FAQ for our Primary Care Physicians Internal Medicine

Joining my practice in Walnut Creek is easy and we have several options for you to learn more about us.

• You can call my office at 925-952-5545 to see if Dr. Bernens has availability in his practice. Our staff will go over membership basics with you. We accept most PPO insurances, but no HMO plans.

What Services and Benefits are included in the membership that insurance doesn't cover? 

•     A private member portal that includes the following:
•     Doctor’s advice and recommendations on all manner of health topics
•     Pre-recorded Health Seminars
•     Listing of dates for upcoming seminars in “in-person” small group setting
•     Activities with the doctor such as hikes
•     Recommended reading lists
•     Doctor authored articles
•     Doctor recommended health links
•     Doctor’s take on current breakthroughs in clinical research

We are still offering telehealth visits and in-person visits from our office as long as Medicare and Insurance companies allow. Dr. Bernens is available to take care of you and is open during regular hours. Please do not delay seeking care if you have a health concern. We require patients coming for an in-office visit to be vaccinated OR have a recent negative COVID test. As of April 3, 2023, masks are optional in our building and office.
Even after California has relaxed most of the COVID restrictions, for in-person visits, our office is still taking every effort to protect our members and staff during the COVID crisis.  You will be asked screening questions each time you visit. Our staff will wear masks upon request and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Our exam rooms are sanitized in between patients. Our exam rooms are also equipped with air purifiers that kill bacteria and viruses with UV-C lights and HEPA filters. 

https://myturn.ca.gov California COVID central scheduling link

https://vaccine.gov is the federal COVID website that has a centralized area for COVID information, testing, treatment and vaccines

Home Test Kits

Home test kits are available as supplies hold out at most pharmacies.

The federal government also is making up to 4 kits available per household through the mail. Sign up is available at https://special.usps.com/testkits  

Mobile vaccinations

Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) is working hard to ensure that all eligible members of the community can access safe, effective and free COVID-19 vaccine. CCHS now offers several convenient ways to get vaccinated, including:

· A free mobile vaccination service for homebound people

· A free mobile vaccine clinic that visits schools, businesses and community organizations

To request free home visits, Contra Costa residents who are homebound (or their helpers) can call 1-833-829-2626. Our staff will get in touch to schedule an appointment.

Their mobile vaccine clinic for schools, businesses, and community groups will travel anywhere in Contra Costa County, so long as the requesting party can ensure that at least five people who want to be vaccinated will be there. We will vaccinate anyone who is present and eligible. To use this free service,  call 1-833-829-2626, and their staff will get in touch to schedule a time and date. The clinic is available weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. This information is also available at coronavirus.cchealth.org/get-vaccinated, where there are more details as well as links and instructions for getting vaccinated at our free clinics in Antioch, Bay Point, Brentwood, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Richmond and San Pablo.

Their clinics do not require appointments, and many have evening and weekend hours.

Anyone who is 5 or older is eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in California, though minors require consent from a parent or guardian. To take advantage of CCHS’ vaccination opportunities, patients who are younger than 18 must fill out and bring a consent form and questionnaire, which are also available on the web page.

Pharmacy vaccination sites

Safeway pharmacies: https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html

CVS pharmacies: https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine

Walgreen pharmacies: https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule 

If you haven't already received the vaccines, we recommend that members sign up with one of these locations.  We are also recommending that you take whatever vaccine is available. They are all comparably effective. 

Yes, a new Bivalent COVID-19 booster has been approved as of September 2022 with coverage for the Omicron variants.  Anyone who qualifies should consider getting the new booster. 

Dr. Bernens also recommends putting at least 2 weeks between any other vaccine shots such as for the flu or pneumonia. For the latest details, go to the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html

Is your office giving COVID shots?

No, our office does NOT have any vaccines to give out at this time. Please do NOT call our office. Use the web links or phone numbers above to sign up.

Our office is offering telemedicine visits during the crisis. All you need is a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone to connect to our secure video site.  Medicare and insurance companies set the guidelines for televisits. At some point, they may discontinue covering them.

Yes. Our private offerings are for non-covered services that are not covered by insurance. We accept insurance to pay for covered medical services. This allows you and us to have the freedom to decide what kind of care is best for you.  We accept most PPO insurances and Medicare. We do not take HMO insurances.

We suggest you contact your tax adviser for advice about your unique situation.

We suggest you contact your tax adviser for advice about your unique situation.

We offer flexible auto payment plans.  You can pay annually or monthly by auto payment from a credit card.  We offer a discount for the annual payment and for members in the same household. 

We provide care for people from age 16 to 100+. 

When Dr. Bernens is on vacation or out of town attending a continuing medical education conference, he is either available by phone consultation, or he will have a covering doctor or physician's assistant  handle patient issues for him.

Yes, unlike most doctors in the area, whenever possible, I will visit you if you are admitted to John Muir Medical Center – Walnut Creek campus.   If you are admitted through the Emergency Room, a hospitalist on duty will admit you, and whenever possible, I will pick up your care the next weekday morning.  This provides the advantage of a doctor who knows you personally and can be an advocate for you and coordinate care with any specialists who are required during your stay.

If you are admitted to another hospital, a hospitalist from that facility will care for you and we will follow your care remotely.  I can do a follow up visit in my office once you are released from the hospital.

Dr. Bernens will work with your specialist to coordinate your care.  He is available to help you decide which specialist is best for you and help coordinate consultations.  This way he can provide them with the pertinent medical information prior to your visit. He refers to BASS Medical group speciialists, many of whom are located in the same building his suite is in and John Muir Hospital affiliated specialists and tertiary care specialists at Stanford and UCSF Medical Center.

If you have a life-threatening emergency, regardless of the time, call emergency services, usually 911 in the United States, or go to the nearest emergency facility.  Once you are stable, you or someone authorized by you, should call our office to notify us of the situation.

Yes, for non-life-threatening urgent questions, as a member of my private practice, you can contact me by phone.  If you have an urgent question that can’t wait until office hours, please call our office number 925-952-5545.  For questions submitted through the myChart EMR portal, we will usually respond within 2 business days.

If you have a life threatening medical emergency, you should contact emergency services in that local area, typically by calling 911, or visit the closest Emergency Room.  Once you are stable, please contact our office to notify us of your situation.

If you have a non-life-threatening issue, you can call us for advice or visit a local facility in the area that you are in, such as an ER or Urgent Care.  In either case, you would need to submit your medical expenses at any of these facilities for reimbursement under the terms of your health insurance coverage.

Our phones are open Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, and Friday 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM to schedule appointments.  Dr. Bernens also offers appointment times to schedule outside of these hours if your schedule doesn’t permit.

Yes, I visit La Casa Via Transitional Care Center and Tampico Terrace Skilled Nursing Facility. If you go to another facility, the staff doctor there or another doctor will need to be engaged. If you remain a member in my practice, I will work with the other doctor to coordinate your care. 

For members who have been established with me for more than a year, I will consider doing home visits if I feel it is medically necessary. There a few doctors in the area who do specialize in home visits and will be glad to accept new patients.

The cost of prescriptions are the members’ responsibility.  Most insurance plans offer some form of coverage.  In the event that they don’t, we can assist in finding the most cost effective way for you to purchase them.

There are lab and imaging centers in the BASS Medical Group building next to my suite. See the links on the first page of this website.   Also, you are free to  go to one of the many labs and imaging centers in the area and we can help you choose one.  You should also check with your insurance to see if they have a preferred lab.