Bay Area House Call Physicians

I am giving one star instead of ½ simply because Pratima the Nurse Practioner was very thorough and kind while my mother was under her care. (And also because half stars can’t be given.) However, this practice was very insensitive and pushy during an awful time.
My elderly mother was under their care for about two months. Pratima was responsive to all my calls and had a wonderful bedside manner. The problem arose when my mother went into a hospice and Bay Area Physician office staff kept PUSHING to keep her in the rotation for visits. And I mean pushing. It was awful.
I had to have SEVERAL conversations with them explaining that I was choosing to stop service and use the hospice doctor. They kept trying to sell me on why I should stay with them – the advantages of not having to do the initial paperwork again (!). When I started to get upset, the office personnel apologized said they would «back off.» They didn’t.
The DAY that I was bedside and my mother was actively DYING they called (unsolicited) to inform me she would be visited the next day for a check-​up – completely dismissing our previous conversation and my EXPRESSED wish to stop their service. They insisted that my hospice wanted them to stay involved (something denied by my hospice). I was absolutely disgusted and told them to stop!
You’d think it couldn’t get worse. But it did. My mother passed away that night. A week later as I grieved, I receive a cheery call from Bay Area Physicians telling me they’d be out to see my mother that week.
Now, this is a small office. It was easy to recognize the caller as the women I had spoken to EACH time I wanted to stop. This wasn’t a miscommunication as I was crystal clear each time about my using hospice instead. I was beyond insulted at this point. In my opinion, they saw my mother as a dollar sign that they were reluctant to let go. It was a terrible experience and shameful behavior.

My 90 year old mom was in the ER and upon her release, it was recommended that I call this company, as she was not able to go to a dr. s office. I was hesitant because I could see on their map that her home was a bit out of the area they served, but I was reassured by the hospital staff that they would come.
Upon calling, a very nice lady told me she would check to see if the Dr. would see my mom. She was in dire need of some help, and I was hopeful he would see her.
I got a call after some time and was told that the Dr. would never want to deny service to someone in need. Most of their calls are 20 minutes from their office and he usually charges $ 100.00 travel fee (which by the way is not mentioned on the services, and is not billable to insurance). But since my mom was «so far away» he would come to see her for $ 500.00 travel fee! My moms home is 16.25 miles from their office, per google maps, 26 minutes from their office! Six minutes more than the usual patient! And for this he would charge $ 500.00. Needless to say we did not have him come, we simply could not afford it.
It was clear to me that he was just trying to discourage me. I would have much preferred them to simply say they did not serve this area. By saying they would come for a huge price left me feeling like I was dealing with a scammer, not a Dr. Caring for my mom has been such a struggle, and this was just one more instance where it seems no one really cares for the elderly.
I can’t speak for this man as a Dr, but in my opinion, his business practice leaves much to be desired.

I enthusiastically recommend Bay Area House Call Physicians, and its founder, David Jones. My now 95 year old mother has been Dr. Jones’ patient for 6+ years and I have been closely involved with every aspect of the care she’s received. There are significant advantages to having a house call physician for elders — ease of access to care for those with limited mobility, the comfort and cognitive support of familiar surroundings, and the ability to age in place, to name but a few. Note that BAHCP sees patients at their personal residences, including board & care homes and assisted living facilities.
Dr. Jones has all of the elite educational/​training qualifications you could hope for in a physician, and he applies his broad expertise to address the special needs of his patients. House call visits offer more time than conventional office visits, and feel resolved and complete. The doctor is smart, informed, and up-​to-​date. He has a computer system in his practice that keeps his patients’ info accessible on the road, and he travels with a whole array of equipment that can handle many of the necessary tests for diagnosis and treatment onsite.
Added to those professional advantages, he’s a warm and engaged person who focuses his attention on the goals of his patients, addresses them directly, and helps them to fully and fairly understand their medical options, while at the same time actively listening to their worries and concerns with compassion and patience. (Ditto for the Designated Daughters and other caregivers in the room!) My mom has told me many times over the years how much Dr. Jones’ clarity and honesty have meant to her — she has a native mistrust of all doctors, but Dr. Jones has provided her with a tremendous sense of security.
BAHCP’s employees, from office staff to the assistants who accompany the doctor/​nurse practitioners on their house calls, have been well-​trained and responsive, with personalities that match Dr. Jones’ philosophy and approach to all of his patients. I’ve called in to the office for routine scheduling of appointments, documentation for the tax accountant, Medicare/​supplemental insurance questions, and call-​back requests for the doctor in a crisis, and I have found the staff helpful and supportive in every instance, without exception.
Prior to moving to this area, my mom had a conventional office-​based physician, and at the age of 89, she was averaging five Emergency Room visits per year. Due to better monitoring of her ongoing issues, in combination with quicker response to acute incidents that Dr. Jones’ practice has provided, she has been spared countless ER visits. This practice model, as delivered by BAHCP, has given my mom the type of medical care that all elders deserve, but too few receive.

If I could give no stars I would. Amanda is a cold hearted person, she cancelled my mom’s doctor appointment several times without notification. My mother was also mysteriously dropped from the regular rotation of visits by doctors. I was previously told that they have lost quite a few doctors from their staff and I can totally understand why they leave. I would not recommend this service to anyone.