Accessing Care

What to do in an emergency:

During a life threatening emergency, call 911

If the emergency is not life threatening:

During office hours:
Please call your doctor immediately. He/she will arrange to help you receive care. If your physician is not available, alternative arrangements will be made for you. Do not leave emergency information on voice mail.

If you have an HMO/PPO plan, please notify your PCP following your visit to the emergency room. A trip to the emergency room, without notification, may result in substantial out-of-pocket expense.

After office hours:
Call your primary care physician's office. There is a physician available 24 hours a day.

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Making an appointment:

All appointments are scheduled in advance. Simply phone your physician's office and ask for your doctor's appointment desk. You will be provided with the earliest available time. If your physician is not available, we will offer you an alternate choice. Some of the offices offer same-day appointments in Urgent Care, so please tell us if you have a medical problem requiring an immediate visit.

When you are unable to keep an appointment, 24-hour notice is required. Failure to keep appointments may compromise your medical care and prevent other patients from being seen.

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Contacting your doctor:

Hayward, Pleasanton, Castro Valley & Danville
Bay Valley Medical Group has twenty-four hour phone service.  When you phone Bay Valley during office hours, your call will be handled by our operators.  If you call a direct line and are answered by voice mail, leave your name, phone number and a brief message.  Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

Affiliate physician offices
Call your physician office for an appointment.  If you need immediate assistance and are unable to reach your physician, call the Hayward main office.

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Requesting a referral:

Bay Valley Medical Group has a network of specialist physicians available for our patients. Your primary care physician will make arrangements for any specialists referrals.

Please remember that many insurances require prior authorization for specialty care.  Without authorization from your PCP, you may be responsible for the charges.

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