November 2011

Reflections on Special Occasions and Connection

November 28, 2011

Most holidays can be traced back to an important transition in the seasons, or life. Birth (spring), harvest/success (fall), coming of age (summer), and death (winter).

We live with the same rhythm: The coming of morning, daytime, evening, night, and this rhythmn provides structure and support, as well as connection with others.

We all need that connection – just look at the social networking boom. We tend to look for people who are similar to us, experiencing something with us, who have kids the same age as ours,  or who enjoy the same things we do. I cannot help wondering if this search for connection is a consequence of not focusing on the most obvious things (the rhythm) we share with everyone on this planet.

Feeling connected lends itself to appreciating others and ritualizing their role in our lives — this includes special occasions. When possible, it’s nice for special occasions to include each member of the family contributing something to the food, music, and an activity focused on whatever is being celebrated. A special meal, greens or flowers from the yard, a house filled with a favorite music, and kind words make each person feel special, and most importantly, appreciated.

This blog post is contributed by Nancy Brown, Ph.D.,  a nationally-recognized health educator and adolescent development expert at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF).

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Local Advocate, Patient Says PAMF Doctors Make Health Care Personal

November 28, 2011




As executive director of Familia Center, a family resource center for Latino families located in Santa Cruz, Yolanda Henry works every day advocating for people who often cannot speak for themselves. That’s why she takes her 84-year-old mother to the same Palo Alto Medical Foundation doctors she herself has trusted for the last 30 years. Henry knows that at PAMF, her mom’s doctors will take the time to carefully explain her mother’s medical condition and options to her in simple, unhurried terms she can understand, and often in her native Spanish.
[Read more...]

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$600K Donation Celebrates a Life, Inspires Cancer Center Campaign

November 23, 2011

Rendering of new PAMF Sunnyvale Center being built at Old San Francisco Road.

A life defined by “conscience, compassion and competence” has been honored in an extraordinary way.  Mike and Linda Markkula of Woodside, California, have donated $600,000 to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) in honor of their friend Fr. Paul L. Locatelli. Their gift is also a challenge gift to inspire others to donate toward the construction of PAMF’s new Cancer Center in  Sunnyvale, located at 301 Old San Francisco Road, and to name the entire center after Paul Locatelli, S.J.

[Read more...]

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PAMF Parents Save Time, Complete Well-Child Forms Online

November 21, 2011

If you are a PAMF parent or guardian of children ages 0 – 11, you can now complete and submit all well-child forms online prior to your visit through My Health Online‘s child proxy access feature.  To access the questionnaire, check the inbox of your child’s My Health Online account the week prior to the visit.

If you haven’t already registered for proxy access for your children, now is a great time to sign up. Simply log into your My Health Online account, click on the “Health Record” link on the left menu, then click “Request Proxy Access.”  

[Read more...]

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Do We Really Need Eight Glasses of Water a Day?

November 18, 2011

Dr. Arnold Aigen, M.D., FACS, PAMF Urology

In this blog post, Dr. Arnold Aigen, a urologist at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation’s Mountain View Center, addresses the common rule-of-thumb that we all need to drink eight glasses of water every day. He’s a surgical subspecialist who treats a variety of urological medical problems from infections to cancer and kidney stones.

“A day rarely goes by without me seeing a patient who is experiencing the discomfort of needing to urinate too often,” Dr. Aigen says. “While many medical issues, such as prostate or bladder problems, can cause this disorder, I also always ask my patients about their fluid intake.”

[Read more...]

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Transitioning from Pediatrics to Adult Primary Care

November 14, 2011

Among the many changes you experience as you become a young adult is the transition to an adult primary care doctor. Your pediatrician will care for you until you turn 18, so it’s a good idea to start thinking about who will replace your pediatrician before then. Look for a doctor who you are comfortable with and trust, and will be honest with you about any health risks you may have. You also want that person to be easy to reach, as you may be heading off to college.

[Read more...]

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PAMF Doctor Pioneers, Perfects World Famous Fix for “Surfer’s Ear”

November 11, 2011



“I leave the waves to my patients,” said Douglas Hetzler, M.D., FACS, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Palo Alto Medical Foundation Santa Cruz. But while surfing holds no allure for him personally, Dr. Hetzler, whose peers have dubbed him “Michelangelo of the Ear Canal,” has spent years perfecting a surgical technique to treat “surfer’s ear”-a serious auditory condition that robs surfers and kayakers of their hearing and, eventually, their sport.
[Read more...]

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New Service Features Will Offer Even Better Patient Experience, Convenience

November 10, 2011

At PAMF we’re not just satisfied with offering top quality care, we’re also continually striving to improve our services to make it as easy and convenient as possible for you to access and receive the care you need. In this blog post, you’ll learn about some of the new service features we will be offering you soon.

Starting December 1, 2011 You Will Be Able To: 

  • Directly schedule your appointments online to see your primary care doctor.
  • Submit online appointment requests for specialty physicians.
  • Pay bills and co-payments and check your account balance quickly and easily online.
  • Go to any PAMF laboratory or imaging facility for services that is convenient for you.

As we implement these new service features, we will make every effort to make our changes without impacting your visit. We appreciate your patience and understanding if some things take a little longer than usual. Remember that from Dec. 1 as a My Health Online member, you’ll be able to schedule your appointments directly online without having to pick up the phone.

My Health Online Service Features:

You have access to many convenient features through our online service My Health Online. In addition to the new features described above, as a My Health Online member you currently can: 

  • Communicate electronically with your health care team
  • View test results
  • Request prescription renewals
  • Receive automatic reminders when you are due for immunizations and health maintenance screening tests
  • Enjoy on-the-go access to My Health Online from your iPhone or Android smartphone with the new MyChart app

All these services, and more, are offered at no charge. If you are not yet enrolled in My Health Online, sign up today!

Manage Your Child’s Health Care More Conveniently Online:

My Health Online is not just a convenient way to manage your own health online, it’s also an easy way to manage your child’s medical needs. My Health Online’s Proxy Access Program gives you full access to the health records of your children younger than 12. From anywhere in the world, you can: 

  • View and print vaccination records
  • Complete questionnaires that track your child’s development
  • Review medication instructions and other information that can help you better manage your child’s medical needs

Learn more and sign up for My Health Online’s Child Proxy Access.

Learn more about new patient experience features coming your way on the PAMF Website.

 

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Laptop Ergonomics

November 10, 2011

Laptop and desktop computers—what’s the difference? Aside from the fact that laptops can go with you wherever, whenever and desktops must remain in one location, the main differences come from their set-ups. While all of the parts of a laptop are connected, desktops use multiple parts like an external keyboard, mouse and monitor that can be positioned to support the user’s posture.

With a desktop, the screen is placed at or slightly below eye level (so your head is level, with the eyes looking slightly down) and the keyboard is positioned so you can comfortably type without straining you wrists, elbows or shoulders. Desktops are an ergonomic dream, since they come with a keyboard, mouse and monitor that can be properly adjusted and stay put.

With laptops, however, the screen and keyboard cannot be adjusted, so laptops can become an ergonomic nightmare. While convenient, laptops can also cause physical problems down the road if used incorrectly.

Laptop ergonomics looks at how, where and why we use our computers and determines the most effective and least damaging way we should use them to avoid injury.

Learn more in these PAMF website pages we created to help with laptop ergonomics:

What is Ergonomics?

Tips for Ergonomic Laptop Use

Ergonomic Risks of Laptop Use

Additional Resources:

Computer Vision Syndrome

Laptop Ergonomics Video (Demonstrates how to make your laptop use ergonomic.)

This Teen Health blog post contributed by Jenny McElaney, college writer, and Lisa Voge-Levin, ergonomic consultant. Reviewed by PAMF Family Medicine Physician Elizabeth Lee, M.D. 

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Tips to Make a Traditional South Asian Diet Healthier

November 4, 2011

Sugar is the building block of carbohydrates. Since rice and grains are a rich source of carbohydrates, they are also a rich source of sugar.

White rice and breads are staple foods in the traditional South Asian diet, and eating uncontrolled portions often contributes to weight gain and associated health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, that affect South Asians.

Eating healthier varieties of carbohydrates can help reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by lowering cholesterol levels, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood clots. To make a traditional South Asian diet healthier, follow these tips: [Read more...]

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