Comment Archives: Locations: Health & Medicine
Re: “Berkeley Community Acupuncture Clinic”
Best affordable Acupuncture!
Re: “Berkeley Community Acupuncture Clinic”
Min Thorne is great!
Re: “Iron Horse Nutrition”
Iron Horse Nutrition is the Tri-Valley's best place to shop for sports and nutritional supplements. They have a friendly and knowledgeable staff, and are the only supplement store in the area to have a certified nutritionist on staff. They also offer four new tanning beds that clean, convenient and competitively priced.
Re: “Berkeley Free Clinic”
I've had good economic times and bad ones in the decade-plus since I graduated with a worthless college degree, and the health care system in this country is a disaster. Plus, I move a lot. Therefore, I've had the chance to experience a pretty wide range of low-cost clinics in 4 cities (and 1 foreign country.)
This is the best.
Everyone is friendly and kind, the service was great, and if these are "community health volunteers" and "not doctors and nurses," give me community health volunteers every time from now on! Even when I get my insurance back! Seriously, this place was great.
I expected bedlam, and didn't get it. Screaming crazy people, out-of-control children, and excessive waits (personal record: 9 hours, since I'd "only" had a cough for 3 weeks) are par for the course at clinics in LA. Not here. It was downright empty on a Friday evening and busy but still calm on a Monday evening.
I expected attitude, and didn't get it. Last time I tried to go to something called a "free clinic," new to the city (LA) and unsure where else to go, I got dressed down for not being poor enough. At the Berkeley Free Clinic, they seem to understand that sometimes you're just not in a position to see a real doctor even if you're not supporting 5 kids on $8.75 an hour. They asked once if my household income would be below $20,000 this year, because a "yes" answer gets them reimbursed by the Feds I think, and then didn't pry when my answer was "no." (Though I volunteered that I'm currently unemployed, because I'm defensive now. Also, it'll be a while before I stop comparing everything to the analogous, suckier version in LA. Sorry.)
It's Berkeley, so I expected politicking and/or pressure of some sort, but no. There was a discreet envelope for donations provided with the medical background sheets, and a box up front, but no pressure to donate. I gave 'em $15, the low end of what a TB test costs, but if I was truly out of savings and living on nothing it was the type of environment where it would have totally been okay to give nothing.
This clinic has also managed to seem respectful of the local transient/street kid population without allowing them to run the place. Basically, they don't want you hanging out front or in the clinic if you don't have an appointment or are not accompanying someone who does, which seems fair. BUT they have signs everywhere that says you can use the bathroom and make tea as long as you don't hang out. Nice, no?
Other bonuses:
* The medical info sheets were pretty broad on the subject of gender, with options for transpeople of all sorts, which struck me as very Berkeley in the good way.
* There is NO TV in the waiting room, thank GOD. Sitting in Santa Monica Planned Parenthood with a TV blaring VH1's "I Love Money" might be how I spend my time in hell.
* Did I mention free tea?
* Did I mention really nice people?
* Convenient location
I will donate here regularly when my household money flow returns to normal.
Re: “Square One Yoga Collective”
Hi. This class has been canceled for lack of attendance. Square One is also not longer at that address. The correct address is 1540 62nd st in Emeryville by the post office. We'd like to get the class started again. If you're interested in it, please email katy@squareoneyoga.com. If I get enough people, I'll start it up again. Thanks!
Re: “UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center”
Here's some additional info: If you can't make it to the lecture in person, the presentation will also be available as a free webcast. Point your web browser to http://cancer.ucsf.edu/events/stream.php at 6 pm or at any time during the hour. QuickTime is required for viewing; it's a good idea to check in advance in case you need to download the free QuickTime plug-in. Please join us for an informative session about how to create a fulfilling post-cancer sex life. Questions? Contact us at communications@cc.ucsf.edu.
Re: “FLOAT: Flotation Center and Art Gallery”
What a great discovery. Just happened to notice Float Gallery while checking out a location to photograph. Very cool gallery space and the current show Inside Out is a must to see.
I was also blown away when I was told that they had Flotation Tanks in the upstairs loft. How cool is that blocking out the world for a hour then returning with all your senses fully awake to enjoy the art. Book me Float.
Rating Detail:
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
Re: “FLOAT: Flotation Center and Art Gallery”
This is the most unique art space in the area, flawless monthly art parties in an industrial setting. Check out the floatation tanks for a wild ride into inner space.....
Rating Detail:
Service: 5
Atmosphere: 5
Value: 5
Overall: 5
Re: “Harborside Health Center”
Well ran, good quality and selection.