FAQ for our Primary Care Physicians Internal Medicine Practice

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

• We are accepting new patients. You can call my office at 925-952-5545 to schedule a New Patient appointment with Dr. Bernens and our staff will go over membership basics with you. We accept most PPO insurances, no HMO plans.
• You can visit my website at https://www.drbernens.com  and click on the contact us tab. We will then contact you at your preferred time to discuss setting up a New Patient appointment in my primary care internal medicine practice.

As your primary care physician, your comfort and good health is my goal. My partnership with you is truly the foundation of the doctor patient relationship.

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(s) such as hikes
•     Recommended reading lists
•     Doctor authored articles
•     Doctor recommended health links
•     Doctor’s take on current breakthroughs in clinical research

Dr. Bernens is available to take care of you and open during regular hours as we are an essential business. Please do not delay seeking care if you have a health concern. We offer telemedicine visits for those patients who aren't comfortable with in person or who haven't been vaccinated yet.

For in-person visits, our office is taking every effort to protect our members and staff during the COVID crisis. We are requiring all visitors to wear face masks and use hand sanitizers as they enter the office. At the BASS Medical Building entrance you will be asked screening questions and have your temperature taken touch free. Our staff will be wearing masks, gloves and appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Our exam rooms are sanitized in between patients and we have a special isolation room for any suspected cases. Our exam rooms are also equipped with air purifiers that kill bacteria and viruses with UV-C lights and HEPA filters. 

The BASS Urgent Care at 2637 Shadelands Drive next to our office is doing COVID-19 testing. Click on the link for details. https://www.bassadvancedurgentcare.com/covid-19-testing-walnut-creek You can also get an At-Home test kit at this link https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/at-home-test-kits/covid-19-test or visit another testing site.

When will I be able to be vaccinated against COVID-19? 

The vaccine is being distributed in phases in Contra Costa County. The latest information about which tier we are in and who is eligible and which tier will be following can be found at https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/distribution-phases

We currently do not have any more vaccines to give out.  We were able to vaccinate most of our 75 and over patient population. For the time being, the vaccine distributor has determined they are going to focus on the large vaccination sites listed below. We recommend that members sign up with one of them.  We are also recommending that you take whatever vaccine is available. They are all comparably effective. This is a link where you can check your eligibility under the guidelines and sign up if you are eligible:  https://myturn.ca.gov 

CVS announced on February 11,2021, that they are offering COVID vaccines. Click here to see their information https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine You can schedule first and second doses there.

The Contra Costa County Health Department is a great resource for the latest information. The website is https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org  

Where can I get the COVID-19 vaccine? 

We recommend that you get your COVID-19 vaccine from the first place that offers it to you and receive whatever vaccine brand that they have. They are all about the same effectiveness.

The Contra Costa County Health department is currently accepting applications from residents and workers in Contra Costa County aged 16 and over. https://www.coronavirus.cchealth.org/vaccines 

You can also check your eligibility under the guidelines and sign up if you are eligible through the state:  https://myturn.ca.gov This may be the most important link for you to sign up at.

Pharmacy vaccination sites

Safeway pharmacies: https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt 

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 

The Oakland Coliseum’s parking lot is now hosting a mass vaccination site (for people aged 65 and older and essential workers) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m, seven days a week. You can make an appointment through the state’s https://myturn.ca.gov/  You can also call the statewide call center for appointment assistance at 833-422-4255.

The Alameda County Fairgrounds is now open as a mass vaccination site, in partnership with Stanford Health Care and Sutter. People who are currently eligible—65+ and some essential workers—can make an appointment through the county’s notification system. Appointments are required for this site. For more information, visit  https://alamedacountyfair.com/covid-19-vaccine-information/

The Moscone Center in San Francisco has opened a mass vaccination site for all Bay Area residents, age 65 and older. They can be made using the state’s https://myturn.ca.gov/  You can also call the statewide call center for appointment assistance at 833-422-4255.

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 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 connect to our secure video site. 

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

Your payment plan is being automatically migrated from the old practice system to Dr. Bernens' own system. No action is required on your part.

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 available by phone consultation to help you decide if you need if you need to visit an urgent care or ER.  Also, at his discretion, he will have a covering doctor or physician's assistant  available for you in his office.

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 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 time 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 good 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.