April Already?
So much has changed in the three months since my last newsletter, and I have lots of exciting things to share with you. There really is quite a bit, and it is all important, so please take the five minutes or so to read straight through. Let’s get started.
1-I lost 20 pounds! Yeah!
2-Mayra, one of our certified physician assistants (PA-C) is going out on maternity leave. She is expecting a girl, Isabella Sophia, who I plan on delivering next month. Congratulations!
3-We want to welcome Cathy Lewis, PA-C who is also a Certified Lactation Consultant by the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). She received her PA training at Stanford. She will assist me in taking great care of all of our patients, but her expertise is in newborns and breastfeeding. She brings a wealth of experience and previously worked at UC Davis Medical Center as a lactation consultant for Labor and Delivery.
4-We are excited to now have breastfeeding consultation appointments for our patients. We also decided to extend this service to families who are not our current patients. Therefore, a mom and baby may see us for breastfeeding consultation only and still keep their outside OB or pediatrician for other care. We most often can bill this service to insurance, but when we cannot, the cash pay price is $65 for 45 minutes. If you know a mom having difficulty with breastfeeding, please refer her to our office.
5-We also want to welcome Steve Goldstein, MFT, a licensed marriage and family therapist with 20 years of experience, who has joined our incredible team to help us provided Integrated Behavioral Health Visits. While working on his Doctorate of Behavioral Health, he will help us provide effective, brief interventions for problems like depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, shyness, family difficulties, stress, and worries about health and physical problems. This is not old fashioned therapy. This is the future of medicine. Integrated behavioral health visits are available on Wednesdays through December from 9 AM to 5 PM. Appointments range from 15 minutes to 1 hour. Usually insurance coverage and copays apply.
6-We extended our evening hours. Now open Monday through Thursday from 8 AM to 8 PM and Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM. Phones are answered 8 AM to 6 PM. Lunch is still 1-2 Monday through Thursday, but extended to 12:30 to 2 on Friday.
7-My schedule is reserved for our pregnant patients on Thursday from 2 PM to 8 PM. Hopefully, more dads will be able to join us and patients can receive OB care without having to take time from work. (Other providers are available for non pregnant patients until 6 PM.)
8-Referring a friend or family member has never been easier. After seven years of mandatory Orientation for all new patients, I have gotten that critical information jam packed into a 20 minute video. New patients can watch the video when they come in to register or during their first appointment. Now you can become a new patient in a matter of minutes!!
9-We now accept Tricare Insurance.
10-The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced new pap smear and cancer screening guidelines (read more). This means most women will need a pap smear every 2-3 years instead of annually. At your annual Well Women Exam, we review your medical history carefully to determine if a pap smear is needed that year. Make sure you still come in once yearly for other important preventative care.
11-Outstanding medical care has traditionally included screening female patients for the sexually transmitted diseases gonorrhea and chlamydia. For several reasons male patients were not screened as often or as thoroughly. One reason was that testing was uncomfortable. Another is that men don’t go to the doctor as often as women. Many men do not ask to be tested because they think they are not at risk or are invincible and getting a STD cannot happen to them. But women get these STD’s from…men, who, to be fair, get it from women… To be more thorough, we have instituted a new policy of testing all male patients at least once. With a simple urine sample, testing for these diseases is now quick and easy. This test is sent to the lab and is completely confidential.
NEW ADULT WAITING ROOM
12-We have a new Adult Waiting Room which allows for more privacy at the front desk.
13-Finally, I’m grateful for the following recognition:
*American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award
*Patient Choice Award
*Outstanding Group Volunteer Award for our participation in the community-wide H1N1 Free Clinics.
14-(I had to add one more for the superstitious folks.) Had a blast doing a couple hundred high school sports physicals with my colleagues at Consumnes Oaks.
Well that is everything. Thank you for taking the time. I’m confident the next newsletter will be much shorter.
And as always, here’s my little Luca.
At Vails Family Practice, our whole purpose is to take care of you – to provide comprehensive, personal health care to you and your families. I am grateful to continue to care for you and your families.
Remember we grew from just one patient and your referrals will allow us to thrive during tough economic times. Please consider forwarding this email to a friend or family member.
Sincerely,
Julie Vails, MD
Vails Family Practice
916.691.4300
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The Take Shape for Life program featuring Medifast meals promotes healthy eating without gimmicks, is affordable and works. It is a complete lifestyle program featuring great tasting meal replacements combined with the education and support of our team.
Congratulations to Genevieve, office manager, voted Employee of the Month for December. Great work!
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