Edelman Westside Mental Health Center
| Category: | Mental Health Clinic |
| Address: | 11080 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064, USA |
| Phone: | +1 310-966-6500 |
| Site: | semel.ucla.edu |
| Rating: | 3.1 |
| Working: | 8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM 8AM–5PM Closed Closed |
Location
Photos 1
Reviews 5
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Claudia Miles
Im an MFT in practice since 1996 and Ive been collaborating with psychiatrists ever since. Its been a challenge to help my clients find good psychiatric care they can afford to say the least. And frankly its a challenge even with all the money in the world. Edelman has some really great, knowledgeable psychiatrists who have been willing to collaborate with me (a good number of psychiatrists arent interested in talking to or taking seriously anyone who isnt an MD). At Edelman you can go in at 8am (or later if you want to wait) and do an intake. They will take nearly any insurance and if you dont have any theyll apply to Medical for you and see you for very low fee (& if youre eligible for mediCal they wont charge at all to my knowledge. If you arent they have a scale that slides down quite low. After the intake, if you have an urgent concern you may be seen the same day. Otherwise they will make an appt for you with psychiatrist or a psychotherapist and in most of my clients get in within one to two weeks. These are UCLA-affiliated psychiatrists many of whom have a private practice outside edelman. Often in the case of a clinic I worry about access to the doctor if the clinic is only open during the day on weekdays. And how easy is it to get through to him or her with questions or concerns. But at Edelman all my clients seen there get the doctors card and a direct line to leave a message.. None of my clients have been turned away for lack of funds. All have been treated thus far with respect and dignity. And the docs have been mostly quite knowledgeable and sensitive to their concerns. I moved back to LA from the Bay Area in 2013 and at least in Marin County and SF there wasnt anything close to a full service place like the Edelman Center. I can tell you that if its your first time seeing a psychiatrist its challenging in the best of circumstances. And whether a complex diagnosis or "simple depression" it takes some time to get ones meds right. This is why I urge people who say "it isnt THAT bad" to start the process before it gets "that bad." It can take a few months for doc and patient to figure out the right meds at the right dose. For comparison, I took my dad who is elderly and has Alzheimers to a geriatric psychiatrist in private practice. He doesnt take MEDICARE so we paid out of pocket and the first couple visits were $1500. My dad couldnt sit in a waiting room even for an intake & hes very fearful and this doc is just two blocks from his home so we needed the convenience. And the doc we saw is very good. It still hasnt been easy to treat my dads depression however. Further I think my clients got comparable care at Edelman. I see Edelman has some one star reviews and someone even said our "tax dollars" pay for it. That is not accurate. For one thing, Edelman is a nonprofit not a govt funded clinic. The center gets private donations and bills insurance. Like most docs they do bill Medi-Cal of course and that is paid for by tax dollars just as many docs are. And by the way, Medi-Cal doesnt pay even close to what a psychiatrist needs to charge to run a practice. Going to a psychiatrist is a challenging experience on ANY budget. Edelman is one of the best clinics I have seen in my 20 years of practice. If you go and dont like your doc there is a process where you can be reassigned. If you feel you arent getting the right meds or help speak up. This place is well worth s try.
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Debra Shepherd
In the intake process, the patient is asked if he/she needs help with a variety of services, including housing, financial assistance, and food. If the patient actually asks the agency to help with these things, they dont want to do it. In addition, there are various members of the staff that try to discourage patients from applying for SSI benefits. None of these people are employed by the Social Security Administration. That federal agency has its own doctors and medical experts that are trained to determine disability. Most people (65%) are initially denied SSI benefits, then 85% are denied at the time of reconsideration. Dont let this deter you. As a citizen, you have a right to be considered for these benefits. The adult portion of this clinic is very reliant on medication for the patients. There is not any alternative methods that are offered for treatment, even though some of the medicines that are prescribed are highly addictive or have devastating, life altering side effects. Some of the meds prescribed are even the subject of multi-billion dollar litigation. Its unreasonable to expect patients to achieve any level of self-sufficiency if they are over-medicated. No one can think clearly in a medication fog. Its also my observation that some of the staff do not listen to the patients. A patient or their advocate cannot even get their phone call returned if they voice a concern about how they were treated. This clinic does not operate in a manner as if they are trying to earn or keep the patients business, because they are a county facility. If this clinic had to compete with private providers for patients, I believe that a real attitude adjustment would occur.
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A Private User
This NOT the place to go if you need help with Mental Health! They all get paid by us (The Tax Payers) You NEVER ever get diagnosed, so that you can get the real help that is needed! I am talking several years with wrong meds being prescribed! Dangerous uncaring staff!! All who collect their paychecks while we suffer! We who cannot check ourselves in to UCLA $2500 @ DAY! Uncaring? Fanned with her her hand in front of her face mocking me when I broke down and wept. Promises to send important info (mine) to waiting/unable to go forward for me..NEVER arrive/not sent!!!! Someone who works at Edelman will "flag" /remove this, because it is TRUE! 7&1/2 years and NO Psychiatrist ever seen by me! I so need treatment. People say that I have symptoms of Bi-Polar. I fear that I will take my life (I want to live!!!) Or worse, hurt a loved one!
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Kelly Stagg
NO HDHD Treatment. Dr. Fine is great. . .I have been going to see her for over two years. I have to agree, during the intake process they do say that they can help you with other matters such as housing. They did help me get a medi-cal debacle fixed when I first started. . .They have a lady now that is answering the phone that has a very thick accent and has a limited understanding of the English language. Try to leave a message with her and by the time youre off you need extra anxiety meds. I give them a five because when you really need mental health help. . .regardless of any faults this is the place to go.
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Luz Vides
Hi, Ive been coming to the Edelman for about 9 years. Of those 9, the Medicare MDs go by what they hear and act upon it. More like pulling teeth, slow-acting enemas, and being treated like if you had to be under cellophane; otherwise they may get infected. The work is mediocre. They do not have urgent care doctors available either. Ive been told this when I came in twice suffering from severe anxiety. And there is no patient privacy; the door remains open when you talk to your psychiatrists as you declare publicly all that is wrong with you to everyone within hearing range outside of the office.