. The staff are very professional, and kind. I always feel very welcome and treated with respect. I drive over an hour to get to my appointments, I don't know what I would do without this place. read more

My experience with Tatiana, Care Practice's nutritional consultant, has been overwhelmingly positive and growth oriented. I started working with her on May 20th and as of today have lost 41lbs! I am 10lbs to my goal weight and its taken just over 4 months! Like many people I've struggled with weight issues all my life, tried many 'diet' solutions, worked out tirelessly and this is by far the most effective thing I have done and the closest I've come to being within a healthy weight range. I owe my success to Tatiana's nutritional counseling. She not only helped me to lay out a workable diet for my lifestyle, but she educated me on why we were making these specific changes. It is because of her education that I believe she is helping me make changes that will last, which is the ultimate goal of healthy weight loss. I have been a vegetarian for a couple years, although not a very balanced one until I started working with Tatiana! Although she wasn't familiar with vegan/vegetarian food when we first started working together, she has been very receptive to me retaining veggie protein sources while weeding out the ones that are not good choices. She is also excited about sharing them with new vegetarian clients! Because of my lifestyle, I would have considered myself fairly educated in terms of proper nutrition before working with Tatiana, but her direct yet supportive style has really allowed me to take my health to the next level. I will soon be starting pilates then rock climbing in January, all things made easier because I am healthier and lighter. I highly recommend her services!! Much gratitiude Tatiana! read more

So unlike a lifetime of doctor's office experiences. I took my son for the H1N1 vaccine at Care Practice. They are efficient and hip! The receptionist was warm and friendly. It was an over all great experience. read more

Dr. Blackledge came to Alameda to see my friend who is 85 and had fallen and refused to go to the hospital. The only way I could convince him he had to go was for a doctor to tell him. The care, time and patience Dr. Blackledge took with him was so reassuring, and my friend ended up going to the hospital which was a good thing! He was there for 7 days and is back home and doing much better! Care Practice is doing what all physicians are doing. Getting to know their patients, and caring for them! read more

Dr Blackledge is one of the best doctors I've ever met. He's brilliant and available when we need to see a doctor. He doesn't just diagnose, he counsels us during our visits so we get twice as much help for a truly low price. Not sure how he does it - but he's an important part of San Francisco's healthcare system. read more

I was able to get in the same day I called for an appointment. Dr. Ngo and Dr. Brandeis both saw me, to evaluate my issue from both a naturopathic and a more traditional pov. They asked questions and did observations, answered my questions and let me choose which route I wanted to take to heal (naturopath or traditional). The office itself is clean and modern, and the fact that they don't deal with insurance providers means your visit is smooth, hassle free. They will give you all the paperwork you need to submit to your insurance provider if you have one. This was the best doctor's office experience I have had, ever. The doctors evaluated my specific problem rather than ticking off some boxes in a checklist to diagnose and send me off into the ether with a prescription. Rather than telling me what to do, they told me why I might choose from a number of options. It felt good to be trusted enough to be an agent of my own health. I'm sincerely hoping that this is the future of medicine. read more

I can't comment on Care Practice as a whole, but I can say that one of their newest doctors, Dr. Andrew Brandeis, is far and away one of the best doctors I've ever seen. In fact, I'm a little peeved that San Francisco stole him away from here. I saw Dr. Brandeis off and on for about a year when he was working up in Seattle. It was by chance that I first went to him, but it was because of his genuine concern and desire to help that I kept going back. He took the time to really listen to me and he saw beyond what was merely written in my charts and lab results. Over the course of the year he helped me tremendously with both physical and emotional issues and helped me see how they were interconnected. I can say with complete certainty that I am healthier, I eat better, and I'm happier because of him. read more

This place changed my life. I hated going to the doctor because of the rushed service, apathetic medical treatment, limitation to Western medicine only, and the nightmare of health insurance. Since when is gynecology a specialty? I have to have a family PCP in order to have health insurance and then a referral for the only care I need!? On top of that, by the time I get to the doctor who I don't know who doesn't know or care about me but doesn't want a lawsuit, I want to leave as quickly as he/she wants to be done with me. I keep health insurance for emergency purposes only. Then I went to Care Practice. Dr. Cooper was like an angel. She sat down with me with a blank piece of paper and recorded all of my information. Most importantly, she gave a damn! I had the flu or something and was remedied within a day or two. I've since gone back for routine check-ups, a tb test, and other health related things I don't care to share on Yelp and had equally positive experiences each and every time. I've seen other doctors there and have been offered Eastern alternatives like herbs etc. The most important thing is I had choices and I was treated like a person instead of a number. All of the staff are impeccable and this place is well worth the price. I don't bother with submitting the claims to my insurance and use the receipts for flex spending which always gets reimbursed. 5 stars all the way! read more