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    Christopher Chen, MD

    3.3 (7 reviews)
    Closed • 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

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    6 months ago

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    Prompt, courteous, very understanding, and smart! I recommend highly as he takes the time to perform Q&A to arrive at DX and med eval.

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    12 years ago

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    Pain Medicine Consultants - Dr. Richard Shinaman, M.D.

    Pain Medicine Consultants

    3.4(58 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I am extremely disappointed with my experience at this clinic regarding a promised refund of…read more$1,174. On February12, we saw Dr Nathaniel Gamsky. We were scheduled to have a procedure completed and a payment was collected. On February 17, we had a change of heart and cancelled said procedure. I was clearly told that the refund would be processed, yet it is now June and I still have not received the money or a clear explanation for the delay. Over the past several months, communication has been inconsistent and unprofessional. I have had to repeatedly follow up for updates, only to receive vague responses or no resolution at all. A medical clinic should operate with integrity, transparency, and accountability, especially when handling patients' finances. While the staff may have initially appeared helpful, failing to honor a promised refund for this long is unacceptable. I would strongly encourage anyone considering this clinic to carefully review financial policies and documentation before making payments. As far as communication, I am very disappointed with the level of communication and professionalism from this clinic. Since February, I have called on seven different occasions and left multiple voicemails requesting a call back from the manager regarding my unresolved refund issue. To this day, I have not received a single response. Management ignoring repeated attempts to communicate with patients is unacceptable, especially when it involves a significant amount of money owed. I expected better customer service, accountability, and transparency from a professional medical office. I hope the clinic takes responsibility and resolves this matter promptly.

    Great Doctor, But Billing Practices & Staff Are a Serious Problem…read more The doctor himself is excellent--but unfortunately the experience is overshadowed by everything else. This office's billing practices are deeply concerning. The doctor is in-network, yet they use two different NPIs: * 1760410625 (given to patients - appears out-of-network) * 1154401941 (used for billing under BASS Medical Group - in-network) This creates confusion about coverage and raises serious questions about how claims are being represented to insurers. They also push a "health data plan" fee that has increased every year--from $135 in 2022 to $287 now--with no clear explanation of what patients are actually receiving. There was no meaningful advance notice of these increases. The doctors are also the owners/founders of the Well Brain platform, which is run out of the lower floor of their Pleasant Hill office--making the mandatory "data plan" fee even more questionable. The biggest issue is the staff. They are consistently rude, abrasive, and poorly managed, and when you question fees or decline to pay, the behavior becomes coercive and hostile. It feels like patients are being pressured rather than cared for. What makes this worse is that many patients rely on pain management and are already struggling financially--this kind of pressure and unclear billing is especially harmful. If you're dealing with this: * Report concerns to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Medical Board of California, or the California Department of Managed Health Care * Email BASS Medical Group's Performance Management Team at performanceimprovment@bassmedicalgroup.com -- this was the only thing that stopped the harassment in my case Patients deserve transparency and respect--not conflicting NPIs, surprise fee increases, and pressure tactics. Do not sign anything you are not comfortable with, and get all NPIs, fees, and network status in writing before agreeing to care.

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    Pain Medicine Consultants
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    The Spine & Pain Center of California

    The Spine & Pain Center of California

    2.5(4 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    They eventually did the right thing and resolved my billing issues, but unfortunately it took 5…read moremonths and a lot of back and forth.

    I was in Dr Mallavaram care from 2011 to the end of 2015 due to a spinal cord injury suffered in…read more2009. He was just opening up his new business The Spinal and Pain Center of California. He administered injections, tried different ointment treatments that were testing gabapentin as a topical cream. Even when I had an issue with my long term disability insurance he took the time to write a letter on behalf. So when I left Kaiser and returned to an HMO in January 2024 I was excited to see Dr Mallavaram and his Fremont office taking new patients. I made my initial appointment for early December, but they wanted me to go to Pleasanton office. I said sure, but in the future I want to be seen in Fremont. When I arrived it was not Dr Mallavaram I was seen by Dr Newmark. I explained to him that I live in Fremont and Dr Mallavaram treated me from 2011 through 2015. After the appointment I scheduled my next appointment for March 25th in Fremont to see Dr Mallavaram. I was given pushback saying that Dr Newmark was now my physician and he only works in Pleasanton. Today I was told that the appointment was cancelled and that they would call me back for a reschedule. I didn't hear anything all day so I called now and was told that Dr. Mallavaram was not taking patients with chronic pain he was only taking new patients with new injuries. Why did I have to wait a full month after my first visit before I was given the truth regarding Mallavaram's new directives. Why did they book me with Dr Mallavaram for March 25, 11days away in Fremont if he wasn't taking on people with severe chronic pain. Not only has things changed with the good doctor so has The Spinal and Pain Center of California staff. When Bonnie B ran the offices there you got compassion and a straight answer. Now in days they don't care about their patients, will lie to their face. Wasting time, not prescribing medication on time. Tomorrow if my primary doctor does not prescribe morphine to me, I will have painful withdrawals that will force me to go to the ER. I told that to Dr Mallavaram staff and they denied to help me. Back in 2015, Dr Mallavaram was prescribing me a stronger opioid and a higher dosage. Kaiser switched me to morphine which was less dangerous and we lowered the daily dosage. Now I can't get approval for the morphine from his office. If the staff was up front with me initially when I scheduled for my first appointment or after I was seen by Dr Newmark I would not have wasted 2 1/2months trying to get some relief. Instead I will go through the painful withdrawals at the ER tomorrow because office staff has no integrity or balls to be up front with patient from the beginning. I think his policy not to see patients that are not new injuries has been in place for awhile yet I was deceived by their inaction. I will be finding a new pain mgmt doctor who's staff communicates well and gets back to patients quickly. In the meantime I think the California medical board needs to hear about this.

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    Infuze MD

    Infuze MD

    3.3(8 reviews)
    3.4 mi

    After battling cancer for 3 long years, I finally found a place that truly helped change my life --…read moreInfuze MD. From the moment I walked in, the care and compassion from the team made a huge difference in my journey. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Abellera for being such a kind and supportive doctor throughout my treatment. Your dedication and genuine concern for your patients truly mean so much. I also want to give a special mention to Nurse Francis for being incredibly professional, attentive, and amazing at what she does. His kindness and expertise made every visit more comfortable and reassuring. I'm deeply grateful for the support and care I received at Infuze MD. Thank you for helping me regain hope and strength during one of the hardest times of my life.

    A family member of mine was diagnosed with cancer, and while researching treatment options, I came…read moreacross Infuze MD. After a brief call with an employee named Paolo, who spoke positively about the clinic, I shared the information with my relative. In hindsight, I realize that in my desperation, I may have overlooked warning signs. At the time, I did not realize Paolo is not a medical professional, even though he was the first person discussing treatment options. The clinic is owned and operated by Dr. Nilda Agnes Abellera, who is board-certified in PEDIATRICS but whose clinic advertises integrative medicine. My relative traveled from out of state to begin what was described as an "intensive" 20-day cancer program. According to her account, the first three days did not feel intensive. She reported that infusion rates appeared slowed, staff could not explain the scientific basis for some treatments, and the doctor missed a planned medication review. She also observed what she believed was dried blood on a chair and described an IV bag fully draining while the needle was in place, which worried her. On October 9, 2025, she said her care was terminated immediately after raising concerns, without timely written notice, referrals, or arrangements to ensure access to medical care until she could establish care elsewhere. Referrals were only provided after I contacted the clinic. This abrupt termination caused a delay of over a month in her treatment and worsened her PTSD symptoms. She also tried to obtain her medical records multiple ways. On October 10, she requested them in person but was denied. She also submitted a written request and used the clinic's online inquiry form. As of this writing--52 days later--she has not received her complete records. When I called the clinic, Paolo was tense and dismissive, and I could not speak directly with Dr. Abellera. Given the situation, I became concerned about whether proper procedures were followed and intended to file a complaint with the Medical Board of California. Additional observations and concerns (personal experience): Family-run structure: The clinic is owned by Dr. Abellera. Paolo appears to manage many aspects, and another family member may also work there. This raised questions about oversight and role clarity. Online reviews: Of 32 Google reviews, 5 were five-star without details. Only one mentioned "cancer," making it hard to evaluate patient experiences compared with other clinics with hundreds of detailed reviews. Difficulty communicating with the physician: My relative and I tried to speak directly with Dr. Abellera; she did not speak with me, and my relative felt the doctor was unwilling to address her concerns. This lack of communication was alarming given her serious diagnosis. Cost vs. expectations: The program cost approximately $1,800 per day. Based on my relative's experience, the services did not match the program description. Others may feel differently, but this was our impression. Social media promotion: Paolo participates in Facebook groups promoting the clinic without identifying himself as an employee, which seemed misleading. I have included a screenshot for reference. In more than a decade in healthcare, I have never witnessed a more concerning divergence from a physician's duty to do no harm: terminating care without notice, effectively leaving my relative without immediate, comparable care options while facing life-threatening cancer.

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    Infuze MD - Safety concerns relayed by my relative about th care she received.

    Safety concerns relayed by my relative about th care she received.

    Infuze MD - Flowater in the Lobby!

    Flowater in the Lobby!

    Infuze MD - My relative's written communication regarding efforts to retrieve her complete medical records

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    My relative's written communication regarding efforts to retrieve her complete medical records

    California Shockwave

    California Shockwave

    5.0(2 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    I highly recommend Dr. Abraham Rodriguez for anyone dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain…read more After years of living with chronic low back pain and radiating leg pain, I finally found a treatment that made a real difference. The focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy that Dr. Rodriguez provides has been incredibly effective. What impressed me most was that Dr. Rodriguez took the time throughout the process to identify the different sources of my pain and determine the best next steps rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. The shockwave therapy not only helped reduce my pain, but also helped pinpoint exactly where it was coming from, making my physical therapy much more targeted and effective. After approximately six treatments on each affected area, my daily pain has improved from about a 7/10 to a 2-3/10, and I'm still seeing continued improvement more than a month after my last treatment. Pairing the shockwave therapy with physical therapy has dramatically improved my mobility and given me a new lease on life. If you've been struggling with chronic pain and haven't found lasting relief, I would absolutely recommend Dr. Rodriguez and his focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

    I'd heard of Shockwave for kidney stones, but wasn't sure how it would work on my painful shoulder…read more Would I have to sit in a tub of water like the kidney stone treatments, or would the Shockwave therapy give me the curly hair that mother nature had denied me? I liked the idea of a non-invasive treatment (in a dry environment). The pain was up to a 7, and was interfering with my sleep. Even sleeping on my back or other side was painful. Some days I couldn't pick up a mug of coffee. I walk with a cane in my right hand, so walking became difficult. After 3 visits the pain had decreased to a 5, but I had to have a non-related surgery, so I restarted therapy several weeks later and have now completed 6 therapy sessions after the restart. I still don't have curly hair, but my shoulder pain is almost gone, and I can even sleep on my right side again! The office staff has always been helpful and friendly, and schedules my appointments so I don't run into rush-hour traffic. Thanks, Dr. Rodriguez!

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    California Shockwave
    California Shockwave
    California Shockwave

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    Christopher Chen, MD - painmanagement - Updated October 2026

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