Summer 2016

The Path Through Life Young Physician Award San Joaquin Golf Tournament The Lifecycle of Legislations Cutting the Cord Summer 2016 SUMMER 2016

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VOLUME 64, NUMBER 2 • JUNE 2016

Young Physician Award Recipient, Dr. Fakhouri - Photo by Dale Goff

{FEATURES}

12 18 33 36 44 SUMMER 2016

A TEAM PLAYER

Young Physician Award Recipient, Dr. Fakhouri

{DEPARTMENTS} 22 IN THE NEWS

New faces and Announcements

7TH ANNUAL SJMS GOLF TOURNAMENT

52 PUBLIC HEALTH

THE LIFECYCLE OF LEGISLATION

58 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT:

How a Bill becomes a Law

THE PATH THROUGH LIFE

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Dr. Patricia Hatton

A Year of Public Health Practice, San Joaquin County Committed to Improving Quality Health Care

61 NEW MEMBERS 63 IN MEMORIAM

NEGATIVE ONLINE PUBLICITY Safeguard Practice Reputation

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PRESIDENT John Zeiter, M.D. PRESIDENT-ELECT Kwabena Abudofour, M.D. PAST-PRESIDENT Ramin Manshadi, M.D. SECRETARY-TREASURER George Savage, M.D. BOARD MEMBERS Raissa Hill, DO, Grant Mellor, M.D., Dan Vongtama, M.D., Alvaro Garza, M.D., Mohsen Saadat, DO, Clyde Wong, M.D., Peter Garbeff, M.D.

MEDICAL SOCIETY STAFF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lisa Richmond MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Jessica Peluso ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Nicole Bojorques

SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN MAGAZINE EDITOR Lisa Richmond EDITORIAL COMMITTEE John Zeiter, Lisa Richmond, Mike Steenburgh MANAGING EDITOR Lisa Richmond

COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS DECISION MEDICINE Kwabena Adubofour, M.D. LEGISLATIVE Jasbir Gill, M.D. COMMUNITY RELATIONS Joseph Serra, M.D.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sherry Lavone Design CONTRIBUTING WRITERS James Noonan, John Zeiter, M.D., Alvaro Garza, M.D., M.P.H., George Khoury, M.D.

PUBLIC HEALTH Alvaro Garza, M.D. SCHOLARSHIP LOAN FUND Matthew Wetstein, PhD

THE SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN MAGAZINE is produced by the San Joaquin Medical Society

CMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES REPRESENTATIVES Robin Wong, M.D., Lawrence R. Frank, M.D.,

SUGGESTIONS, story ideas or completed stories written

James R. Halderman, M.D., Roland Hart, M.D.,

by current San Joaquin Medical Society members

Grant Mellor, M.D., Kwabena Adubofour, M.D.,

are welcome and will be reviewed by the Editorial

Raissa Hill, D.O., Ramin Manshadi, M.D.

Committee.

PLEASE DIRECT ALL INQUIRIES AND SUBMISSIONS TO: San Joaquin Physician Magazine 3031 W. March Lane, Suite 222W Stockton, CA 95219 Phone: 209-952-5299 Fax: 209-952-5298 Email Address: lisa@sjcms.org MEDICAL SOCIETY OFFICE HOURS: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Closed for Lunch between 12pm-1pm

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Letter From The Executive Director

STAFF REPORT

LEADERSHIP PERSONIFIED

LISA RICHMOND

I am sure most of you know the men in this photo - Drs. Joe Serra, Henry Zeiter and Marvin Primack .

But, did you know that Dr. Henry Zeiter recruited these two physicians (whom he didn’t know at the time) to Stockton from Detroit? It is a fascinating story. I love talking to our veteran physicians and discovering the stories of their lives. They hold so much wisdom and history of our Medical Society and community which they all came to call home and raise their families. I could sit and talk with them for hours. This photo was taken at our annual meeting to select the Lifetime Achievement Award (of which they are all recipients) and the Young Physician Award. All SJMS past presidents and past recipients of the award are invited to attend. I look forward to this meeting every year as the committee discusses the best and brightest physicians in our community. It is never an easy task, with so many accomplished physician members nominated. But, I am proud to announce that the very deserving 2016 Lifetime Achievement and Young Physician Award recipients are Dr. Patricia Hatton and Dr. Issa Fakhouri. I hope you will enjoy reading about each of them as much as I did learning about them.

It’s spring at the San Joaquin Medical Society and that means one thing- Decision Medicine. It is such an exciting time! This year’s DM committee was more robust and engaged than ever before. They ultimately reviewed 110 applications and dedicated their Saturday to interviewing 48 students. A huge thank you goes out to Drs. Adubofour, Khoury, Savage, Pang and Zeiter for their active participation this year. We are excited about the 2016 DM students, who represent 18 high schools across San Joaquin County and have an average GPA of 4.26!

Finally, we hope that you will plan to join us for this year’s annual membership dinner on June 12 at Stockton Golf and Country Club to honor our award recipients, as well as the passing of the gavel from Dr. John Zeiter to Dr. Kwabena Adubofour. It has been a fun, productive year with Dr. Zeiter at the helm as we grew our membership, and equally as important, retained 95% of our members. He has been a great leader, mentor and friend. I know that we will continue that momentum with Dr. Adubofour and look forward to the next chapter.

DRS. JOE SERRA, HENRY ZEITER AND MARVIN PRIMACK

Have a wonderful summer!

Lisa Richmond

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A message from our President > John Zeiter, M.D.

There’s No Place Like Home It is with mixed emotions that I write my last President’s Message before I pass the gavel over to my good friend, Dr. Kwabena Adubofour. I previously wrote about the benefits of medicine as a profession in “Is the Sky Really Falling?” and the abundance of passion, compassion, and philanthropy exhibited by physicians in our community in “Getting High on PCP.” In both articles, I focused on “giving” healthcare from a physician’s perspective. This month I would like to focus on healthcare in San Joaquin County from a different perspective--that of “receiving” care as the patient.

As patients in Northern California, we have the opportunity to seek care in some of the most nationally acclaimed medical

centers. We journey in our cars, cross bridges, meander through maddening traffic, and jump through the proverbial insurance hoop in search of what we believe to be the gold standard for health care.

For many of us, the journey is much like that on the famed yellow brick road to the great Oz. I would argue, however, that this pilgrimage to the Emerald City, this quest for the Oz’ medical intervention, is much closer than we all believe.

Recently, someone very dear to me needed to have a relatively major surgery, and I was shocked at how many local people, both lay friends and physicians, suggested she have the procedure done out of town (Stanford, UCSF, UC Davis, Redwood City, etc).

Really? And of course, I have to smile when the occasional patient (usually VIP) comes to see me for a second opinion after having had their cataract surgery “out of town.” Again, really? We have access to some of the best and

ABOUT THE AUTHOR ­ John H. Zeiter, M.D. is the managing partner of Zeiter Eye Medical Group and a Volunteer Clinical Professor at the UC Davis Eye Center. Dr. Zeiter is currently President of the San Joaquin Medical Society.

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A message from our President > John Zeiter, M.D.

brightest physicians and surgeons, the most state-of-the-art technology, and a plethora of outstanding hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers right here in our own backyard.

As a small example from my own field of ophthalmology, Stockton was the first city in Northern California to obtain a femtosecond laser for cataract surgery, and currently, not only are there three lasers in San Joaquin County, but we

many of whom stay in San Joaquin County to practice.

Lodi Health-Adventist Health, Dignity Health St. Josephs, and Kaiser Permanente all offer Robotic-assisted surgery with the DaVinci. Dameron Hospital provides the latest techniques in bariatric surgery and total knee replacement surgery. Doctors Hospital of Manteca recently completed a 6000 square foot Ambulatory Surgery Center located near its already existing Imaging Center and Wound Center. Dignity Health St. In San Joaquin County, there are six not-for-profit Josephs will soon complete their Cardiac hospitals (1134 beds) and one State owned hospital Hybrid Suite which will offer Transcatheter Aortic Valve replacement (TAVR). Zeiter (1722 beds) which happens to be the largest prison Eye Medical Group, Central Valley Eye, and medical facility in the world.

Manteca Surgery Center all have the LenSx femtosecond laser used for laser assisted are the only County in California where every practicing cataract surgery (LACS). The oncologists and radiation ophthalmologist in the area has access to and selectively oncologists in San Joaquin County all use the most recent uses this technology. And I know from referring out patients and target specific protocols for cancer treatment. I think to other specialists that there are similar examples in almost you get my point by now—for living in an underserved, every field of medicine in our area: cardiology, gynecology, rural county, our physicians and hospitals provide toponcology, radiology to name just a few. notch, state-of-the-art treatment with the latest technology In San Joaquin County, there are six not-for-profit available to patients of every race and socio-economic level. hospitals (1134 beds) and one State owned hospital (1722 As for my dear friend…after evaluation and consultation beds) which happens to be the largest prison medical facility in the world. Our I think you get my point by now—for living in an County also boasts 4 hospital-run and 7 privately owned ambulatory surgical underserved, rural county, our physicians and centers. There are several Radiation hospitals provide top-notch, state-of-the-art treatment Oncology Centers and numerous MRI Imaging Centers in our county. We with the latest technology available to patients of have a very progressive county hospital every race and socio-economic level. as well as a large outpatient Veteran’s Administration clinic. Regardless of ethnic background, socioeconomic status, occupation, or at Stanford, she decided to stay local for her surgery. A twotype of health insurance, patients can find a facility that day inpatient stay at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital provides state-of-the-art technology and excellent medical proved to be a wonderful experience with caring and kind care in San Joaquin County. In addition to serving the nurses, dieticians, housekeepers, and even maintenance medical needs of our community, these institutions provide personnel. Her surgeon and the OR staff also did a fabulous an incredible amount of jobs, with Dignity Health St. job with the type of personal, efficient, and empathetic Joseph’s Medical Center being the largest private employer care that is not necessarily the norm in today’s Healthcare in Stockton, and the California Health Care Facility (prison environment. So the next time you’re thinking about hospital) being one of the largest State employers in the leaving town for medical care or referring a patient out of county. The San Joaquin General Hospital, another large town for a procedure, remember the line from the Wizard of employer, provides training to over 20 residents per year in Oz, “There’s no place like home.”

Family Practice, Internal Medicine, and General Surgery

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2016 YOUNG PHYSICIAN AWARD

Team Player STORY BY JAMES NOONAN

Stockton’s Dr. Issa Fakhouri, proves that teamwork, support and success go hand-in-hand, both in medicine and in life.

For Dr. Issa Fakhouri, having support can make all the difference. Whether it be from his family, the community to which he moved as a teenager, or the medical team with which he works on a daily basis, the backing and support of those around him have helped make success possible. Now, 16 years after beginning his career as an internist at Kaiser Permanente’s Stockton campus, Fakhouri’s promising career has landed him the honor of the San Joaquin County Medical Society’s “Young Physician” award in 2016.

For Fakhouri, the honor is a tremendous one, and something he says would not have possible without the constant backing he received from his parents and family members during his youth. >>

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Young Physician Award > 2016

Raised in Jordan, Fakhouri and his family came to the Stockton area when he was only 13 years old. As is the case with many immigrant families in this country, a new home brought with it new promise, but the road to success was an intimidating one, fraught with hard work, challenges and sacrifices at nearly every turn.

“To come here as a kid, not speaking a word of English, a lot of sacrifices had to happen in the family for me to even finish school,” he said.

While he admits to being intrigued by the sciences at a young age, Fakhouri’s road toward a career in medicine began in earnest during his third year as an undergrad, while serving

“As physicians, we’re often the most visible, but behind the scenes, there are nurses, there are pharmacists, there’s a whole team of people trying to manage that diabetic or asthmatic patient. The model that we’ve created makes it so that everyone is truly working together – every patient, every place, every time by everyone.”

a volunteer stint in the emergency room of Sacramento’s Sutter Medical Center. It was then, during his first night in the ER, that he watched as the medical team on shift responded to a patient who had suffered a major heart attack. Working together, this team of medical professionals was able to save the patient’s life.

“This is a guy that came in and was practically on the verge of dying,” Fakhouri recalled. “To see a team of people – physicians, nurses, staff – come together for this person and bring out this unbelievable outcome, it makes you want to be in medicine. Seeing that, you want to go on a make a difference.”

Now, more than a decade and a half later, this notion of medicine as something of a “team sport” continues to drive Fakhouri, particularly

through his role as Associate Medical Director for Population Care, and as the standard bearer for the group’s innovative Chronic Condition Program.

The program, which Fakhouri started here in the Central Valley, was quickly adopted by The Permanente Group’s entire Northern California region, and implements a continuous, consistent and proactive approach to managing patients with chronic conditions.

“As physicians, we’re often the most visible, but behind the scenes, there are nurses, there are pharmacists, there’s a whole team of people

“I grew up in this community. I knew the whole time that I’d be coming back here,” he said. “Stockton shaped me into who I am today.” trying to manage that diabetic or asthmatic patient,” Fakhouri said. “The model that we’ve created makes it so that everyone is truly working together – every patient, every place, every time by everyone.”

Outside of the walls of his office or exam room, Fakhouri remains a key player in another team – that of the greater Stockton community.

Growing up, Stockton left an indelible impression on Fakhouri, one that has stayed with him well into adulthood. After graduating from medical school, Fakhouri relocated to Chicago to complete his residency. During those years, despite an overwhelming industry trend that suggests that physicians will set down roots in the areas where they complete residency, Fakhouri longed to return to California’s Central Valley.

“I grew up in this community. I knew the whole time that I’d be coming back here,” he said.

“Stockton shaped me into who I am today.”

Now, Fakhouri is returning the favor - taking

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every opportunity to shape the future of Stockton.

As a physician ambassador to the community in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, Fakhouri has been active in maintaining the health and well-being of Stockton residents. For years, he has volunteered at St. Mary’s clinic for the uninsured in downtown Stockton, and has provided volunteer sports physicals for the Lodi and Lincoln school districts.

He has also taken an active role in helping shape the next generation, serving as a student advisor at Stockton’s Health Career Academy and as a coach in the local youth soccer and basketball programs.

“These kids come from the same community that I did,” he said. “I know what struggles they’re going through. I can tell them ‘If I can do it, I think you can too.’”

As has been the case in his professional life, Fakhouri’s personal life also relies on the support of a team – namely his wife, Mariam, his three children and his extended family throughout the Stockton area and abroad.

“In the last 10 years, during these leadership

“In the last 10 years, during these leadership roles and how much time it all takes away, I can’t say enough about the support of my wife and my parents,” he said. “They’ve been my pillar throughout all of this.” roles and how much time it all takes away, I can’t say enough about the support of my wife and my parents,” he said. “They’ve been my pillar throughout all of this.”

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7th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

7th Annual

TOURNAMENT Story by George Khoury, MD

The weather was perfect for the 7th annual SJMS Golf Tournament benefitting The First Tee of San Joaquin and Decision Medicine, held on Sunday, May 1 at the beautiful Stockton Golf and Country Club. What a great occasion for our medical society and its members, to work with our larger community in providing opportunities to build and expand our youth’s aspirations and futures.

The day started with a pregame barbeque lunch and Putting Contest. The game was played smoothly without delays on the perfectly manicured greens using a simple scramble format. Finally, the evening ended with a delicious dinner and many, happy raffle

prize winners! Thank you to Rich Howarth, Kelly Spooner and staff at Stockton & Country Club for making the tournament run seamlessly.

We were fortunate to add two new members to our committee this year, Karin Heath and Gary Malloy. Our expanded, fully engaged committee worked hard to bring in 78 golfers, 50+ raffle and silent raffle prizes, as well as a living room furniture Door Prize donated by 209 Furniture! We would like to thank everyone who participated in and sponsored this event. We are excited to announce that we raised $4000 to benefit the First Tee and $5500 for SJMS’ Decision Medicine.

7th ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

7th Annual

TOURNAMENT THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

FIRST PLACE NET:

Zeiter Eye Medical Group

Vinay Deshmakh

American Hearing Aids Financial Center Credit Union

Prasad Dighe Manik Bahri Robert Tofanelli

FIRST PLACE GROSS:

Oak Valley Community Bank

Rodney Deguzman

Stone Brothers Management

Owen Deguzman

San Joaquin General Hospital

Manny Moreno Seren Moreno

Lodi Memorial Hospital 209 Furniture New York Life

CLOSET TO THE PIN: Mark Jordan

Lawrence Frank, MD

LONGEST DRIVE:

Darren Primack, MD

Ladies – Bonnie Morehead

Peter Garbeff, MD

Men – Joshua Church

Aminder Mehdi, MD Corey Tutsumi & Alisa Kamigaki

GOLF TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE: George Khoury, MD Kwabena Adubofour, MD George Herron, MD Lisa Richmond, San Joaquin Medical Society

PUTTING CONTEST WINNER: Bill Elson

Nicole Bojorques, The First Tee of San Joaquin & SJMS Donald Miller, The First Tee of San Joaquin Cathy Ghan, Oak Valley Community Bank Karin Heath Gary Malloy

In The News

IN THE

NEWS Lodi Health Hires New Director of Marketing and Public Relations

Lodi Health has announced the appointment of Janelle Meyers as the new director of Marketing and Public Relations.

In this role, Meyers Janelle Meyers is leading a team that manages marketing, advertising, public relations, media relations, community engagement and communications for Lodi Health.

“Janelle is a welcome addition to our team,” said Jason Whitney, Lodi Health’s Assistant Vice President of Business Development. “Her creative marketing experience combined with her deep local roots will make her a strong leader for our marketing and public relations department.”

A Lodi native, Meyers has a passion and heart for this community. “I am truly honored to take on this role at Lodi Health,” shared Meyers. “It is wonderful to be part of such a beloved, longstanding organization that responds to the needs of our community through providing excellent care with integrity and compassion at the forefront.”

Meyers has been working in marketing and

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Providing staff, physicians, and patients with relevant & up to date information

community relations for eight years. Before joining Lodi Health, she worked in External Relations at University of the Pacific. Previously, Meyers worked for SASS! Public Relations where she served as Marketing Director for Lincoln Center in Stockton.

Meyers has a Bachelor’s Degree from Azusa Pacific University. She is a Certified Marketing Director (CMD) through the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

Dameron Hospital Dameron Hospital Foundation Donates New Mobile X-Ray Units to Dameron Hospital

Thanks to a Dameron Hospital Foundation gift of $365,000 to Dameron Hospital late last year, the hospital has just purchased two new state-of-the-art digital C-arm X-ray machines, which are manufactured

by General Electric.

“These new units incorporate the latest digital

SUMMER 2016

In The News

mobile C-arm technology and gives us the ability to obtain superb image quality in the operating room,” said Dameron Hospital SVP of Operations and COO, Michael Glasberg. “They also provide us with faster scan times, and reduce patients’ X-ray exposure significantly.”

“Being able to see the C-arms here in the hospital brings closure to the process that began last year after we presented the check,” added Dennis Shore, Dameron Hospital Foundation Immediate Past Chair. “It’s very gratifying to see the results of our efforts to support the hospital.”

“We are grateful to the Foundation for this gift as we have been conducting a series of upgrades to help us provide the best patient care experience,” added Dameron Hospital President and CEO Lorraine P. Auerbach.

St. Joseph’s Receives Breast Center Accreditation by NAPBC

The Breast Center of Excellence at St. Joseph’s Medical Center has recently received accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. Accreditation also ensures that each patient continues to be treated with the latest standards in mind.

St. Joseph’s Breast Center of Excellence offers those being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer a unique, patient-centered environment for healing.

Working with a team of breast care experts, patients have access to comprehensive breast imaging services, genetic counseling, and advanced medical and radiation oncology. An experienced, multidisciplinary panel of doctors will focus their efforts on designing individualized treatment plans for each patient, providing the best possible care, close to home.

Additionally, a breast cancer patient navigator is

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available to guide patients through the entire cancer treatment and recovery process - from diagnosis to survivorship.

St. Joseph’s Receives Healthgrades Top 50 Award for Vascular Surgery & Patient Safety Excellence Award

For the third consecutive year, Healthgrades has named St. Joseph’s Medical Center one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Vascular Surgery™. This award recognizes hospitals for superior outcomes in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, carotid surgery, and peripheral vascular bypass surgery.

Additionally, St. Joseph’s also received the Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades, which recognizes hospitals for how well they prevent infections, medical errors, and other complications based on 14 serious, potentially preventable adverse events.

St. Joseph’s Heart & Vascular Institute Now Offers TAVR

The Heart and Vascular Institute at St. Joseph’s Medical Center is proud to now offer a Valve Clinic, featuring a multidisciplinary team dedicated to treating patients with various stages of heart disease, from advanced procedures including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), to disease management.

St. Joseph’s is one of a select group of providers to offer patients in our region TAVR, a less invasive procedure for heart valve replacement designed for patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. This procedure is performed in St. Joseph’s new cardiac hybrid suite, which features with cutting-edge technology and tools and the capability to transform from a cardiac catheterization lab to an operating room in a matter of seconds.

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In The News

IN THE

NEWS for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, San Joaquin Medical Society.

Dr. Rishwain is accepting new patients and accepts most health insurances including Hill Physicians and Medcore.

Dignity Health Medical Group Stockton is affiliated with Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton.

George Rishwain, MD Dignity Health Medical Group – Stockton Welcomes Dr. George Rishwain

Dignity Health Medical Group – Stockton is proud to welcome George Rishwain, MD, to its expanding team of specialists. Dr. Rishwain specializes in gastroenterology and has practiced medicine for over 35 years. Dr. Rishwain is a graduate of the Creighton University School of Medicine and is a member of the American Medical Association, California Medical Association, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society

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Sheela Kapre, MD, FCCP, FACP San Joaquin Board of Supervisors Appoints Hospital Chief Medical Officer as a New Commissioner for Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Governing Board

San Joaquin County Director of Health Care Services Greg

Diederich – San Joaquin Health Commission chair – announced the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors has formally appointed San Joaquin General Hospital (SJGH) Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Sheela Kapre, MD, FCCP, FACP, to the board of the Health Commission, the HPSJ governing board.

Board certified in critical care and internal medicine, Dr. Kapre has been at SJGH for over 30 years, and since 2013 she has been the hospital’s chief medical officer. She also is director of the intensive care unit and supervisor of clinical utilization management.

“One of our greatest strengths is the blend of public servants, community representatives, and local physicians,” said Diederich.

“With her commitment to bringing the finest health care to the northern Central Valley, and her vast experience as a doctor, administrator, teacher, and mentor for new generations of dedicated, bright health care professionals, Dr. Kapre is an invaluable addition to the Commission,” Diederich added.

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In The News

Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) Taps Talent from within for Key Claims Department Director Post

Health Plan of San Joaquin Announces New Director of Financial Planning & Analysis

Terry Cumpian has been promoted to HPSJ claims department director. She has extensive claims experience including: billing, coding and adjustments; physician office outreach; and customer service.

Previously, Cumpian was billing/client supervisor at EMMI, Inc. (Stockton), where she supervised operations for two large Terry Cumpian multi-specialty physician surgical groups, and worked closely with managed Medi-Cal plans such as HPSJ. “The ability of a community-based plan such as HPSJ to process claims from throughout our provider network in a timely, accurate way is essential to delivering on our vision of continuously improving our community’s health,” said Cumpian HPSJ Chief Financial Officer Michelle Tetreault added, “Terry arrived at HPSJ as a claims manager and immediately demonstrated the kind of technical know-how and personal leadership that’s helped our claims team continue expanding HPSJ’s capacity to serve the fast-growing membership brought to us by expanded Medi-Cal.” She said, “Terry’s unique dual perspective, from inside a health plan and inside a very large medical practice, have proved invaluable.”

Ben Austin has joined Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) as the new director of financial planning and analysis. Austin comes to HPSJ as a leader who has developed and implemented effective companywide change management initiatives, process improvements and business development strategies for increasing operating performance.

He has deep Ben Austin knowledge and experience in planning, budgeting and forecasting, with a solid track record in recruiting, developing and coaching teams to support organization goals and values.

“For the past six years, I have focused on the healthcare landscape, believing that access to quality care can only be achieved in an environment of sustainable business operations that are geared to serving members, while supporting the staff that make financial stewardship possible,” said Austin.

“As HPSJ continues to work diligently to maintain good financial position backed with strong financial analytics, Ben Austin brings a wealth of experiences and tools to help keep us moving forward,” added HPSJ Chief Financial Officer Michelle Tetreault.

First Wave of Awardees for 2016 HPSJ Health Careers Scholarships

Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) has announced the first of the 2016 HPSJ Health Career Scholarships. Among the talented, promising

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In The News

IN THE

NEWS students who applied, two have been selected from San Joaquin Medical Society’s Decision Medicine (DM). Receiving their awards at the DM graduation ceremony this summer will be Crystal Torres and Si Jie Tang.

As part of a 2016 revamp of its scholarships program, HPSJ began working directly with seven local partner schools/programs, including Decision Medicine, awarding two $2,500 scholarships to each partner. HPSJ Chief Medical Officer Lakshmi Dhanvanthari, MD, said, “With this program we can reinvest the limited resources of our health plan in our community, collaborating with these schools to encourage and support the next generation of doctors, nurses and pharmacists.”

A year-long mentor program has now been added, to further enhance this scholarship program. HPSJ Health Promotion and Cultural & Linguistics

Manager Jenny Dominguez said, “We are proud to take this year’s Health Careers Scholarship Program to a new level by pairing it with a mentorship program geared to empower and support awardees in their first year of college as they pursue their respective health careers.”

Meeting Challenges of Opioid Dependency Planning Grant from California Health Care Foundation (CHCF)

After receiving a $50,000 CHCF planning grant, Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) has been collaborating with local care providers San Joaquin General Hospital (SJGH) and Community Medical Center (CMC) to help meet the challenges of a nationwide epidemic of opioid dependency.

HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE? We welcome submissions to our In-the-News Section from our community healthcare partners. We prefer Word files and .jpg images and may edit for space restrictions. Send your files to lisa@sjcms.org one month prior to publication (February 1st for the Spring issue, May 1st for the Summer issue, August 1st for the Fall issue and November 1st for the Winter issue).

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SUMMER 2016

Opioid overuse has been a long-standing, major problem, both nationally and in California. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14,000 Americans died in 2014 as a result of prescription opioid overdose.

In 2015, HPSJ implemented several safety measures to prevent overuse and promote appropriate use of opioid medications among members.

“As a Medi-Cal managed care plan, we believe CHCF’s strategy to foster partnerships between Medi-Cal plans and local care provider organizations bodes well for the ultimate success of efforts around the developing opioid dependence dilemma,” said HPSJ Director of Pharmacy and Clinical Analytics Johnathan Yeh, Pharm.D.

P C o o et r r n y er

In The News

In The ICU

FOR THIS LIFE, THIS PARTICULAR LIFE HANGS PRECARIOUSLY A DROP OF MORNING DEW SHIMMERING BRILLIANTLY BRIGHT ARRAY OF FADING RAINBOW COLORS AT THE EDGE OF A ROSY THORN. FOR THIS LIFE HANGS PRECARIOUSLY ONLY TO FALTER, TO DROP AND DISAPPEAR AT THE WHISPER OF THE PASSING BREEZE. Kwabena O.M. Adubofour, MD, FACP

Please send your poetry submissions to Lisa@sjcms.org

Kids’ Oral Health, 2.0 – Initiative of Health Plan of San Joaquin

Last fall, Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ) moved to help local kids get on the right track with their oral health – starting at birth.

From their participation and discussions with regional dental advocates (and direct experiences with 193,000 HPSJ kids), HPSJ knows that oral health is a major health concern for too many of our youngest county residents.

While HPSJ does not offer dental care (which is covered through the State’s DentiCal Program), the managed care Medi-Cal plan took steps last fall to provide access to in-office, no cost-fluoride treatments for young members. HPSJ also began an ongoing series of trainings for physicians and staff, and is working to support practice regimens that make good oral health an important, ongoing component of office visits for young patients.

Now HPSJ has launched a social marketing

SUMMER 2016

effort, in English and Spanish, that is up and running on outdoor advertising, social media and radio spots in San Joaquin County.

Shots for Health – It’s Now the Law in California

As parents and patients are exposed to a wide range of viewpoints about vaccines and vaccine safety, HPSJ is helping spread the word to San Joaquin County practices about practical ways to start the vaccine discussion with families.

More than ever before, families have questions, and perhaps concerns.

The following may help physicians and practice staffs guide the discussion – 1.

Take time to listen.

2.

Validate their concerns.

3.

Be flexible.

4.

Direct them to reliable resources.

5.

Balance risks and benefits.

6.

Use a “heart and head” approach. You are more likely

SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN

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Do you know What, When and How to Report Child Abuse?

FREE ONLINE COURSE! Course developed by the Child Abuse Prevention Center





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

Approved for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Approved for 1.25 CE credits

ALL healthcare providers (MD, DO, RN, PhD, LCSW, MSW) are encouraged to take this valuable course! 

Course available 24/7

Pre-register NOW at: 28

SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN

http://www.imq.org/education/caprrc.aspx SUMMER 2016

In The News

IN THE

NEWS to reach parents at an emotional level, by sharing personal anecdotes of patients with preventable diseases, or stories from your family. Personal stories can be powerful motivators.

Get more information about Shots for Health at www.jpsj.com/providers.

Medical Assistants can also get practical tips on vaccine safety by visiting the California Immunization Coalition’s website, at http://eziz.org/assets/docs/ IMM-1016.pdf.

American College of Physicians Honors San Joaquin General Hospital Resident Physician

San Joaquin General Hospital Internal Medicine resident Reza Goshtaseb, M.D. has been honored by the National American College of Physicians for his written poster, “Saving Two Million Neurons per Minute, a Resident Run System-Based Approach to Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke in a Community-based Hospital.” In 2014, the Internal Medicine Residency Program led a multidisciplinary team comprised of IM residents and faculty, ED staff, EMS staff, radiology and teleneurology service and was able to significantly improve the quality of stroke care through our new collective system-based practice. Dr. Goshtaseb is a practicing medicine resident at San Joaquin General Hospital under the guidance of Internal Medicine Department Chair and

SUMMER 2016

Program Director, Dr. Mohsen Saadat.

The young physician will travel to Washington D.C. in May and be judged as a national finalist at the American College of Physicians 2016 National Meeting in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The American College of Physicians (ACP) is a national organization of internist Reza Goshtaseb, MD physicians and specialists who strive to apply the world’s highest level of scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across a wide spectrum from daily health to complex illness. “This recognition by the national ACP demonstrates the dedication of our resident internists and their academic excellence while under our guidance. Our hope is to develop medical professionals that resemble the best of what the future of internal medicine holds,” said Steven Weinberger, M.D., F.A.C.P., Exec V.P. and C.E.O. of the ACP.

SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN

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In The News

IN THE

NEWS San Joaquin General Hospital Receives Prestigious Baby-Friendly Designation

San Joaquin General Hospital is the 81st hospital in California to receive the coveted international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility. This international designation was established in 1991 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to recognize hospitals and maternity facilities in 152 countries around the world that offer exceptional breastfeeding support and care for both mother and infant in the maternity setting. Becoming a Baby-Friendly facility is a comprehensive journey toward excellence in providing evidence-based maternity care with the goal of achieving optimal infant feeding outcomes and mother /baby bonding. Currently there are only 344 Baby-Friendly designated hospitals in the United States.

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) guides hospitals in giving new mothers the information, confidence, and skills necessary to successfully breastfeed their babies. San Joaquin General Hospital worked for ten years to achieve the official Baby-Friendly designation, revising longstanding maternity policies and procedures and providing extensive education to physicians, nurses, and ancillary hospital and prenatal clinic staff members. The process concluded with a rigorous two day on-site survey by a team from Baby-Friendly

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USA, the US authority for implementation of the BFHI. “We are very proud of our maternity and OB staff for achieving this most worthwhile award and recognition” said David Culberson, C.E.O. San Joaquin General Hospital. “We have very diverse communities that we serve and our maternity staff has been at the forefront of achieving the highest levels of infant care”.

Alvaro Garza, MD, MPH, San Joaquin County Health Officer, cites how strong hospital support for breastfeeding impacts the community’s health.

“Breastfeeding provides long-term health benefits for both mothers and babies. It reduces a mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, obesity, diabetes, and cardiac disease and reduces an infant’s risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, asthma, SIDS, and some childhood cancers.”

Available Space to Lease for Medical Office:

For Medical office in Weber Ranch Professional park, 1801 East March Lane, Stockton, CA; call today at 209-951-8830 or 951-8395; 1367 sq. ft. fully finished ready to move in with 4 exam rooms, Doctor’s Chamber with separate bath room. Manager’s room, work station for MAs, Patient’s bath room, storage room, and Reception (waiting room).

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Borton Petrini, LLP Bakersfield Business Ticke c o n f e r e n c e goi ts are n Saturday, October 8, 2016 CSUB Campus 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

g fas

t!

Over 40 nationally known speakers & entertainers including:

Dr. Ben Carson

Rick Perry

Bobby Jindal

Bill Richardson

Kevin McCarthy

Herman Cain

Ann Romney

Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Laura Ingraham

Hugh Hewitt

Col. Allen West

Ann Coulter

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Diane Keaton

Vicki Lawrence

Lou Holtz

Chubby Checker

Cal Thomas

Antonio Villaraigosa

James Carville

Over 15 separate venues including the Main Tent, Business Tent, “How-To” Tent, Ice Cream Pavilion, Beer & Wine Garden, Sports Tent, Olympic Pavilion, Farmers Market, Stars & Stripes Arcade, amusement rides, honkey-tonk, picnic & concert stage & more.

Concludes with evening picnic, concert starring legend Chubby Checker & firework spectacular.

For more information on ticket purchases call (661) 371-2204 or visit www.bakersfieldbusinessconference.com SUMMER 2016

SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN

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San Joaquin Medical Society and CMA Members Enjoy: Vast CMA Resources:

Serving the counties of San Joaquin, Calaveras, Alpine, and Amador

“My Membership provides me a Voice in Sacramento and Washington DC.” Thomas McKenzie, MD

• • • • • • •

Contract Analysis Reimbursement Hotline Legal Hotline Legislative Hotline HIPAA Compliance Free Monthly Webinars on various topics Extensive Online Resources including over 200 letters, agreements, forms, etc.

• Plus – Free Legal Advice with CMA ON-CALL Documents

San Joaquin Medical Society Resources: • • • • • • • • • • •

DocBookMD phone app Annual Directory Free CME Seminars Cost Saving Benefits Quarterly Publication Website/Online Resources Insurance Savings Alliance Membership Annual Social Events Patient Referrals Office Manager Forum and Practice Resources

Your Membership Investment supports our Advocacy efforts on your behalf in Sacramento and Washington DC

Phone: (209) 952-5299

www.sjcms.org

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SUMMER 2016

The

Lifecycle

of Legislation

FROM

IDEA INTO LAW

The California Medical Association (CMA) is the largest, most influential medical organization in California, and an aggressive advocate for doctors and patients. CMA relies on the involvement of its members to communicate the physician vision of medical care to the public, to lawmakers and to the regulators who determine how medicine is practiced.

An idea is born: Ideas for new health policy are born in a number of places. One of them is in the hearts and minds of the physicians of California. CMA members can directly influence the association’s health care advocacy agenda by submitting a resolution for consideration to the CMA House of Delegates.

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California Medical Association > The Lifecycle of Legislation

CMA TAKES A POSITION: Each year, with physician input, CMA monitors more than 500 bills and takes a public position on around 200 bills. Those positions include watch, support, oppose, support if amended and oppose unless amended. CMA also may choose to sponsor or co-sponsor legislation that is of critical importance to the physicians of California.

CMA POLICY IS ESTABLISHED: Resolutions are assigned to councils and subcommittees for study and development, then opened up for discussion by your physician colleagues before recommendations are developed for action by the CMA Board of Trustees. Many of CMA’s sponsored bills have their genesis in an idea submitted by our physician members. While not all CMA policies result in direct legislative action, they are used to guide CMA’s positions on the hundreds of health care bills that are introduced into the State Legislature each year.

BILLS ARE INTRODUCED: The California Legislature operates on a two‐year session. Each year, primarily in January and February, bills are introduced by lawmakers for consideration. The governor may also call a special session of the Legislature to deal with specific subjects.

BILLS MOVE THROUGH THE PROCESS: If a bill is to become law, it must be passed out of one or more committees, approved by a simple majority of both houses, and signed by the governor. Laws ordinarily take effect on January 1 of the following year. Briefly, a bill progresses through the following steps: 1. A bill is introduced.

2. The bill is heard in one or more committees in its house of origin (either Senate or Assembly), including public testimony.

3. If the bill passes out of committee(s), it goes to the house floor for a vote. If it passes out of the house, it is sent to the other house for consideration following the same process described above.

4. If approved by both houses, the bill goes to the governor for signing. 5. The governor has three choices: sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his or her signature, or veto it. A governor’s veto can be overridden by a twothirds vote in both houses.

CMA MONITORS AND PROTECTS PHYSICIAN INTERESTS: CMA’s powerful government relations team works tirelessly with legislators to educate them on how legislation could enhance or threaten patients’ health or physicians’ ability to practice medicine. Their activities include reading and tracking bills and amendments, shaping bill language, meeting with legislators, testifying in committee, conducting research, and preparing policy papers and position letters. Every year, CMA not only supports and shapes the development of valuable health care policy, but the association also stops a number of harmful legislative proposals.

For more information on CMA’s legislative advocacy, and how you can get involved, visit www.cmanet.org.

CMA also publishes a “Legislative Hot List” during the legislative session, which provides a summary and the current status of CMA-sponsored bills, as well as the progress of other significant legislation. To subscribe, visit www.cmanet.org/newsletters.

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SUMMER 2016

Committed to improving access to health care 2015 Health Careers Scholarship Program

Linda Zaro and Maddison Simmons Health Careers Academy High School Stockton United School Disctrict

Daniela Pantoja and Margarito Meza

Scholarship presented by Dr. Lakshmi Dhanvanthari (left) San Joaquin Medical Society Decision Medicine Program

Corina Huey and Alondra Cruz-Gallegos

Health Careers Academy at Grace M. Davis High School Modesto City Schools

Last year, Health Plan of San Joaquin awarded 14 students from our community with funding to help them pursue an education in medicine through our Health Careers Scholarship Program.

Working with local high schools and nursing programs, as well as San Joaquin Medical Society’s Decision Medicine Program, our hope is that students will pursue their passion for medicine and become part of the solution for expanding access to health care in the communites we serve.

C

www.hpsj.com

888.896.PLAN (7526)

E B R A T I E L N

G

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SUMMER 2016

BY JAMES NOONAN

The Path Through For more than 10,000 people, the path through life has begun in the delivery room with Dr. Patricia Hatton. Her own path through life is one that has been influenced by faith, family and community.

“

Life

“

The paths I’ve taken throughout life have all been very non-traditional. I give all the credit to God for being in my life and showing me where I should be going.

Lifetime Achievemnt Award > Dr. Patricia Hatton

For more than 10,000 people born in the Stockton area, the first face they saw in life was that of their delivering physician - Dr. Patricia Hatton.

Impacting so many lives in such a tremendous fashion is a major accomplishment, one that has played a major role in Hatton being named the San Joaquin Medical Society’s 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

For more than 10,000 people born in the Stockton area, the first face they saw in life was that of their delivering physician - Dr. Patricia Hatton.

For Hatton, the recognition is an honor, but the credit for her accomplishments, she insists, rests solely with God. “The paths I’ve taken throughout life have all been very non-traditional,” she said. “I give all the credit to God for being in my life and showing me where I should be going.”

Hatton’s path began in Wallis, Texas, a small town roughly an hour west of Houston. Since childhood, her direction through life has largely been guided by a single piece of advice offered up by her grandmother.

“She always told me to put God first,” Hatton said.

“From there, you could do anything you wanted to do, but you had to make sure you put Him first.”

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More than anything else, that single piece of advice has guided and shaped Hatton’s life, and the trust that she has placed in God’s plan for her has helped bring about one of the region’s more impressive medical careers.

As a young girl, Hatton found herself drawn to math and science coursework in school, and after graduating high school, she went on to continue her studies at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas.

Throughout high school, and even the early years of her undergraduate career, Hatton has set her mind on a career in nursing, noting that she had a familiar connection to the profession through her aunt, and that the field paired well with her interests in math and science. That path would soon turn, however, setting her on the course toward the career in which she finds herself today.

During her sophomore year of college, Hatton took part in a program put on by the University of Texas intended to recruit students to medical school. The role of physician struck Hatton as a good fit, and two short years later, she was starting her medical education at the University of Texas at Galveston.

“Again, my path to the field was somewhat untraditional,” she notes.

During her year of rotations in medical school, Hatton was exposed to yet another good fit.

“During rotation, you find something that you really enjoy and you absorb yourself in the field. For me, it was

SUMMER 2016

gynecology,” she said. “It was such an active discipline. You could do medicine, you could do pediatrics, you could do surgery. It was almost as if it has all the disciplines in one.”

After medical school, Hatton’s path would take her from Texas to California’s far-off Central Valley,

When I started my practice in 1980, I worked twenty four, seven. I didn’t want to miss any of my patients’ deliveries, so I worked to be there for all of them. Looking back, I enjoyed every minute of it.

as she accepted a residency slot at San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp.

The change of scenery, she notes, was a welcome one.

“San Joaquin County was new and different,” she said. “I was ready for something new and different after four grueling years in medical school.”

After settling in with her new community, Hatton began to appreciate Stockton and the surrounding areas for more than just the change of pace they provided from east Texas.

“Stockton is a community that is very open to many things,” she said. “If you have the fortitude and the belief, you can accomplish just about anything you want here.”

With her residency completed, Hatton began her practice in 1980, beginning a career that would eventually lead to that vaunted benchmark of having delivered more than 10,000 babies. Asked

SUMMER 2016

“

“

about the milestone, Hatton noted that she couldn’t pinpoint the exact delivery that put her over the threshold, but, given her work habits during the years of solo practice, was all but certain it had been achieved.

“I’m sort of a workaholic,”

Hatton joked. “When I started my practice in 1980, I worked twenty four, seven. I didn’t want to miss any of my patients’ deliveries, so I worked to be there for all of them.

Looking back, I enjoyed every minute of it.”

Over the course of her career, Hatton’s path eventually led her toward organized medicine, specifically the San Joaquin Medical Society. Joining in 1981, Hatton would go on to serve a variety of committees within the society, including the committees on Family Planning, Legislation, Public Health and Medical Review.

In 1994, after time spent on the executive board and as treasurer, she rose to the society’s top level of leadership, when she was elected president of the SJMS. To this day, she can still speak volumes about the importance of physician involvement in organized medicine.

“As physicians, we do not spend

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Please join us for the

Annual Membership Dinner honoring our

2016 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

PATRICIA HATTON, MD Young Physician Award, Issa Fakhouri, MD S U N D AY, J U N E 1 2 , 2 0 1 6 Cocktail Reception 6:00pm | Dinner 7:00pm

S TO C K TO N G O L F & C O U N T RY C LU B 3800 Country Club Boulevard | Stockton, California Member Physicians and Spouse/Guest – $35 per person Non-Members and Invited Guests – $60 per person

Additionally, we will honor the passing of the gavel from John Zeiter, MD to Kwabena Adubofour, MD

If you would like to attend this event, please call in your reservation to the Medical Society: (209) 952-5299 before June 3

PREMIER LEVEL SPONSORS

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SUMMER 2016

Lifetime Achievemnt Award > Dr. Patricia Hatton

training, education, charity and technical assistance to the local community. One of the corporation’s areas of focus is that of youths and seniors, which are serviced through “The Rock,” a youth and senior center sponsored by the non-profit. Hatton herself provides in-person tutoring to local students at The Rock. Hatton is also active in the local faith-based community as a member of Stockton Central United Methodist Church.

While all of these various organizations and communities have had a hand in shaping the course of Hatton’s career, when it comes time to recognize those who have made the biggest difference in her life, Hatton circles back to where it all began – her family.

“Everyone. My grandmother, my mother, my entire family,” she said. “Everyone one of them has given some level of insight and support.”

Now, looking If you put God first, there’s going to be a lot of valleys and a back on a career that has touched lot of deserts, but you’re going to come out ahead,” she said. so many, Hatton “Everywhere I’ve been and everything I’ve done, at least fondly remembers the advice from her I’ve had that foundation to go on. I want to leave that to my grandmother that has grandchildren. If they do that, I’ve got nothing to worry about. so deeply touched her.

“If you put God first, there’s going to nearly enough time in the community, sharing our desires, our wants, be a lot of valleys and a lot of deserts, but our needs and our concerns,” she said. “How can you do your best you’re going to come out ahead,” she said. for a patient if you have laws that are fighting against your goal of “Everywhere I’ve been and everything improving a patient’s quality of life? We cannot practice in a vacuum.”

I’ve done, at least I’ve had that foundation Throughout her career, Hatton has stood as an advocate for the to go on. I want to leave that to my profession on numerous levels, including as an advocate for statewide grandchildren. If they do that, I’ve got change as a delegate to the California Medical Association. nothing to worry about.”

“If you want to make change, you have to get involved. You have to be a voice out there,” she said. “If you don’t, you can be placed behind barriers where you find your hands to be tied.”

In addition to giving back to her profession, Hatton has spent a good deal of time giving back to her community, as well.

For years, she’s served as a leader within the Ebenezer Economic Development Corporation, a non-profit that seeks to provide

SUMMER 2016

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41

INCOMING CALLS:

PRESSES

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PRESSES

Use State-of-the-Art Lumivascular Technology to Treat Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

LUMIVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY: TWO IS BETTER THAN ONE! • Enhanced technology allows physicians to treat patients with PAD in a minimally invasive way, resulting in quick recovery time • Ocelot maneuvers through totally blocked arteries in the legs using an integrated “camera” to see from inside the artery • Pantheris allows for removal of plaque with unprecedented precision using an innovative image-guided therapy

Dameron Hospital is the first hospital in Sacramento, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties to provide its community with these state-of-the-art technologies.

Ocelot Pantheris

SUMMER 2016

“With the lumivascular technology system, we now have the means to help patients with PAD get on the road to recovery and better health.These two state-of-the-art medical technologies are just two more ways Dameron is enhancing their treatment capabilities with a goal of bringing better outcomes to patients and empowering physicians in their practice.” –Dr. Daren Primack, Dameron Hospital Medical Director for Peripheral Vascular Program

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LUMIVASCULAR TECHNOLOGY AT DAMERON HOSPITAL, Call Our Physician Outreach Liaison at 209-715-3618.

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SUMMER 2016

Safeguard Practice Reputation from

Negative Online

Publicity Physician’s and dentist’s personal interests and opinions can sometimes expose their practices to unwanted attention, particularly with the rate information travels today. For example, the recent negative publicity surrounding a Minnesota dentist whose hunting

pastime made worldwide news, resulted in backlash that disrupted his practice.

The overwhelming negative attention led to shutting down his professional social media accounts, practice website and the doors to his practice during this frenzy. >>

Dustin Shaver - Vice President, Risk Management at NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company

SUMMER 2016

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NORCAL > Negative Online Publicity

The flood of negative comments online, directed at him personally, now sit side by side with reviews of his professional ability on third-party rating and review websites. This may be an extreme scenario, but it does illustrate the power of how online reviews and commentary can affect a physician and his or her practice. Because of this, proactive steps should be taken by health care providers to safeguard their practice from negative online publicity or comments that may occur. Recommended considerations include: • Set up your own practice website where you can manage the content and control your message you want to share with the community. Work with your group administrator or medical director as necessary.

Proactive steps should be taken by health care providers to safeguard their practice from negative online publicity or comments that may occur.

• Maintain separate professional and personal profiles.

• Develop a social media plan for your practice. Internet search your name periodically. Consider having a designated, trained individual who responds quickly and tactfully to reviews and comments when warranted.

Comply with privacy laws.

• Periodically check rating websites for yourself or your practice to identify any specific issue or trends that you can proactively address.

• Provide an office satisfaction survey. If appropriate, use positive information you have gathered in your marketing and social media campaign. Negative information should be evaluated objectively and addressed appropriately.

Physicians and dentists can quickly become public figures, so it is important to consider using privacy

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controls and setting boundaries between personal and professional online profiles. Physicians and dentists who choose to respond in writing to reviews should consider moving the discussion to a private forum with a response like, “I’m sorry you had that experience. I’d like to discuss it with you. Please contact my office.” Avoid using patient identifiers or revealing any protected health information, of course.

It is important to have measures in place for how to respond to negative comments online. Here are a few steps you can take: • Do not respond immediately or impulsively. Take time to consider the comment, reflect on why the individual felt compelled to post and decide if it is even worthy of response. Not all negative comments are worthy of your time to respond. Engaging someone may start a chain reaction of negative commentary and potentially may aggravate the situation.

• If you feel the information is untrue, inappropriate or simply meant to be provocative, try contacting the Internet website administrator. Since rating sites have content guidelines, the administrator may remove information that violates the site’s terms.

• Honestly look at yourself and the way you practice in light of the reviews (good or bad). Maybe the reviews will have useful information, maybe they won’t. You won’t know unless you read them and consider them with an open mind.

As social websites continue to increase in popularity, physicians and dentists need to understand the potential backlash if their responses are not well received by the general public or the individual in question. It is wise to have a strategy in place to help prevent a scenario that could lead to irreparable harm to your reputation. NORCAL Mutual has a team of risk management specialists available to assist policyholders with the assessment of their practice and to help identify any potential pitfalls that may arise.

SUMMER 2016

SUMMER 2016

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In-home care that constantly gets better.

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Join us next year in beautiful San Diego for the 20th Annual Western Health Care Leadership Academy!

(800) 795-2262 westernleadershipacademy.com

SUMMER 2016

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WEBINARS

EDUCATION •

SEMINARS

•

PODCASTS

•

AND MORE

DID YOU KNOW? CMA offers free webinars to its members Through its robust webinar series, CMA gives physicians and their staff the opportunity to watch live presentations on important topics of interest and interact with practice management, legal and financial experts, to name a few, from the comfort of their homes or offices. The webinars are free to CMA members and members’ staff and provide the timely information needed to help run a successful medical practice. What’s more, all webinars are available on-demand immediately following the live airing, providing an ever-growing resource library accessible at any time.

How to Increase Workers’ Compensation Revenue JUNE

8

JUNE

22

June 8, 2016 | 12:15pm - 1:15pm Workers’ compensation payors can substantially reduce your revenue in two ways: by systematically downcoding evaluation and management codes and by paying the wrong reimbursement due per California’s Official Medical Fee Schedule. To combat downcoding and incorrect reimbursements, this webinar explains how to easily appeal these reduced payments. This webinar will also provide the correct reimbursements for popular CPT codes and break down the new mandated appeal process into easy step-by-step instructions.

DMHC IMR and Other Complaint Processes: Tips and Best Practices for Physicians June 22, 2016 | 12:15pm - 1:15pm

The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), the regulatory agency that oversees 122 health plans, will provide an overview of the department, with a focus on the DMHC Help Center.

The webinar will also cover the DMHC Independent Medical Review (IMR) and complaint processes, discussing the importance of the IMR and complaint processes in the policy, legislative and regulatory arenas and providing information on how to submit the IMR/ complaint form to the DMHC Help Center. It will also provide tips and best practices for assisting patients with access to care or billing issues, including denials of care, and will include an overview of the provider complaint unit.

JUNE

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California Healthcare Performance Initiative (CHPI) Physician Quality Rating Program: Navigating the Review and Corrections Process June 29, 2016 | 12:15pm - 1:15pm

Last year CHPI issued clinical quality ratings for 15,000 California physicians. Later this year, CHPI will publish its second cycle of physician quality scores and physicians will begin receiving notices of their quality scores. This webinar will provide an overview of the CHPI quality rating project, along with instructions on how physicians can review their data for accuracy before the quality scores are published.

PRESENTER: Sarah Moray’s broad experience in workers’ compensation and medical billing spans over 12 years, ranging from ground level experience in medical practices, to consulting, to co-founding DaisyBill.

PRESENTER: Mary Watanabe is the Deputy Director of Health Policy and Stakeholder Relations at the Department of Managed Health Care, where she serves as primary advisor to the Director on critical issues and providing strategic planning and policy direction on emerging issues and industry trends.

PRESENTER: Emily London is a project manager at the Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH), where she manages communications for the Multi-Payer Claims Database project.

REGISTER ONLINE TODAY! WWW.CMANET.ORG/EVENTS

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*Webinars are free for CMA members and their staff ($99 for non-members).

SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN

SUMMER 2016

Public Health

Update

SUPPORTIVE CAPABILITIES Assessment (Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity) Emergency Preparedness and Response Public Information and Communication Policy Development and Support (e.g. Accreditation) Community Partnership Development

A Year of Public Health Practice, San Joaquin County Alvaro Garza, MD, MPH

What is public health practice? Many people might still answer that it is health care for the poor. My standard answer is that it is about tending to the health of the public. This article reviews key aspects of public health in the county.

Why would the public want to be healthy? Healthy people make for happier, more productive, and thriving communities; and, our health is very much inter-dependent and highly inf luenced by our social,

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physical, and other public environments.

Public health work is about preventing disease and injury, promoting health and well-being, and protecting from hazards to health. In general terms, the mission of public health in San Joaquin County is to promote a healthy future for all residents. The widely accepted definition, from the Institute of Medicine, is that public health is what we, as a society (county, in our case), do to ensure conditions in which everyone can be healthy.

SUMMER 2016

Clearly, a public health department (little public health) cannot, on its own, ensure such conditions. That relies on the big public health system, i.e., the collaboration between and among many partners.

These include health care providers and facilities, education agencies, employers and businesses, county and city departments like fire, sheriff, planning, transportation, and parks, community-based organizations, and elected officials. This last group is most health-impactful when considering health in all policies.

The ‘how’ of public health practice is analogous to medical practice. While a healthcare provider deals with many individuals, we deal with many ‘publics’, e.g., county, cities, zip codes; age-groups, gender groups, race/ethnic groups, etc.

While a provider assesses the health or disease condition of a patient, we assess and monitor the health of communities. While a provider determines and agrees with a patient on treatment regimens, we work with communities to determine and agree on policies, programs or other interventions to address the collective health issues. While a provider assures a treatment regimen is carried out, we assure that public health laws are enforced and that policies or programs are implemented and are effective.

In 2012, the Institute of Medicine recommended a minimum package of public health services that should be available in all jurisdictions. This package includes foundational areas of expertise (or programs), and foundational capabilities that support the programs (Figure 2). The following paragraphs review a few highlights in these foundational services in our county in 2015.

SUMMER 2016

Clinical labs and healthcare providers reported nearly 9,900 cases of communicable diseases that required some level of analysis. This represents a 30% increase over the number reported in 2014. Chlamydia and gonorrhea account for about 50% of the reports. The county experienced an outbreak of Shigella sonnei that produce shiga toxin, a new phenomenon.

Syphilis has made a resurgence, with 129 infectious cases plus 6 infants born with syphilis. This is five-fold more infectious syphilis than just seven years ago, when 25 cases were reported.

TB continues to be a major health issue with 58 cases of TB disease reported and managed, giving us the sixth highest incidence rate of California counties.

We continue to make progress in reducing tobacco smoking: the San Joaquin Regional Transit District implemented a smoke-free policy for all bus stop environments. Providing and installing several hundred child car seats has surely helped to prevent injuries. Working with many partners in the county, we received a grant to implement evidence-based prevention strategies to address chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

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We assisted two of six maternity hospitals in the county with adoption and implementation of breastfeeding model hospital policies to achieve “Baby-Friendly” designation as defined by the international WHO/UNICEF criteria. Public health nurses made nearly 1,600 home visits for services to pregnant and parenting women, helping improve the health outcomes for mothers and infants. The nutritional-services based Women, Infants and Children program averaged 10,000 participants per month.

The Public Health clinic provided over 16,400 patient visits for sexuallytransmitted diseases, TB infection management, and immunizations. The California Children’s Services provided about 3600 new referrals for assistance with food, housing, medical equipment and supplies, transportation and access to care. Public health nurses provided health care oversight of the physical, behavioral, dental, and developmental needs of over 1,500 children in foster care.

The public health lab provided services countywide and for eight other counties. We provided training for many community-based organizations in personal, family, and community emergency preparedness and response.

We developed and disseminated information to the healthcare provider and larger communities on a variety of public health issues of importance for awareness and/or response.

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Just like hospitals require accreditation, public health departments are now voluntarily getting accredited nationally. We’re in that several year process now, developing a performance management and quality

improvement system, a community health assessment, a community health improvement plan, and a strategic plan, with critical assistance from our many partners.

In 2016, we continue to work towards ensuring conditions in which all our residents can be healthy, where opportunities are such that the healthy choice is the easy choice for everyone, every day, everywhere. That calls for continuing and enhancing collaborations with our many partners, with healthcare providers being key.

SUMMER 2016

David L. Eibling M.D.

Harjit Sud, M.D. Eugenia L. Hurlbut, D.O. Linda Col iflower, RNC, NP Wil iam Col iflower, M.D. Catherine Mathis, M.D. Jacqualin Mil er, D.O. Kayla D. Map s, M.D. Chikanele E. Okorie, M.D. Lynet e Bird, R.N., B.S.N. Vicki Pat erson-Lambert, R.N.PC.

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PRENATAL & POSTPARTUM CARE • HIGH RISK PREGNANCY • INFERTILITY • INVITRO FERTILIZATION GYNECOLOGY • ENDOMETRIOSIS • URINARY INCONTINENCE • OVARIAN CYSTIC DISORDER • LAPAROSCOPY HYSTEROSCOPY • DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OF CERVICAL, UTERINE, OVARIAN CANCERS • ROBOTIC SURGERY

Param K. Gill, M.D.

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Jasbir S. Gill, M.D.

Les is more with minimal y invasive Robotic Surgery!

David L. Eibling M.D.

Harjit Sud, M.D.

Eugenia L. Hurlbut, D.O.

Manteca: 1234 E. North St., Ste. 102 – Ph. (209) 824-2 02 Thomas Streeter, M.D.

Maya Nambisan, M.D.

Darrell R. Burns, M.D.

Tonja Harris-Stansil, M.D.

Linda Bouchard, M.D.

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Linda Colliflower, RNC, NP

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William Colliflower, M.D.

Catherine Mathis, M.D.

Jacqualin Miller, D.O.

Kayla D. Mapps, M.D.

2509 W. March Lane, Ste. 250 - Ph. (209) 957-1000 Lodi: 999 S. Fairmont Ave., Ste. 225 & 230 – Ph. (209) 334-4924 • Galt: (209) 745-7473 Jackson: 817 Court St., Ste. 8, Jackson, CA 95642 – Ph. (209) 223-1031

SUMMER 2016

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Maria E. Escalona, M.D.

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Chikanele E. Okorie, M.D.

Convenient locations to serve you Stockton: 1617 N. California St., Ste. 2A – Ph. (209) 466-8546

Manteca: 1234 E. North St., Ste. 102 – Ph. (209) 824-2202

Philip D. Ross, M.D.

Lynette Bird, R.N., B.S.N.

Vicki Patterson-Lambert, R.N.P.C.

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The California Breastfeeding Coalition has recognized San Joaquin General Hospital for their prestigious Baby-Friendly Hospital Designation. The “Baby-Friendly” designation is a global symbol of world-class maternity care. San Joaquin General Hospital has now been inducted into the California Breastfeeding Coalition’s Golden Circle of California Baby-Friendly Hospitals. Both The California Breastfeeding Coalition and San Joaquin General champion the vision that there will be no barriers to breastfeeding education for a healthier California.

A financial safety net for you—

AND THE ONES YOU LOVE 10- AND 20-YEAR LEVEL TERM LIFE No matter where you are in life, SJMS Group Level Term Life Insurance benefits can be an affordable solution to help meet your family’s financial protection needs.

Mercer and SJMS leveraged the buying power of your fellow members to secure dependable and affordable life insurance benefits at competitive premiums from ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, a member of the Voya® family of companies.

With quality life insurance benefits extended at competitive rates, you’ll rest easy knowing you’ve provided coverage for your loved ones through the Group 10-Year and 20-Year Level Term Life Plans.

As a member, you can conveniently help protect your family’s financial future with the Group 10-Year and 20-Year Level Term Life Plan.

It features: • Benefits up to $1,000,000 • Rates that are designed to remain level for 10 or 20 full years* • Benefit amounts that never change during the level term period provided premiums are paid when due

See For Yourself: Get more information about your Group 10-Year and 20-Year Level Term Life Plans, including eligibility, benefits, premium rates, exclusions and limitations, and termination provisions by visiting www.CountyCMAMemberInsurance.com or by calling 800-842-3761.

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Underwritten by: ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, a member of the Voya® family of companies 75554 (6/16) Copyright 2016 Mercer LLC. All rights reserved.

Mercer Health & Benefits Insurance Services LLC • CA Insurance License #0G39709 777 S. Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017 • 800-842-3761 • CMACounty.insurance.service@mercer.com • www.CountyCMAMemberInsurance.com * The initial premium will not change for the first 10 or 20 years unless the insurance company exercises its right to change premium rates for all insureds covered under the group policy with 60 days’ advance written notice.

The County Medical Associations & Societies receive sponsorship fees for insurance programs that offset the cost of program oversight and support member benefits and services.

SUMMER 2016

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practice manager Free to SJMS/CMA Members!

resources

The Office Manager’s Forum empowers physicians and their medical staff with valuable tools via expert led educational sessions from industry professionals who are committed to delivering quality health care.

For more than 130 years, the San Joaquin Medical Society (SJMS) has been at the forefront of current medicine, providing its physician’s and their staff with assistance and valuable practice resources. SJMS is proud to offer the Office Manager’s Forum, a monthly educational seminar designed to enhance the healthcare environment with professional development opportunities while providing solutions to some of the challenges that come from managing a practice.

Attendees gain knowledge on a broad array of topics related to the field of medical staff services, office management, billing and coding, human resources, accounting and back office support.

The Office Manager’s Forum is held on the second Wednesday of each month from 11:00AM – 1:00PM at Papapavlo’s in Stockton and includes a complimentary lunch. Attendance is always FREE to our members. Non-members are welcome and may attend for one month at no cost to experience one of the quality benefits that comes with Society Membership ($35.00 thereafter). Registration required.

For more information or to be added to the mailing list email Jessica Peluso, SJMS Membership Coordinator, at Jessica@SJCMS.org or call (209) 952-5299.

JUNE 8TH 2016:

“MAKE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE EASY!” 11:00AM to 1:00PM

JULY 13TH 2016:

NO PRESENTATION DUE TO FACILITATING OUR DECISION MEDICINE PROGRAM!

SJMS members can easily manage regulatory compliance for your entire practice and avoid risking hefty fines through EnviroPortal™, a one-stop online regulatory compliance solution for OSHA, HIPAA, and licensing board requirements that includes personalized MSDS and Safety manuals, required signs & labels, labor posters, a complete library of online training videos, various compliance templates and tracking tools. Pricing for SJMS members with 1-10 staff is only $29/month (compared to $59-$99 for nonmembers).

Also, Are you paying too much for medical waste disposal? SJMS’s endorsed vendor, Enviromerica, can meet all of your practice’s medical waste collection needs with a guaranteed savings for new clients of at least 30% off your current fees.

You don’t want to miss this informative, and even better yet, COST SAVING presentation!

Julian Goduci- CEOEnviromerica~ EnviroMerica, Inc. has provided health care facilities with Regulatory Compliance, and Regulated Medical Waste services for over 16 years. They specialize in compliance with OSHA, HIPAA, and requirements for DHHS, OCR, EPA, DTSC, Medical and Dental Boards, and Insurance companies.

AUGUST 10TH 2016:

“EVOLUTION OF THE CARE DELIVERY MODEL” 11:00AM to 1:00PM For the independent, entrepreneurial medical provider to be successful, it will take agility, costeffectiveness and a willingness to develop new and unique partnerships. The independent practice is being bombarded from all sides: from rising costs and declining reimbursement, to changing regulations and the increasing complexities of administering the business side of medicine. The pressures to consolidate due to the industry evolution has independent practices seeking innovative ways to secure their autonomy into the future. Recent research indicates that nearly 75% of independent practitioners wish to remain so, the challenge revolves around adapting their business practices to ensure that potential.

Irv Barnett, MBA – Founder. Irv has been in health

ARE YOU READING CPR? CPR contains the latest in Practice Management Resources, Updates and Information.

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Sign up now for a free subscription to our e-mail bulletin, at www.cmanet.org/news/cpr

care management since 1986. He spent the last 19 years serving physicians throughout California. He has served as the President of California MGMA and has been a featured speaker at meetings around the country. Providing exceptional leadership around value-driven practice management techniques, Irv helps practices prepare for the future!

SEPTEMBER 14TH 2016: TBD

eMR implementation can be hard.

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We guide our clients through every critical step and our process ensures improved operational efficiencies, quality of care, and increased practice profits.

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SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN

SUMMER 2016

New Members

19 NEW SJMS MEMBERS!

...and even more on the way.

Mai Le, M.D.

Internal Medicine

Revathy Prasanna Rajah, M.D.

Lee Stenzler, M.D.

Alice Kim, D.O.

27200 Calaroga Ave Hayward, CA 94545

Cardiology

Emergency Medicine

3132 W March Lane Stockton, CA 95219

OB/GYN

7373 West Lane

1801 E March Lane, Ste D400 Stockton, CA 95210

(209) 475-5500 Ho Chi Minh City University of

Stockton, CA 95210 209-476-3737

(209) 464-3615 University of Maryland School of

(510) 264-4026 Touro University College of

Medicine and Pharmacy

University of Colombo, Colombo Sir Lanka

Medicine

Osteopathic Medicine

Jane Shiu, M.D.

Salma Khan, M.D. Radiology

Ambreen Rahman, D.O.

2320 N California St

2100 Powell Street, Suite 920 Emeryville, CA 94608 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic

Zeest Khan, M.D. Anesthesiology

999 S Fairmont Ave, Ste 110

Dermatology

Lodi, CA 95240 (209) 464-9846

7373 West Lane Stockton, CA 95210

Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 466-2000

Rush Medical College

209-476-2166 Loyola University - Stritch School of

Nadeem Tahir-Kheli, M.D.

Aboaba Afilaka, M.D. Occupational Medicine 7373 West Lane Stockton, CA 95210 (209) 476-3694 University of Nigeria, Enugu,

Medicine

Arisara Suwangomolkul, M.D. Nephrology

7373 West Lane

Family Medicine

Emergency Medicine

Medicine

Katherine Shafer, M.D.

1335 S. Fairmont Ave

Emergency Medicine

Lodi, CA 95240

2100 Powell Street, Suite 920

(209) 366-2007Â Sind Medical Coll, University of Karachi

Emeryville, CA 94608 Tufts University School of Medicine

Rheumatology

Rujani Rudrangi, M.D.

Nigeria

Stockton, CA 95210

Amrit Dhanota, M.D.

209-476-5508 Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, School of Medicine

Reza Sepehrdad, M.D.

French Camp, CA 95231 (209) 468-6506

Stockton, CA 95210 (209) 933-1355

Haishan Xu, M.D.

999 S. Fairmont Ave., Ste 130 Lodi, CA 95240

Internal Medicine

(209) 550-3927 New York Med College

Osmania Medical College

Medical University of Lublin

7373 West Lane Stockton, CA 95210

Gauravjit Singh, M.D.

Neurology

Family Medicine

7373 West Lane

Sharif Latif, M.D. Family Medicine

209-476-2080 China Medical University China

Interventional Cardiology

Radiation Oncology

500 W Hospital Rd

Abha Oshtory, M.D. 2626 N California St, Ste I

7373 West Ln

1800 N California Street Stockton, CA 95204

Stockton, CA 95204 (209) 944-5730

Stockton, CA 95210 209-476-2080

(209) 467-6560 University of Vermont College of

U/Bombay Affiliated Medical Colleges

Saba University School of Medicine

Medicine

SUMMER 2016

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SUMMER 2016

In Memoriam

In Memoriam Joseph G. Spracher, MD

JOSEPH G. SPRACHER, MD December 15, 1934- March 1, 2016

Inspired by mentors within the Navy to pursue a medical career after military service, he enrolled at Delta College and then College of the Pacific.

SUMMER 2016

Our dear and loving friend, brother, father and husband, Joseph Spracher departed from our lives on March 1st leaving behind a legacy of tremendous compassion in helping and healing others.

Joseph Spracher was born on December 15, 1934 to parents Danita Dove Lyman and Jay Spracher. He was born in Shelley, Idaho and dubbed “Skipper” by the midwife who delivered him with “Skip” becoming his nickname to longtime friends.

In the summer of 1942, the family left Idaho seeking a healthier climate for his mother in California. Joe attended Stockton High School and graduated at age 16 to begin colorful employment that included selling pots and pans door to door, reclaiming cars as a

repo man and working on the railroad as a gandy dancer.

Joe enlisted in the Navy during the Korean War and was trained as a medical corpsman. After he graduated from corps school in 1955, he married his wife of sixty years Sylvia Weesner, his high school sweetheart.

Inspired by mentors within the Navy to pursue a medical career after military service, he enrolled at Delta College and then College of the Pacific.

At Pacific, Joe was a member of the nationally recognized speech and debate team and completed his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in three years while also working as a psychiatric technician at the Stockton State Hospital to support a growing family.

After graduation he was

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As a member of the San Joaquin Medical Association, you’re privy to an exclusive benefit—Financial Center Credit Union membership for you and your staff !

In a time when the safety and soundness of funds is at the forefront of everyone’s minds, Financial Center membership is the perfect prescription for peace-of-mind. Voted Best Of San Joaquin, Financial Center is the most trusted credit union in the Valley. Time and time again, we offer our members the lowest rates on their loans as well as the safest place to save their money.

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SAN JOAQUIN PHYSICIAN

SUMMER 2016

In Memoriam

accepted into several medical schools but elected to attend Tulane Medical School in New Orleans where he trained and worked endless hours to pursue his dream to become a family medicine physician.

Upon graduation, he returned to Stockton to complete his residency at the San Joaquin County Hospital and then opened a family practice in 1969 where he and his devoted office staff served generations of families until his retirement at age 80 fifty years later.

During those fifty years in Medicine he assumed many leadership roles with Dameron Hospital and with three other physicians opened the first Urgent Care Clinic in San Joaquin County. He was a member of the San Joaquin Medical Society for 50 years.

Always a trailblazer and someone who made a difference, he actively pursued the new field of Sports Medicine where his innovative ideas and handson approach in the care and treatment of athletic injuries was considered groundbreaking. He voluntarily served for 17 years as the team physician for the Lincoln High Trojans followed by serving as the Team Physician for the UOP Football Team.

The Athletic Training Center at Pacific is named in his honor. He was a founding member of the Pacific Athletic Foundation.

While his professional life as a physician and community advocate was all consuming,

SUMMER 2016

he always found time for his four children now grown: Kristen Birtwhistle (Steve), Stacey Jackson (Neil), Suzanne Anderson (Jack) and his son, Joe. He also took great pride in spoiling his seven grandchildren: Nicholas, Niles, Lauren (NJ

Petersen), Connor, Lindsey (Tim David), Gia (Mike Cocolla) and Megan. He also found time for competitive skiing, tennis, traveling, golf and most importantly reading!

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SUMMER SPRING2016 2016

STOCKTON MRI & Molecular Imaging Medical Center, Inc. 2320 N. California Street • Stockton, CA 95204 PHONE 209-466-2000 • Fax 209-466-2600 w w w. s toc k ton m ri . com

The Most Advanced and Comprehensive Medical Imaging Center in San Joaquin County Just Got Better with the Addition of the Central Valley’s only 128 Multislice CT Scanner with Lowest Radiation Dose Imaging Services Include: • The first PET-CT since 2003 • Full service of Nuclear Medicine • Most advanced G. E. High Field MRI (1.5 Tesla) • Full service of Digital Radiography and Fluoroscopy • New GE Logic 9e 3D & 4D Ultrasound Unit • 128 Slice Siemens CT Scanner

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San Joaquin Medical Society 3031 W. March Lane, Suite 222W Stockton, California 95219-6568

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