Christopher Barnard, MD

I was a patient of Dr. Barnard years ago (to long to recall) and called to get an appointment for some really slow healing wounds… I was able to get an appointment with another doctor in the office in just a few days. I got a call from the office shortly before my appointment and was that my assigned doctor was not able to see me… but, Dr. Barnard would be able to, see me the same day, but it would be very late in the afternoon. I was really pleased! My visit was actually the very last of the day and was a great experience! Dr. Barnard was as I remembered, Kind, Thorough, Concerned. When I checked out they were giving me a Rx at my pharmacy, and told me that I would need to get some blood work done before I could get a refill. Fine. I called shortly before my Rx ran out and asked them to E-​Mail me the form… They can’t do that… Can you FAX it to me? They can’t do that…“We can mail it to you.” Please do that… it never happened! Yet, when my pharmacy requested a re-​fill the office authorized it… Without blood work! Another 30 days goes by and I am leaving town… and I don’t have enough meds to cover my trip… I am not going to get my refill… I can’t get the blood work done in time… the staff, although very nice, seem to be unable to follow up… beware of the poorly run front office.

The doctor saved my life, wish I could leave more stars!

I had a great experience today. I had a short wait maybe 10 minutes. I saw the Dr. and was on my way home within an hour. They have improved the front desk and I would recommend Dr. Barnard to anyone. I am writing to let others know the front desk staff have corrected their manners and
It is a different office now.

I am now looking for a new dermatologist — one that will actually keep the appointment and not reschedule for 3 months later, whose office actually answers the phone (not a recording that says messages will be FAXED to the office) and returns calls, and who makes time in their schedule for urgent issues. I have been a patient of Dr Barnard’s for years and think he’s very good, but I haven’t seen him in person in ages! I’m not sure if he’s aware of the issues in his office. A few months ago I called with a scary sudden rash and was advised that none of the doctors was available for 2 months and that I should go to urgent care. I did and was told I definitely needed to see my dermatologist. Called office back and they suggested the ER or another practice! I actually asked them to have him call me, but never received a call. Most recently, I had to cancel my appointment because of illness– next available appt is in December! Guess I’ll go in with flu if I ever get in again!

I have been a long time patient of Dr. Barnard, and think he is wonderful. His office staff, however, is incompetant and rude. After the office staff cancelled an appointment I waited three months for, I waited another 6 weeks to be called the day before my appt and be cancelled again! I’ll pick another dermatologist.

Didn’t even get to see a doctor because of the stubborn front office staff refusing to listen to my insurance company about my referral.

I have been a patient of Dr. Barnard for many years. Although I believe he is a very qualified doctor and a nice person, his practice is so poorly run that I will be looking for someone else. He runs consistently 1 – 2 hours behind schedule and no matter how many times you request the courtesy of a simple phone call to let you know, you do not receive it. Additional issues include virtually non-​existent cell service in the office so that if you are trying to keep up with work during your excruciatingly long wait, it is impossible. Though they have a wireless network, it has not worked the last four times I have been at his office. The walls between patient rooms have absolutely no sound-​proofing so you hear all that is said next door. All in all, I absolutely would not recommend him due to the completely disorganized office and staff who have no regard for someone’s schedule.

What a horrible place! The girls who answer the phone., when they answer are Rude & Clueless !

Staff is ridiculously unhelpful and after sitting in the waiting room for AN HOUR for a 9am apt I really got to see how clueless they are. Seriously how backed up can you be at 9am??? Screwed up scheduling my guess. I will not be coming back. They clearly don’t care about their patients. This is my second visit. The first one was the same and I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I wish I hadn’t. And with my first apt they screwed up repeatedly trying to submit my prescriptions. It took 2 months to get it straight.
I will not be coming back.

Since my first review I have had two Mohs surgical procedures performed by Dr Barnard and his assistants. Because of the nature of Mohs surgery time spent in the clinic can be lengthy. During the wait times the staff made sure I was comfortable. As well they were reassuring and continuously updated me as the day progressed.
Dr. Barnard is as personable during a surgical procedure as he is in a consult. Always asking how are you doing, are you comfortable?
A+ on bedside manner.
Both of my issues are cleared with no scars to speak of. The medical assistants employed in this clinic are all nice, polite and attentive.
Scheduling is a breeze and the front desk people are friendly.

Forewarning: HORRIBLE staff
I cant even begin to describe how incopetent their staff is. From not calling in pre-​authorizations to not calling in prescriptions in a timely manner (or not returning calls at all for that matter). My son was seen for a follow up two weeks ago (after initial tretment for acne was unsucessful after about 4 month). He was seen by a female asian doctor Chock. She wasn’t very helpful during the appointment either. She prescribed a name brand medicine and said the generic vesion was harsher on the stomach. I already knew my insurance would probably deny it, they would request a pre– auth which would take for freaking ever for their staff to send (if they even did) so I asked if I could get a prescription for the generic one as well just in case the name brand didn’t go through. I explained to her the other ordeal I had gone through with her office when another name brand medication was prescribed and how long it took their office to contact my insurance to pre authorize it. She said: «I only want to give you ONE prescription! » She didn’t sympathize at all or tried to help me. So because she said the generic was harsh I was going to try to get the name brand covered. They gave a discound card for the medicine. I go to the pharmacy and give it to them that same day only to be told the medical assistant gave me an expired card. I call in to their office and they tell me they had had other people calling because they also had been given expired cards (surprise surprise!), they assure me they will send me another one. Days later I call back because I haven’t received the card and Rosanne tells me they hadn’t even mailed it! So I wait… and wait… and wait some more. Several days later, when I finally receive it I find out I don’t even qualify for the discount because the company offering it does not honor the discount to people who have Tricare (that is my secondary insurance). This was the reason I asked the doctor to give me a prescription for the generic as well in the first place! But she refused. I knew this was going to happen, tried to avoid it and Dr. Chock was not willing to help. I ALSO KNEW THEIR OFFICE WAS GOING TO SCREW UP again and not follow up on things. So then I call their office again and ask if they can call the generic prescription into my pharmacy. I have called their office 10 times and spoken with Rosemary and Rosanne about 3 times each and the other calls went to their outsourced answering call center (even though I am calling during their regular business hours). I called a few days ago (on Thursday of last week) and Rosemary said they were waiting for their medical assistant to get a signature from the doc on the prescription. She also said it was going to get done that day and I would receive a call when it was done… Well… Fast forward amost a week (today is Wednesday of the next week) and wouldn’t you know that I never got a call saying it was done and they NEVER even contacted the pharmacy!
All I want is my son’s prescription for which he has ALREADY been seen weeks ago! Is it too much to ask the Barnard employees to do THEIR job? I have called them several times today since the office opened and it just goes to the answering call center. And my son can’t start his treatment without his prescription! Barnard’s dermatologists staff is some of the most uncaring, incopetent people I have EVER dealt with. They want to get you in and bill you for the visits but after that YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN! This is simply ABSURD. I am going to find a new dermatologist. I honestly do not know how they stay in busioness when they have absolutelly no respect for their customers whose insurances they are more than happy to bill for their services.
Update: After about ten calls today Holly answered the phone, I explained to her what has been going on and she said she would do her best to get the doc to sign the prescription. 30 min after talking to her she called me back to say she herself called it in for me after getting a signature. She said the prescription had been sitting on the medical assistant’s desk for no reason and because it was such a simple request (to switch from name brand to generic) it should’ve been done a long time ago. Yay for Holly, the only person in the office that cared to do anything about it and actually follow through with a phone call.

Called today to schedule an appointment and they were booked out 4 months. Who can wait 4 months?! I asked for a referral but the receptionist said she was new to the area and didn’t know anyone?! Nice reply. She indicated she was «new herself». They used to have an associate that worked there from Palo Alto and she was GREAT but unfortunately she is gone and they haven’t re staffed. Sounds like Dr. Barnard us great also, but apparently does not know how to administrate his practice. Now searching for a dermatology office that actually takes appointments!

My first appointment with Dr. Barnard relaxed my critical outlook, having been a patient of Dr. Rice, who is retiring, for over 30 years. The office is plush, spacious and gorgeous. The office staff is cordial, efficient and professional. Dr. Barnard was very thorough, friendly, communicative and expert. I feel that having been recommended to him was a great favor.

Excellent doctor, world class. On the pricy side, but you get what you pay for. He misses nothing.

This is an update from my initial review in March, 2012. At that time Dr. Barnard was not taking new Medicare patients. That has changed and I am delighted and fortunate to be one of his patients. Recently I went to see him for a spot on my face. Previously I had seen another doctor who said it was nothing. But Dr. Barnard said it looked suspicious and took a sample and sent it out for a biopsy. The results indicated it was cancer. He operated and removed the spot and now I am cancer free. I highly recommend Dr. Barnard. The office is comfortable and the staff friendly and professional.

The best! I called for an appointment last minute to to do a head to toe mole check. They offered me an appointment the next week! The mole I had suspicions about was removed and sent in for analysis. I am waiting on the results now, but they are amazing here. The office is also beautiful. I felt completely comfortable with the staff.

by far one of the excellent doctors on the peninsula– i had a biopsy, it was sent off and came back negative, he looked at and said «I still don’t like the look, can I do another from the same spot but a little deeper and more on the side -» came back positive this time– –Mohs treatment was great and a good closure no scarring

I’ve been to several dermatologists in my lifetime, and I’ve also been to Dr. Barnard’s office three times. My wife also sees him. We both agree that he is very thorough, professional, extremely competent, and very nice. He is quite a pleasant man, and I also like the nursing staff there.
To date, he is the only dermatologist that has been very accurate at diagnosing my skin ailments even before the biopsy. Most of the derms I’ve seen before would say, «Well, it doesn’t look like melanoma.» Or, «I’m not sure, but I’m sure it’s nothing.» and wouldn’t bother with a biopsy. Dr. Barnard makes a clear diagnosis, even though he may be wrong based on the pathology report, and does the biopsy just to be sure. I think he’s excellent in this regard. He is also not judgmental or arrogant.
I went to see Barnard a few times about things going on in a personally embarrassing area. Not only that, my situation was also embarrassing. To his credit, Dr. Barnard never batted an eye or said anything judgmental. Other docs may have, but he is just a consummate professional. My wife and I would recommend him in a heart beat.

The one star is for the office only. The staff was rude and unhelpful, and Dr. Barnard and his nurse shouldn’t be treating people. I had never been there before and he stormed in stating that it was a busy day and he only had one nurse on and wanted to know why I was there, all without even looking at me.
I had a mysterious rash on my legs and without even explaining to me what he was doing, he took a biopsy which was painful and bled for days.
He stormed out before I could ask any questions and when I asked Nurse Ratched if she thought the rash was contagious she snapped– How shouLd I know?!- and left the room. I found me way out to the reception desk on my own where they said my typical copayment of $ 25 would be $ 56.
I couldn’t wait to get out and I would never go back. I had the lab send me the results of the biopsy, which was inconclusive, so the whole experience was for nothing.
My advice is that if you are in the area it’s definitely a pretty office, just don’t talk to anyone and DON’T make an appointment!!!

I have been going to Dr. Barnard for quite a bit now. I find him extremely comfortable to be around and he’s always very direct and precise in any questions I may have. I go for a yearly body check up and I can say that no one does it the way Dr. Barnard does. He checks everything, and describes it to his transcriptor in great detail. His staff is a bunch of terrific ladies and the facility and parking are wonderful