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2005 Healthnote
A Note From Your Physician
Gretchen Rooker, M.D.
Patient Newsletter – 2005
Wow!! 2004 zoomed by quickly! This year's newsletter will update you on new services and staff at Mountain View and will address a few health topics.
Flu Season:
Winter respiratory infections are common. Although many people often say they have "the flu," most fever, cough and stuffy nose illnesses are not due to influenza. We see patients with respiratory infections all year, but more often in the winter season. The flu shot shortage has been frustrating and even scary to many. Whether or not you received the flu shot, you can reduce risk to you and others by following a few precautions.
- "If you are coughing or sneezing, please cover your mouth" – a simple and common sense guideline to prevent spread of respiratory secretions to others. If you have or work with children or grandchildren who are ill, teach and encourage them to "cover their cough / or sneeze" every time.
- Hand washing decreases your risk of becoming ill, especially if you have been assisting or in contact with someone who has a respiratory or illness or fever.
If you become ill, call the advice nurse at (650) 903-3020. They will advise you on treatment and determine whether you need an appointment.
Direct booking of appointments for specialist and many studies:
We have enhanced our scheduling procedure for many services and referrals. Direct booking means that you can schedule your appointment while you are in the office or on the phone with my staff or me. This avoids the inconvenience of telephone tag or receiving an appointment at an inconvenient day or time.
Use our web-based services at:
www.members.kaiserpermanente.org
Did you know that you could refill your prescriptions and schedule some routine return appointment or classes on-line? Our website connects to our Health Encyclopedia, which is a great resource for information about many health-related topics. You can also visit my Home Page at www.permanente.net/doctor/gretchenrooker
Our Nurse Practitioners:
We are fortunate to have two experienced Registered Nurse Practitioners (RNPs) working with us. They often see our patients when we are away from the clinic.
- Dori Vakis, who worked as a RN for 15 years, joined us in 1998. She spends half of her clinic time as our Diabetes RNP Specialist, seeing and advising diabetic patients on a 1:1 basis. The other half of her clinic time is doing usual Primary Care.
- Danael Caywood was also a RN for four years in the Emergency Room at Kaiser Santa Clara. He has been working with us for 3 years. Danael is very well liked and respected by his patients.
Physicians – New and Departing:
- Sonali Gotmare, MD joined us this spring. She has been enthusiastic addition to our staff.
- Karunasree Cherukuri, MD transferred to Mt. View from Kaiser Hayward, where her work was focused on hospitalized patient's care.
- Khaled Hosseini, MD will be missed. His novel, The Kite Runner, has been a huge success and was recently included on the New York Times Best Seller list. He left us to pursue his passion for writing.
When I am away, these physicians or RNPs or my other colleagues will be happy to see you or address your concerns by phone.
Why sit and wait – Please call first:
One of our biggest challenges daily is assisting the "walk-in" patients, i.e., members who have no appointment but come in for a variety of reasons: prescription refill, medical questions, forms, feeling ill, etc. Although it seems that it should be quicker, walking in without as appointment slows down our clinic operations. It also causes you to wait while we gather information and your chart. Please call (650) 903-3020 first. Many concerns or issues can be resolved on the phone. An appointment can be scheduled or a message can be sent to me or my colleagues, if I'm away.
Lab Tips:
Our lab hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:45 PM (closed on major holidays). To avoid crowds and long lines, if your schedule permits, come to the lab after 10 AM.
Phone Tips: I prefer phone messages to e-mail
For EMERGENCIES: Call 911.
For URGENT concerns: Call (650) 903-3020. The nurses or physicians in our Call Center can direct you to the appropriate care for your problem.
For NON-URGENT issues: You may leave me a non-urgent message by calling the Call Center between 6 PM and 9 PM. I will receive your message in the morning of the next working day.
For ROUTINE APPOINTMENTS: Call (650) 903-3020 or schedule online at: www.memebers.kaiserpermanente.org
For PRESCRIPTION REFILLS: Call
650-903-2141 or renew online at: www.members.kaiserpermanente.org
Forms:
New privacy laws require specific handling of your forms. Please take all forms directly to the Medical Secretary's office on the 2nd floor. This is more efficient than dropping it off at my office.
Personal Stuff:
Mariko, my Medical Assistant, continues to help me daily. My son's voyage with Semester At Sea was an awesome and life changing experience. He continues his studies at UCLA. My husband and I continue to enjoy our athletic photography hobby. I recently attended an intensive Geriatric review course. Since approximately a third of you are over age 65, I plan to send out a Geriatric health note in the first half of 2005. Since January 2004, I have had the chance to experience the other side of the health care as I assisted my mother and mother-in-law with serious illnesses. I appreciate your patience and flexibility if your appointments were cancelled or rescheduled due to my absences. I learned that I appreciate the integrated care and programs we have in Kaiser.
Reminders:
- I recommend that you carry a list of your medication and allergies.
- I recommend that you complete a durable power of attorney for health care. Forms are available in Health Education.
- Please consider placing an organ donor sticker on your driver's license. While I hope your family never needs to use it, it would be a huge gift to someone in the event of a catastrophic injury.
Here's to a successful 2005 for all of you and your family.
Sincerely,
Gretchen Rooker, M.D.
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