This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
For medical care that requires a clinic visit – physical exams, dental work, in-person specialty appointments, vaccinations, lab draws – patients in Pasadena typically book through a community health center or private practice. For follow-up visits, medication reviews, and routine checkups, an at-home option avoids the trip entirely. Doctor2me physicians visit patients at the patient’s address for primary care, with referrals to clinics and specialists when in-person treatment is needed. The in-home medical services overview covers what the home-based option includes.
AltaMed Medical and Dental Group – Fair Oaks is a community health clinic at 1855 N Fair Oaks Avenue, Suite 200, in Pasadena, California, Los Angeles County. The location operates under the joint brand “ChapCare by AltaMed Medical and Dental Group” – reflecting the partnership between ChapCare and AltaMed, two community health organizations now operating together at multiple Los Angeles County locations.
AltaMed Health Services is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), one of the largest community health systems in California, with a particular focus on serving Latino and underserved populations. The Pasadena Fair Oaks location is one of three AltaMed/ChapCare sites in Pasadena – alongside Lake Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard locations.
The Fair Oaks clinic provides primary medical care, dental care, and pharmacy services in a single facility, with an on-site AltaMed Pharmacy in Suite 101 of the same building.
Clinic Snapshot
| Detail | Value |
| Address | 1855 N Fair Oaks Ave, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91103 |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Phone | (626) 993-6300 / (888) 499-9303 |
| Operating Name | ChapCare by AltaMed Medical and Dental Group |
| Facility Type | Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) |
| On-Site Pharmacy | AltaMed Pharmacy – Suite 101 |
| Insurance | Medicare, Medi-Cal, most major insurance plans accepted |
| PACE Program | AltaMed Senior BuenaCare (PACE) available |
| Accepting New Patients | Yes |
What Type of Facility Is AltaMed Medical and Dental – Fair Oaks?
AltaMed at Fair Oaks is a community health center – a model of healthcare delivery distinct from both private medical practices and hospital outpatient clinics. Community health centers operate as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), receiving federal funding specifically to serve patients who might otherwise lack access to consistent medical care. This includes uninsured patients, Medi-Cal recipients, and communities with limited healthcare options nearby.
This puts AltaMed Fair Oaks in a different category from a private primary care office or a specialty practice. The clinic accepts patients regardless of ability to pay, uses sliding fee scales tied to income, and integrates medical, dental, and pharmacy services in one location – a model designed to reduce barriers to comprehensive care.
The “ChapCare by AltaMed” branding reflects an operational partnership – ChapCare is one of Pasadena’s longest-running community health organizations, and the partnership with AltaMed expanded resources and services for patients in the San Gabriel Valley.
How Does ChapCare Fit Into This?
ChapCare has operated in Pasadena for decades as a community health organization focused on serving underserved residents in the San Gabriel Valley. The 2020s saw ChapCare align operationally with AltaMed Health Services – California’s largest community health network – which is reflected in the current branding at the Fair Oaks location and other Pasadena sites.
For patients, the practical implication is straightforward: existing ChapCare patients continue receiving care from the same clinic with expanded AltaMed resources, while new patients access a fully integrated network that spans Los Angeles, Orange County, and surrounding regions.
What Services Are Available at This Location?
Primary Medical Care
The clinic offers care across the lifespan, including:
- Adolescent Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Nurse Practitioner-led care
- Pediatrics
Women's Health
- Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)
- Prenatal care
- Routine women’s health screenings
Dental Care
Pharmacy
AltaMed Pharmacy operates on-site in Suite 101 of the same building. Prescriptions written during a clinic visit can be filled in the same building – meaningful for patients who would otherwise need to travel to a separate pharmacy.
Senior Care – PACE Program
AltaMed operates the AltaMed Senior BuenaCare (PACE) program – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. PACE serves seniors 55 and older who qualify for nursing-home level care but can be supported in the community. The program coordinates medical care, dental, transportation, day services, and home support under one comprehensive benefit.
Who Is the Clinic For?
AltaMed Fair Oaks serves patients across age groups and care needs, with particular strengths in:
- Family medicine and pediatric care for working families
- Geriatric care for older adults, including PACE program participants
- Patients enrolled in Medi-Cal or Medicare
- Uninsured patients needing primary care with sliding fee scales
- Spanish-speaking patients (AltaMed serves a large Latino patient population)
- Patients seeking integrated medical and dental care in one location
The clinic is accepting new patients across most service lines.
How Does Insurance Coverage Work?
AltaMed accepts Medicare, Medi-Cal, and most major insurance plans, including Aetna, Alignment Health Plan, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Cross of California, Blue Shield of California, Brand New Day, CalOptima, and Adventist Health. The clinic also accepts AltaMed Senior BuenaCare (PACE) for enrolled members.
For uninsured patients, AltaMed uses a sliding fee scale based on household income, consistent with FQHC requirements. The intake team can verify specific coverage and discuss available options during the initial appointment scheduling process.
When Is Home-Based Care the Right Choice?
Routine medical needs do not always require a clinic visit. Follow-up checkups, chronic condition management, medication reviews, and urgent issues like infections or minor injuries can be handled in a home visit without traveling to the clinic – particularly valuable for older patients with mobility limitations and patients managing multiple chronic conditions.
Doctor2me physicians visit patients directly at the patient’s address for these everyday needs, with referrals to community health centers like AltaMed when in-person services or labs are needed. Patients can pick a specific physician from the Doctor2me physician network when continuity with a known doctor matters – particularly useful when a patient has had an established relationship with a physician and wants to maintain that consistency.
What About In-Home Care for Older Adults?
For older adults receiving care at AltaMed Fair Oaks – particularly those in the PACE program or with chronic conditions affecting daily life – having additional support at home often makes the difference between maintaining independence and needing institutional placement. In-home care covers non-medical support: meal preparation, medication reminders, hygiene assistance, light housekeeping, transportation coordination, and companionship.
A Better Solution In Home Care is an in-home care company that has operated in California since 2000, providing in-home care, placement assistance, and wraparound care management. For families navigating a parent’s healthcare alongside everyday support needs, an in-home care company handles the daily logistics that no clinic – community health center or otherwise – can replicate at the patient’s home.
When Is Skilled Home Health Required?
Skilled home health care is a different category from non-medical in-home care. Skilled home health involves clinically licensed services – registered nurse visits, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, wound care, IV therapy – delivered at the patient’s home with physician orders. It is typically covered by Medicare or Medi-Cal when ordered for a qualifying condition.
For AltaMed patients transitioning out of a hospital stay, recovering from a procedure, or managing a condition that requires regular nursing visits at home, skilled home health is often the right next step. XL Care Home Health Agency is one example of a home health agency that provides this category of care, with services arranged through the patient’s primary care physician.
What About Specialty Foot Care for Older Adults?
Foot health is one of the most overlooked elements of senior medical care, and the clinical consequences are significant. Diabetic foot conditions, fungal infections, ingrown toenails, calluses, and pressure-related skin issues are common in older adults – particularly in patients managing diabetes, circulatory issues, or limited mobility. Untreated foot problems progress to infections, hospitalizations, and amputations far more often than they should.
For AltaMed patients who would benefit from specialty podiatry consultation – particularly older patients with diabetes – telehealth podiatry consultations bridge the gap between in-person visits. Dr. Arkady Kaplansky, DPM is a Los Angeles-based podiatrist with over 30 years of experience and telehealth availability, specializing in diabetic foot care, wound care, and minimally invasive treatments. His practice covers conditions common to geriatric and chronic disease patients – diabetic foot conditions, foot infections, fungal nail issues, heel pain, and chronic wounds. For AltaMed Fair Oaks patients whose foot health needs assessment between scheduled clinic visits, virtual consultations allow ongoing podiatric care without the disorientation a transport would cause for older patients.
Where Is the Clinic Located?
AltaMed Fair Oaks is on North Fair Oaks Avenue in central Pasadena, in a busy commercial corridor with retail, dining, and pharmacy access within walking distance. The location is accessible from the 210, 134, and 110 freeways, making it reachable from much of the San Gabriel Valley and northeast Los Angeles.
AltaMed Pharmacy is in the same building (Suite 101), allowing patients to fill prescriptions on the same visit. Pasadena’s Huntington Hospital is approximately 1.5 miles south of the clinic. AltaMed operates two other Pasadena sites for patients who find Fair Oaks crowded or far: the Lake Avenue location at 1595 N Lake Ave, and the Del Mar Boulevard location at 3160 E Del Mar Blvd.
Patients across Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia, La Cañada Flintridge, Sierra Madre, San Marino, and Glendale find the Fair Oaks clinic within easy reach.
