BAART Programs San Mateo – Menlo Park

I want to acknowledge the new doctor, who has been helpful. However, the facility itself has caused me serious harm through negligence and mistreatment. Because of this clinic's actions, I was forced into withdrawal for… 4–6 weeks. I am autistic, have ADHD, and have epilepsy. I also live with PTSD. I am not required to explain my history to anyone. What I am required to do is receive safe, legal medical care—and that has not happened here. The first serious incident happened about a year ago. I was denied take-home doses without warning. I calmly asked the nurse to call her supervisor, which is part of her job. She refused, saying she did not want to bother him because he was on vacation. I insisted, because denying medication without cause is dangerous and illegal. At that point, a security guard opened the other window, inserted himself into my private medical conversation, and asked the nurse if I had received my dose. She answered him, violating my privacy. He then began yelling at me and ordering me to leave. I remained calm but became non-verbal because I was frightened. The nurse finally called the supervisor. The security guard threw a tantrum. He then called the police. Six officers arrived and surrounded me in the lobby. Not one staff member spoke up to tell them the truth. The police illegally detained me and forced me to disclose my name, address, and phone number in front of staff and other clients. That is a HIPAA violation. I told them I was disabled and that they were frightening me. They wrote me a citation for "disrupting the operation of the business." Meanwhile, the supervisor answered the phone and simply told the nurse to give me my medication. Because of this incident, my PTSD worsened. I have barely left my house since. I have contemplated suicide multiple times. The emotional harm has been severe and ongoing. Now, about a year later, I had finally been approved for 30-day take-home doses. I told the clinic my lockbox only held 20 bottles. They promised for months to provide an additional lockbox. They never did. My counselor lied to me repeatedly. Because of this negligence, I was again forced into withdrawal that nearly killed me. I called the clinic and explained everything in detail. I was told I would not be discharged and to come in as soon as possible. When I arrived, the doctor told me I had been discharged two days earlier—on a federal holiday, following a weekend. There was nothing I could have done during that time. Instead of reinstating me, they forced me to restart my dose at 50 mg and required me to come in every single morning instead of once a month. I am now required to wake up at 5 a.m. in severe pain and ride for an hour each way to receive medication that was taken from me because of this clinic's mistakes. I am in constant pain, and this situation has pushed me to the edge. I am contacting a lawyer and advocacy groups. I am also preparing a detailed letter that will be sent to politicians, disability rights organizations, and human rights groups. This facility will be named. I am asking for the security guard who did this to me to be terminated. I should not have to see him every day after what he did. I am pursuing every legal and advocacy avenue available to hold this clinic accountable for its negligence and malpractice.

I've been in methadone maintenance treatment since 1992 (7 years at BAART) and this is the ONLY treatment center/clinic I've ever been to that I feel truly cares about me. They care how I'm doing, how I feel and they… help keep me positive about my health and sobriety. The current director (Al) is competent and responsible. The staff under him are exceptional as well as the medical staff under our doctor. The nurses are just awesome. I'm very happy with my counselor and I know that I've never said that before. This place makes you want to do well and all without threats. I honestly don't think I'd still be around right now if it weren't for BAART. Well... pretty good chance that I wouldn't be (especially with all of the fentanyl out there!). I am so very grateful for BAART Programs.

I had unfortunatly missed 4 dose days a couple months back and was in withdrawl. Unbeknownst to me, the clinic was closed that day. (Holiday.) The call cntr let me know aftr calling numerous times. Shortly after, I got… a call from V P of BAART. He arranged for me to be seen at the nearest ER & resolved a finanvial issue. I went from withdrawl /panic to 100% calm / at peace. SO VERY GRATEFUL for BAART. 💜

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One of the worst places you can go if you want to get help. I reported this clinic and I’m going to continue because they don’t ever know how to be professional/follow HIPA/ even as far as using foul language. The… director is FULLY aware of all of the programs problems and continues to ignore it.

This Clinic is helpful for the most part and the counselors do their best to accommodate you. Chris the security guard is a cool guy very friendly and I love his dog bumbles. Also Vanessa is the best & most pretty nurse… there.

This program really helped me get my life together and the staff and nurses are extremely helpful and friendly.

The security guard was literally reading my file information over the nurses shoulder. He even involved himself in a UA. This place is lawsuit land. I have fifteen years clean and that is a good reason to be treated… with some respect. The security makes sure you get no dignity.

Nurse practitioner is unprofessional.l think he needs to go back to school and learn how to treat his clients with some professionally.

Really like the clinic and staff. I just wish the staff would REMIND patients of holidays. I don't make a habit of checking my calendar for holidays. If I was reminded on Sat that Monday closed early, I would obviously… get there B4 10:00. I know the old staff always put up flyers to remind us.....it was appreciated!

This clinc is a good, but they always have really long line. Sometimes you'll be in line for hours and possible won't get dose til after lunch. Which is frustrating. They should have one window for take homes and one… windows for single doses so the line could move faster because the way there doing this currently is very frustrating to say the least.

Just awful in every way you can think of with plenty of terrible surprises; Kelly’s cool.

My husband's daughter found this clinic. It was one of many in a book comprised of Treatment Centers,, Rehabs, (Inpatient as well as Outpatient). Some of them quite pricey. Our best thinking resulted in our steady diet… of opiates, heroin and whatever else was available. A week prior, our dealer passed away, leaving us with an RX bottle containing some broken up Vicodin ...Sad, indeed.. We were in withdrawal. I had been to 5 twice in a week. We weren't sleeping and we looked it. The

charlie feemster and kaelyn caprino are the best companions in town! you must try their services located at 450 amigo rode

Saved my life.

I have been coming here on and off for ten years. The staff here are very patient very special people. They really care and will help you through anything you have going on.

They have made improvements. It is better. I would recommend this program to anyone. I think the truly amazing part of this life is the ability to try again. People places and things folks.

It’s hard to be at the mercy of these people.

Very good staff and nice

This clinic is the absolute WORST. If you’re considering it, get on subs. STAY AWAY. when I started 3 years ago it was great but then the good staff left and it was run by Sean. He literally told me to “figure it out”… when I was going to run out of take homes out of the country. Said I should have told my counselor sooner. I told my counselor, well call her J, a month ahead that I was going to be on a trip and she said not one word about my take homes being an issue. Sean leaves. Thank god. Then Lillian comes. Not much better. At this point I had no counselor for 3-4 months. Then one day I get a call saying I need to see my new counselor immediately or I lose my take homes. (Forget I work a job, new counselor) So apparently it’s my fault they can’t keep staff and when they get them they’re demanding your time or else. Literally every time I would go in there was an issue. Waiting an HOUR to an hour and a half in line at 6am to get my doses because they have only one nurse who is new each month. Don’t bother getting there at 5:45..... the cops kick you off the property and there’s people in line at 5am And they count their spots at the coffee shop. I’m 3 your 5 your 13. Beyond annoying. So if you work at 7am. You’re late. They never lower my dose as requested. Great for when you’re tapering. So get this. My last round of take homes was 29mg and 31mg. But the nurse didn’t pay attention to which were which. When I noticed I said, wait, how do I know which are which? She said, look at the label. I said, no, you didn’t separate them. Do you even know which are which? She said, no, sorry, you’re dose is complicated. I was so angry I took my mislabeled bottles and walked out. Well, I see Lillian and I say, I need to tell you about a dosing issue. She said, see your counselor. I said, no, this I need to speak with you about. She ignored me walked away and said see your counselor. This is a fireable offense - a nurse not labeling bottles correct. My doses were labeled wrong so my taper was ruined. That night I got home and noticed the nurse gave me one extra at 27mg. So not only did I get my bottles labeled wrong but I got one extra and had a mislabeled 27mg floating around. Again, great for tapering. I emailed Lillian directly about this and of course, no response. Here’s the other thing. Their amazing ex dr Cohen. Took my takehomes away bc a test from 3 months ago had less methatab in it. Something like that. ONE weird test in THREE years. She literally wrote, patient isn’t abusing but need to remove steps anyways and dose in clinic. Then she QUIT. So she takes my 27 away and quits. Great doctor you are Cohen. I’m not abusing but you take them and quit leaving me screwed. Luckily a new doctor fixed that and gave them back given I’d been clean 3 years. Said it was BS given I was clearly clean. Here’s something funny. They wouldn’t lower my dose bc they had to give me a pregnancy test. But low and behold. It was locked in a room that only one person had the key. Good luck tapering there. Seems they like holding you back. Stay FAR away. Trust me, find another way. I’m surprised anyone would give this place good reviews. Must be fakes or people who are new who go in at 10am or don’t work because anyone with a life is chained to their demands and your work doesn’t matter. Oh and lastly, the toilet is ALWAYS covered in piss. And so is the floor. This whole labeling my doses wrong - and saying it’s complicated..... total joke and I hope someone sees this happened. Good luck to the rest of you poor souls.

Been a client here for 5+ years, before they were part of Baymark Health Services and back when Dr. O'Neal was a constant presence. While I've seen my fair share of staff come and go, overall I think the character of… the clinic has not changed in any significant way. It has been a helpful, healthy and holistic place where their treatment is not put onto a pedestal like this place(and the pink stuff) is going to fix all your problems.. where you can just sit back and relax and expect to feel better. Nor is their treatment seen as a crutch to be kicked out from under you at the first opportunity. When you are a client here, you are in charge of your treatment. If you sincerely believe something about your situation can be helped out by someone at the clinic (needing to talk to someone or some ream of paperwork needing to be processed by the Man™) BAART employees are quite happy to help you help yourself. If you are avoid being insincere (by blaming others for your behavior or showing up drunk or habitually missing appointments) it is likely you can make progress and healthy connections here... whatever your problems that accompany your addiction. Those who complain about the rules that the Man™ have set(county/state/federal government in particular) or those that have somehow failed to realize that they are not the only person being helped there seem to be those who might want to re-evaluate their expectations in life. I may have been lucky, getting counselors who put a reasonable/fair(equal to mine) effort into the process but I think the clinic has a pretty good track record as far as picking them .. I've seen 3 counselors during my 5 year 'tenure'... a bit more than ideal but it's hard to maintain any employee in this area with the wages they offer let alone one who is likely an ex-addict themselves who statistically speaking likely 'got clean' through the dominant form of treatment (12 Steps) and may likely be biased against medication assisted treatment. In other words... one has to be pretty passionate to work here, with the amount of BS and pain I see (some) of the clients heap upon the staff. As far as the non-counseling things go, the clinic follows the rules which are very favorable for those that follow them and IMO not very harsh for those that don't. If you have trouble getting to the clinic, they can connect you with services that will get you there. Also take home doses are given as soon as the law permits.. granted you do the simple things they are required by law to say to do (don't miss doses, attend counseling and have something going for you... work/school/etc). The line for dosing is a bit longer these days then it used to be (10 or 15 minutes isn't unheard of)... but after a few months of following the rules you'll only have to experience the line a couple times a week and then less and less as you get more take-homes. I do think there is always room for improvement, one area in particular in which I think it wouldn't cost an arm and a leg (like having a doctor there to treat non-addiction related issues) is facilitating group therapy of some kind. Overall though.. it's hard for me to imagine a better clinic (I have only been to this one), horror stories I read on the internet and the clinics I've guest dosed at in SoCal make me think there is something pretty special about BAART.. unlikely to be found in a lot of the country. Best practices with friendly and colorful staff bring some light to a very very dark place that many find themselves in. Also the parking and surrounds are good, the VA campus is quite pretty.. hopefully BAART can get a new building someday in the future once the current wave of opiophillia is seen as the province of compassionate psychological and medical professionals instead of the hodgepodge of laymen in dark church basements preaching 'what worked for them'...some of whom I assume are very good people.

Excellent staff & opioid medical services. For REDUCTION or MAINTENANCE of opioid/opiate dependence. Avoid overdosing on skanky street drugs. This service is literally a lifesaver. No stigma. Avoid dying trying to… self-treat. Clients represent every walk of American society. Great people. Stop putting this off!