I tried to have an initial appointment with Dr. Lien today…read more When I had made my appointment, the receptionist I spoke to over the phone did not properly answer my basic questions regarding copay (I gave them my insurance), nor did they tell me which suite I needed to go to for Dr. Lien's office. His name is not specifically listed in the building, so I was worried that I had gone to the wrong office. When I arrived, the entire office smelled strongly of perfume, despite being an office which specifically helps people with allergies. I had questions about my copay for my initial appointment, and about how many more appointments I would need to make in order to complete a patch test and what those copays would be, so that I could plan my appointments in accordance with my financial ability, but the receptionist refused to answer about follow up appointments. She kept saying that the patch test takes three days, but wouldn't say if that was an additional charge. I am autistic, and I know that I did not phrase my initial questions clearly at all because I was so stressed about the perfume, so I asked to start over and apologized for my tone and also for not getting eye contact right. I also stopped making eye contact because I was worried about using the wrong facial expression. The receptionist still would not give me the information I was asking for, and said that I already knew that information since I had chosen my health insurance. I did not choose my health insurance, so I don't know why she said that, and health insurance companies can be very difficult to get that sort of information from directly, and every other doctor's office I visit has always given me that information, often without me even needing to ask. The receptionist started calling me irresponsible, which bothered me, because I was asking about the cost of patch test appointments because that felt like a responsible question. At this point, she also repeatedly told me that I had "planned this," that I "knew what the cost was already," and that I was "trembling," which was also proof of what I had planned...but she wouldn't tell me what she thought I had planned. I didn't realize until then, but I do think that I was shaking slightly at this point, as she was speaking to me like I was a naughty child, and I felt completely humiliated, and also wasn't sure if maybe the entire thing was my fault. I thought it was okay to ask that information, and it's so hard trying to get that same info from the insurance company itself, but after this attempt at an appointment, I felt stupid and useless. I ended up deciding to leave and didn't even have my appointment, because I feel like if the receptionists are angry at you, then you probably won't be able to access healthcare, because you have to access healthcare through them. I was very confused, and I told her this before I left, but she was so angry, and she kept interrupting everything I tried to say to diffuse the situation. I still don't know what she was trying to accuse me of. She said that I didn't want to pay my copay, but that doesn't make any sense, because everyone knows that you can't see your doctor until you sign in and pay the copay and fill out papers. This was an important appointment, because I believe I have a kind of serious latex allergy, but I was able to call my primary care doctor's office and get a referral to a different allergist. I do not think that Dr. Lien's office is a safe or comfortable place for neurodivergent people. If you are autistic, please seek a different office.

Dr. Lien is one of the most compassionate doctors I know. He listens carefully and really helps…read moreyou figure out how to best treat your allergies. He is also quick to respond and really knows his speciality. His office is clean and the staff are very friendly and also similarly helpful and compassionate. Thank you, Dr. Lien!

Super helpful doing multiple tests and then providing suggestions on treatments. They can be booked…read moreout for a while.

I tried to have an initial appointment with one of the doctors at this practice today…read more When I had made my appointment, the receptionist I spoke to over the phone did not properly answer my basic questions regarding copay (I gave them my insurance), nor did they tell me which suite I needed to go to for Dr. Lien's office. His name is not specifically listed in the building, so I was worried that I had gone to the wrong office. When I arrived, the entire office smelled strongly of perfume, despite being an office which specifically helps people with allergies. I had questions about my copay for my initial appointment, and about how many more appointments I would need to make in order to complete a patch test and what those copays would be, so that I could plan my appointments in accordance with my financial ability, but the receptionist refused to answer about follow up appointments. She kept saying that the patch test takes three days, but wouldn't say if that was an additional charge. I am autistic, and I know that I did not phrase my initial questions clearly at all because I was so stressed about the perfume, so I asked to start over and apologized for my tone and also for not getting eye contact right. I also stopped making eye contact because I was worried about using the wrong facial expression. The receptionist still would not give me the information I was asking for, and said that I already knew that information since I had chosen my health insurance. I did not choose my health insurance, so I don't know why she said that, and health insurance companies can be very difficult to get that sort of information from directly, and every other doctor's office I visit has always given me that information, often without me even needing to ask. The receptionist started calling me irresponsible, which bothered me, because I was asking about the cost of patch test appointments because that felt like a responsible question. At this point, she also repeatedly told me that I had "planned this," that I "knew what the cost was already," and that I was "trembling," which was also proof of what I had planned...but she wouldn't tell me what she thought I had planned. I didn't realize until then, but I do think that I was shaking slightly at this point, as she was speaking to me like I was a naughty child, and I felt completely humiliated, and also wasn't sure if maybe the entire thing was my fault. I thought it was okay to ask that information, and it's so hard trying to get that same info from the insurance company itself, but after this attempt at an appointment, I felt stupid and useless. I ended up deciding to leave and didn't even have my appointment, because I feel like if the receptionists are angry at you, then you probably won't be able to access healthcare, because you have to access healthcare through them. I was very confused, and I told her this before I left, but she was so angry, and she kept interrupting everything I tried to say to diffuse the situation. I still don't know what she was trying to accuse me of. She said that I didn't want to pay my copay, but that doesn't make any sense, because everyone knows that you can't see your doctor until you sign in and pay the copay and fill out papers. This was an important appointment, because I believe I have a kind of serious latex allergy, but I was able to call my primary care doctor's office and get a referral to a different allergist. I do not think that Dr. Lien's office is a safe or comfortable place for neurodivergent people. If you are autistic, please seek a different office.

No idea where these 5 star reviews come from. My experience with Dr. Lodewick constitutes the worst…read moremedical care I have ever had. I went to his office for help with food allergies and it was pure chaos from start to finish. If you are a woman advocating for your own health, you need to listen to me when I tell you to look elsewhere for your allergist. Ask your insurance to assign you to a different medical group if that's what it takes, because this doctor will not help you. I mean that. I came to the office due to sudden-onset food allergies that had resulted in 2 episodes of anaphylactic shock and nearly dying at age 34 from shellfish and hibiscus ingestion. I needed real guidance and to learn if I had any other dangerous allergies I didn't know about. From the start, the experience here was difficult. It was a 5 month wait for an appointment - they then 'lost' my booking, and I had to wait 2 additional weeks to see the doctor. Dr. Lodewick speaks about 1,000 words per minute and is always itching to ditch the room and go onto the next patient. I think our visit probably lasted around ten minutes and I felt highly pressured to "wrap up" so he could leave. This was so different from my past allergist, who I'd met with after my first allergic response. She had reserved a full hour for my appointment and actively encouraged me to ask questions and learn from her, and called me to follow-up. She took time to explain things to me and I left her office feeling confident and informed. Conversely, I left Dr. Lodewick's office feeling scared, overwhelmed and confused. The major red flag of our visit comes next. Dr. Lodewick claimed he had access to 2-year-old blood tests I had never sent over to his office or authorized for release. He did not show them to me. He also could not explain to me how he had them when I asked, and instead vaguely muttered, 'yes, yes, they're your tests from Kaiser, the nurse and I looked at them together.' I now theorize that he made a dangerous administrative error and thought someone else's tests were mine. He claimed these past tests showed no evidence of food allergies, but that's impossible. My old blood tests indicate crystal-clear food allergies. My former allergist (a board-certified Kaiser allergist in Oakland) had walked me through them carefully so I could see what she saw. There is no question on this point. That day, his nurse did a skin prick test and, upon seeing a mild but visible welt, remarked to me, "Oh, looks like you definitely have a shellfish allergy!" I agreed. Dr. Lodewick rushed in later, glanced at my arm and said, "No, there's no evidence there. The bump isn't raised enough to note." I tried to point out the welt, but he just shook his head and changed the subject. Dr. Lodewick was apparently convinced that the (imaginary?? hallucinated, it seems, by me, another allergist, and Dr. Lodewick's very own nurse) tests indicated I was allergic to exercise, not food. He told me that hiking solo or going anywhere at heightened elevation was no longer medically advised. I started to quietly tear up; I am profoundly active in the outdoors. However, the moment he noticed I was crying, Dr. Lodewick threw a box of tissues at me and ran out of the room. It was a very dehumanizing response. He returned 10 minutes later and concluded our visit by saying he had no idea what was wrong with me, but that I should take Zyrtec everyday and consider Xolair if a fresh batch of blood tests didn't reveal anything new. He did not give me a timeline for next steps or tell me any negative side effects of Zyrtec. (Unfortunately, I found out first-hand what those effects are: catastrophic weight gain. His office charged me $20 when I called to ask for an alternative medicine. "Just get Claritin!" the nurse snapped, and hung up. That's $6.66 per word, but who's counting?) In-between this appointment and our follow-up, I had 2 hospitalizations due to (drumroll) food allergies. I called Dr. Lodewick's office each time and left a message. His office never called me back. Dr. Lodewick devoted three (3) minutes to our followup visit 4 months later. I requested a referral to a food allergy-specialized therapist, and he straight-up refused, telling me instead to 'just find anyone who deals with anxiety.' After hearing my bullet list of recent allergy events, he said he couldn't help me, but recommended Xolair. He did not mention Xolair's black box warnings, $10,000 price tag, tell me how the hell it works, or ask me if I had questions. God forbid. Interestingly, he ALSO didn't explain why he hadn't signed me up for Xolair many months prior when it could have been protecting me from life-threatening anaphylactic shock all along. I guess that'll remain one of life's great mysteries! Oh wait, I know: it's because Dr. Lodewick is an objectively negligent doctor. Like I said: get a different allergist. PS to this day I have never had an allergic response to exercise

Wow! Hard to overstate how great a doctor Dr. Lodewick is. He's a great listener, kind and even…read morefunny. He never made me feel rushed. I came to him as a new patient with a complicated medical history. He'd clearly looked at my medical records very closely before meeting with me. He suspected that my longtime diagnosis might be wrong and prescribed two tests to find out. The tests proved his hunch correct. Another doctor missed this for nearly a decade. I'm deeply grateful to Dr. Lodewick for his thoroughness and insight. Also, his practice has the resources to perform the specialized tests I needed, which was made the experience seamless.

I came recently for an allergy test and was scheduled for an appointment with Dr. Anand. The wait…read moretime was about 3-4 weeks out for an appointment, but I was also looking at specific days of the week so it might be sooner if you don't have any time constraints. The allergy test itself was interesting and they test several environmental allergens. I also had to return on another day to test food allergens, as well as retesting some of the other environmental variables that I scored low sensitivity on. You get the results after waiting 20 minutes or so once you've had enough time to trigger a reaction. Dr. Anand was so friendly and personable. I felt like she was a very thorough clinician and really took her time to explain everything to me. She also took note of other issues that weren't quite in her scope, and referred me out to other specialists to make sure I got the care I needed. She then followed up with me to make the process smoother, which I truly appreciated. Other staff members (LVNs and front desk) are also informative and helpful. They do have a mask policy in place, and if you forget to wear one, they have plenty to spare. It is a healthcare facility after all and I don't think they should be rated poorly just because of a policy to ensure the safety of staff and patients alike.

I just started going to the Allergy and Asthma Clinic and the entire staff are so nice and…read morefriendly. The doctor I see is Dr Engler and he is fantastic. I can tell he really cares about his patients. He was very warm and friendly with me and very knowledgeable and patient. I did not feel rushed during my visit which sometimes happens at doctor visits. He is very down to earth and caring. The office is very clean and spacious and well lit. I want to give a shout out to nurse Dolores who did a fantastic job. I highly recommend this clinic and especially Dr Engler.

Kind and attentive staff all around at this clinic, both Dr Kushnir herself and everyone else…read more Quick, communicative, and helpful. I have been under their care for the last year and my allergies have improved considerably.

Do NOT come here if you're looking for reasonably priced care…read more DO come here for excellent staff and updated facilities. OK, here's the deal, if you have environmental allergies and need to get allergy shots, this place is as good as any. The doc is well-read and well-informed and the staff do a pretty good job to make sure everything is A-ok. The allergy shots schedule is somewhat reasonable, although sometimes the doc is late/doesn't show up so then you can't get your shots done. If you undergo anaphylactic shock and have severe allergic reactions to food, definitely seek help, whether here or elsewhere. However, if the doc asks you (out of the blue) whether you want to try to do a food allergy test (when you don't have any) and put you on a 'special' diet and take part in a study. Say no. The study is faulty, the diet is expensive and is not based on solid science, and all you will learn will boil down into these nuggets of wisdom: (1) Dr. Kushnir does not properly understand genetics and will argue you down with half-truths and bad science, (2) vary your diet, (3) if you eat the same foods for 2 months you will develop low level allergic reactions to it, (4) allergies to foods vary greatly and the degree of your reaction can change day to day and week to week. When I decided to leave this practice (partly due to learning my doc believes in pseudoscience and partly because it's too expensive) the dude that does all the payments (Dr. Kushnir's hubby) had the gall to put down the allergist I was transferring to and only THEN did he offer solutions to bringing down the cost of going to this office. Very disappointed. Still, I love their staff (that's why it's a 2-star, not a 1-star)

I've been seen Dr. Kong for over a year now. My experience has been solid. He is a wonderful doctor…read morewho helped me with medical care upon relocating to this area, but he also helped me my checklist completed for prior to going into the EMS field. He was super helpful and got me in quick so that I could everything done on time. Dr. Kong and his office have provided exceptional care and support and I am very grateful for that. They have gone above and beyond. Thank you!

This marks my first year under the care of Dr. Kong after I selected him to be my primary physician…read moreafter my physician was no longer under my insurance plan. It's been convenient not having to come into the City as Dr. Kong is located at the Centre West Medical Building at Alameda South Shore next to the Office Max. Also, ample free parking is right in front of the building. I appreciate that appointments are readily available as I have gotten into this schedule within a week during both of my visits. Dr. Kong is nice and mixes in some humor during the consultation. He is on top of making sure your vaccines are up to date and suggests when to take certain ones due their possible physical reactions. He follows up on necessary tests if I am tardy on it, such as colonoscopies. He referred me to an orthopedic surgeon to check on shoulder if there was an internal issue. Janet and Cheryl at the front desk have been friendly and helpful as well. Glad to have made Dr. Kong my primary doctor and hope to have him caring for me for the coming years.

I was referred to Dr Stalker years ago by two of my girlfriends. I finally went to see him in 2016…read more I wish I had gone in Sooner!! I had Really Bad Allergies all of my life. I had done the routine allergy shots as a kid and had the itchy allergy testing done on my back as well. Not the case with Dr Stalker. No itchy testing...no needles...zero pain. This alternative treatment is nothing short of Amazing. I no longer need to take Zyrtec and can thoroughly enjoy being outdoors with everything in bloom. I had the testing done and Dr Stalker found 31 allergies. I had him treat all of them. Best decision and money I have ever spent!! Not only did I get my quality of life that I deserved, I was able to enjoy my 18 year old dog for the last couple of years of her life. I owe it all to Dr Stalker!! He truly has impacted my life in the most positive way possible. I am forever grateful. I tell everyone who is suffering with allergies to see him. What are you waiting for?!

So it's been about 3 months since I've been to Dr. Stalker. My allergies are totally cleared…read more Usually I'm not off meds until fall/winter but it's still hot in July and I'm off all meds - no daily pills or nasal spray. My son who is normally congested to varying degrees depending on season and/or loaded with medication is also off meds and congestion free. Amazing. Less noticeable difference in my daughter as she is generally healthy and has mild allergies. Since it helped me and my son I'm certain it's helping her. Just yesterday my mother-in-law went to see Dr. Stalker and said she felt better right away. "Mother-in-law" - need I say more? She even managed to convince my husband to go in. My husband is VERY scientific; he said he didn't feel any different. Then again he has a list of 14 allergens- well 12 now. I can't deny the results and the fact that our bulk tissue box from Costco has barely been used; normally our family goes through about 2 Costco 8 packs of tissues in spring. With all our allergens and since Dr Stalker charges per allergen, cost adds up quickly. We spend more on traditional medication and Dr visits but notice it less since health insurance covers it. This treatment is usually not covered by traditional health insurance but is within most FSA and Health Savings plan (varies by plan). I'm certain in the future scientists will figure out explanation how this works. (Like those pills made "traditional Chinese way" for sore throat that is now banned for import because the pill contains mold that has antibiotic; it has been used in China for centuries.) Until then, I'm just happy it does work.

First of all they closed this office and are now on Market St. But main thing is lack of…read morecommunication and respect for patients. They were closed today but we didn't find out till we got there - no notice to patients, no phone message. Don't waste your time.

Pros: The actual clinical experience was excellent. I went to get allergy testing in August 2021,…read moreand it was awesome. The nurses and doctors were kind and efficient. I was looking forward to receiving allergy shots / asthma treatment here. Cons: For over a year now, I've been seeking to receive a refund for the vials that I paid for and never received/got to use. What should have been a simple transfer of care from one city to another turned into a six-month radio silence. I left calm, professional voicemails (dozens), wrote in two of the website's portals, and sent in letters - all to no avail. Radio silence, save for one email with the information needed to transfer records and one short voicemail saying that, because I signed a consent form, I am not eligible for a refund. As a result, I lost nearly $1K. I can't speak for the other branches, of course, but the Oakland branch does not prioritize communication with its patients. (Fascinating, though, that someone called me in a timely manner when it was time to pay for the vials.) Since there's been no attempt at resolution from Columbia Allergy (Oakland), I've filed a complaint with the BBB and plan to file with other consumer advocacy agencies. This is my first time doing this, as it should be reserved for the most egregious cases. Unfortunately, this more than qualifies. And, based on some of the reviews, others are in a similar situation. Recommendation: I cannot in good conscious recommend this business due to the extreme negligence in communication of any kind -- ESPECIALLY for services like allergy shots, where you're interacting with a business for months or years. Please consider literally any other allergist for your needs.

Dr Marvin has retired. I saw in 2019, the year before his retirement. I really like him. He spent a…read morelot of time with me explained my issue and treatment thoroughly. He even gave me his cell phone number to contact him over the Christmas week if I had issues. Thankfully, I did not need to contact him. It was a bummer to learn of his retirement - great for him, but a bummer for his patients. I wish him well.

Overbills at any chance they can. After two visits & two different types of antibiotics, the…read moredoctor's diagnosis on a throat infection was that he couldn't tell what the infection is, and maybe it could be a bacteria from soda or beer cans, as there was a case at Dr Pepper plant a decade plus ago where rats were loose in warehouse and pooped on can lids, so that could be happening here. ??? Said it was beyond his scope and gave a referral, to which he just gave a phone number and we called and the soonest appointment was 2.5 months out. They put up a front of empathy, but then they bill as much as they possibly can for services for no help done. They force you to come into office to read results, then bill you for that office visit even when I was there for less than 2min. Seriously do not go here. Would give negative stars if I could based on their customer experience and how they handled the outro after asking them about why the bill is structured this way when no treatment was given. Their answer was that your insurance accepted the office visit so you should deal with them, otherwise they will take it to collections. Was blown away with the lack of integrity. A doctor is nothing without his/her integrity.

When I lived in CV, I tried to go here for my shots. They required me to come in for an…read moreappointment, so I met with the physician's assistant (?). She was pleasant. The staff tried to acquire my records from my prior allergist, but they were unable to obtain my information. Unfortunately, my copay was for nothing.

Amy, NP is awesome! Thorough, competent, compassionate. Definitely recommend this office for your…read moreallergy needs.