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Our Locations
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(Jamboree & MacArthur)
(Imperial Hwy & Yorba Linda)
(corner Thalia & Glenneyre)
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Men's Health is a Family Affair
Thousands of men lose their lives each year to preventable health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and smoking-related deaths.
 Screening tests are one of the most important things that men can do for their health.
Ladies, you often "coordinate" the healthcare for everyone in your family. The next time you schedule the children's well-child check or school physical, how about a CBC or complete physical for good old dad? If you're scheduling your well-woman visit, how about checking your husband's cholesterol with a lipids panel?
Some of the screenings that men should talk to their physician about are:
- diabetes
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- prostate, colorectal and skin cancers
For Father's Day, why don't you give your husband the gift of health? Worried about cost? Give him a comprehensive blood test as part of our EasyLab program: $20 cash price, no physician visit is required, and the test results are emailed to him.
It's cheaper than that tie you were eyeing.
This program is available at all three office locations. Click on this link, choose the link for "primary care" at the location most convenient for you, and then choose "EasyLab" as the service. Pick the date and time and that's it.
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New Insurance Benefits
Did you Know?
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has added new preventive services to the list required of health insurance carriers --- with no out-of-pocket cost to you.
You probably know that Well-Woman (PAP) exams, mammograms, colonoscopies (for those over 50) are covered with no copayment or deductible. However, as of next month, the following preventive services will be covered by your insurance program with no copay or deductible: - Breastfeeding support, supplies and counseling - FDA-approved contraception methods and counseling - Expanded well-woman visits and specific services for pre-natal care.
Some insurance carriers are already providing these services though the mandate is not effective until August 1, 2012. Always check with your insurance carrier directly to verify your benefits and the "out of pocket" cost to you.
If you want to schedule any of these services, you can do so from the comfort of your computer. Just click on this link Schedule Preventive Service
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Do You Know Your Rights?
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Expanded Services
New physicians join Caduceus
One of the requests we hear most often is for greater availability in orthopaedic services. We are pleased to announce the addition of Lucas Bader, MD and Allen Lu, MD to our orthopaedic department. Drs. Bader and Lu join Leslie Shokes, MD to expand the types of orthopaedic care available and the availability of appointments in both Yorba Linda and Irvine.
You can learn more about them by viewing their profiles here.
Additionally, we're proud to announce the addition of Dimitry Goufman, MD to our ENT staff. Along with Charles Oh, MD, Dr. Goufman provides a full range of ENT services in our Eyes, Ears Etc office in Yorba Linda. To view their profiles, click here. |
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Insurance When You're Sick or Injured
Danny is a 30-something native Californian. He 
has a good job, but his small employer does not offer health insurance. Like many young men, Danny never thought about obtaining health insurance-- until the pain in his back became unbearable.
Danny paid cash to see a physician and paid for xrays. However, they did not provide a clear diagnosis; the physician needed an MRI to confirm a ruptured disc. Danny can afford doctor visits, but the recommended MRI and likely surgery will break him. It's too late to get health insurance because he is now labeled as having a "pre-existing" condition.
Danny's options:
- apply for an individual plan, lie about any existing problem and hope no one finds a record of his back condition;
- save up the money for the MRI and hope the diagnosis does not require surgery; or
- access the PPO insurance plan specifically intended to help people like Danny.
Did you know that anyone in California with a pre-existing health condition (from a ruptured disc to cancer) can obtain PPO-based health insurance? In fact, ONLY people WITH pre existing conditions qualify. The Pre Existing Insurance Program (PCIP) offers reasonable monthly premiums, an extensive menu of benefits, and a very large physician/hospital PPO network for those who would otherwise be refused health insurance and struggle to get care.
To qualify:
- you must be a U.S. citizen (proof is required)
- you must have been without ANY insurance for six (6) months (this includes Medi Cal, Healthy Families, IMS); and
- you must have a pre existing condition.
Danny is now well-insured, is getting care for his back injury, and is grateful (learned a valuable lesson about having insurance before you need it).
Do you know of someone who would benefit from this program?
P.S. All of the Caduceus physicians and on-site services are in-network for PCIP.
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OR SCHIZNIK?
Samme is back just in time for some Father's Day fun! Samme selects a true case from the archives of Caduceus' medical files, but changes a few "FACTS" to protect the innocent.
Or does he??
He may have made up the whole thing up to trick you, which we like to call "SHIZNICK." Read this case file and decide for yourself. The answer will appear at the end of this newsletter in the the Medical Director's message to our patients.
The Case of the Bully Barista
Kurt is 35 years old. He has had a rough life and barely graduated high school. He's been unable to hold a job for more than a year, has a history of relationship difficulties, and has never had a steady girlfriend. His most recent job was as a Starbucks barista. Although he managed to learn the job responsibilities fairly easily, he became quite angry with customers with complicated orders. His response to these customers would include threatening speech and sending them to the end of the line. He once accused an elderly customer of giving him an especially complicated order just to make him miserable. He was written up twice for making belittling comments to customers including inappropriate such comments about customers' clothing or negative remarks about tattooed patrons.
When co-workers or friends advised Kurt to get a checkup, he would become angry. "I've been this way my entire life," Kurt remarked. "What kind of disease could I possibly have?"
One day at Starbucks, a customer requested an order for a pumpkin-spiced gingerbread non-fat latte with non-fat whipped cream, Tall, but in a Grande glass. He also ordered coffee of the day with a shot of hazelnut syrup, a shot of espresso, shaken with ice, poured into a Vente glass and triple-cupped.
Kurt challenged the customer to a fight in the parking lot.
Before the fight could ensue, his manager took him aside and fired him. Crestfallen at losing yet another job, Kurt relented and scheduled an appointment with his family doctor for help. His family doctor told him that he was most likely suffering from a "borderline personality disorder" of the paranoid type. Kurt said, "Fine doc, but I am not gonna take any medications. This is just the way I am. Maybe give me some vitamins."
Kurt's family physician ordered omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Although Kurt felt that this may be simply a way of patronizing him, he took the supplements. Several months later, Kurt was working at Circle-K and had just been recently promoted to night manager. He gives all the credit to his family physician and the recommendation for omega-3 fatty acid supplements.
FACT OR SCHIZNICK?
Did Kurt's family doctor make the right diagnosis, and did the supplements have anything to do with his successful career move?
Find the answer at the bottom of the newsletter...
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Although we like to have some fun with our features, our greatest concern is for your health. Father's Day is a great "excuse" to take care of the "dad" in your life. We offer a number of simple health screens intended to benefit our patients. If you want more information, our Concierge Team is always ready to help. To reach them, click here.
Sincerely,
Gregg DeNicola MD
Medical Director
Answer to Fact or Schiznik:
FACT. Kurt's diagnosis is that of a classic paranoid personality disorder, which has prevalence in approximately 1% of the general population. Although several good psychiatric drugs (as well as antidepressants) have been shown to be effective, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to have remarkably good success in borderline personality disorder treatments-- especially when combined with behavioral therapy or psychotherapy. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the physician made the correct diagnosis and it explains the success of the treatment.
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