FAQs About Our Behavioral Health Urgent Care Centers

• What are the hours of operation? We’re open 24/7 every day of the year, but our Crisis Walk-in Center is only open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

• Where should I go if I arrive after hours? Go around to the back of the building if it is before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

• What are the wait times for services? Since this mental health urgent care center is much like an urgent care center for medical emergencies, waiting times are difficult to predict. Waits can be up to 5-6 hours at times.

• Is there a cost for services? No, there is no cost.

• Do you accept insurance, and what type? We accept all types of insurance, but you don’t have to have insurance. We also work with those with Medi-Cal and those without insurance.

• Can I walk in, or do I need an appointment? We do not take appointments, but walk-ins are welcome. We also cannot take names for the waiting list over the phone.

• What ages do you serve? We serve those ages 13 and up. We have a unit for teens ages 13-17 that is separate from our adult unit.

• Do you offer refills for medications? Yes, we provide medication refills.

• Are there certain medications that you can’t fill? Yes, we cannot provide medication for ADHD and for Benzodiazepines or long-acting injections.

• What documents should I bring with me? Please bring your identification and insurance card if you have one. If you’re accompanying a minor, you need to bring documentation to show you are their legal guardian, or for foster youth, that you are their conservator.

• Do I need to bring an ID or insurance card, and what if I don’t have one? See the answer above. If you don’t have an ID but have Medi-Cal or know your social security number, we can look that up.

• Do you screen for substance use, and will this affect access to services? Yes, we need to make sure clients are not bringing in drugs or alcohol. We will ask those clients to take these back to their car or another place, as they cannot bring them inside.

• Are clients searched upon admission? Yes, they are searched to assure everyone’s safety. There are private lockers where clients and keep their personal belongings (but contraband items cannot be brought in.) See the answer above.

• What is required for adolescents to be seen? Anyone under age 18 will need to be accompanied by a legal guardian or custodian who will need to bring documentation to show they are the guardian. This cannot be an aunt, sister, or family member that is not the official guardian.

• I am under 18, so do I need my parent or guardian to come with me? You will need to be accompanied by a legal guardian. See the answer above.

• What happens inside the BHUCC? The goal is to stabilize someone if they are going through a mental health crisis. Clients will meet with a nurse, a mental health therapist, and if needed, with a psychiatrist. When not being seen, they can watch TV or movies in recliner chairs or relax in a quiet room. They can receive counseling and can get a medication refill from a psychiatrist. The BHUCC will provide some light food and snacks.

• How long can I stay? The maximum length of time for a behavioral health urgent care facility like ours is under 24 hours (technically 23 hours and 59 minutes.) Some people are able to be stabilized in just a few hours, as every situation is different.

• Is transportation provided for clients? We cannot give clients a ride to our facility, although we are located near bus routes and bus stops. When a client discharges, we will find a way to get them to the next place we are referring them to, and this could be putting them on the bus or providing a ride in our van.

• Is there follow-up care, or is this a single-episode crisis service? Our goal is to treat people and provide them with resources, but if they need to come back again, that is fine. They will need to fill out the paperwork again.

• Is there a place to smoke cigarettes? The facility is non-smoking, we can offer Nicorette gum or patch.

• Where are your locations? Star View Behavioral Health has BHUCCs in Long Beach, the City of Industry, and in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley.