LaSalle News

Patient Malaika Jacocks looks on as Dr. Romeo Rodriquez enters important information in LaSalle Medical Associates’ Electronic Medical Records system.

(SAN BERNARDINO, California) LaSalle Medical Associates is now providing its patients a more streamlined health care delivery experience by upgrading to, electronic health records All four of its clinics in San Bernardino and its corporate office have recently transformed their method of managing, securing and sharing patient information between its team of dedicated physicians.

“Our patients are our priority and by investing in this technology it will allow us to spend more time focusing on their needs rather than managing inefficient paper processes, “said CEO Dr. Albert Arteaga.

“Electronic health records provide faster access to patient information which can result in better health care especially when patients move between office locations Dr. Arteaga said. “This new system will provide our patients with greater flexibility and is a more secure way to manage and store confidential information.”

Sharing information, writing prescriptions and fostering better communications between labs and medical staff are just a few of the ways we can increase the efficiency of care,” said Carl Maier, vice president of operations for LaSalle Medical Associates.

Using an Electronic Health Records, doctors can now send prescriptions directly to a pharmacy during an office visit so a prescription arrives at the pharmacy well before a patient does. Doctors can send lab orders to a medical lab, while lab technicians can send results back to the doctor quickly and securely.

“It’s all about reducing time spent on administrative tasks so we can focus on caring for our patients,” said Maier.

Although these advantages improve patient care, LaSalle Medical Associates had one more crucial reason to make the switch to electronic records this year, Maier said.

“The federal government, through the Affordable Care Act, is also driving this change,” Maier said. “The Act requires health care providers to electronically report certain information and outcomes to the government.”

It was for this compelling reason that LaSalle Medical Associates decided it had to make the switch to electronic records this year, Maier said. Since it required months of preparation, it wasn’t a decision made lightly.

“This conversion was a Herculean task, involving every aspect of the LaSalle Medical Associates organization,” he said. “We had to retrofit all of our exam rooms at each clinic to accommodate keyboards and terminals, update our infrastructure to support 200 new computers and train all of our employees in this new way of record-keeping.”

For instance, Maier said, doctors were used to starting their day by reviewing a stack of paper medical records for the patients they would see that day. Now, they must look at their email accounts to know which patients they are seeing, and to access these patient records.

To help with the conversion, LaSalle Medical Associates worked with Physicians Trust, a southern California company that specializes in helping medical practices convert to electronic medical records. It oversaw a technology upgrade that included far more than converting to electronic records.

“To realize all of the benefits of electronic medical records, LaSalle Medical Associates had to consider many aspects of technology,” said Stephen Rhodes, president of Physicians Trust. “The work included upgrades to hardware, software and computer connections. We also had to train the entire staff in the use of this new technology.”

“LaSalle Medical Associates is a multi-location health care provider, and with little time for interruptions,” Rhodes said. “This required us to design a unique approach to installing their technology upgrade and training employees.. Since the team at LaSalle is dedicated to patient care, they worked closely with our technology trainers to make sure implementation of this system was seamless and demonstrated immediate results.”

For more information on LaSalle Medical Associates call 909-890-0407.

About LaSalle Medical Associates

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle’s clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia and 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality care to more than 245,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group, Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) In June of 1984, a young doctor and his wife, a nurse, opened a family medical practice called LaSalle Medical Associates in Fontana. Their goal: provide affordable health care, with dignity and respect, to all in the Inland Empire.

Three decades later, Dr. Albert and Maria Arteaga have gone far beyond making their goal a reality. They are now recognized as one of the leading health care providers in the Inland Empire, if not all of California.

“We have had some markers of success,” Dr. Arteaga says. “We went from two employees – my wife and I – to a fully staffed clinic. We opened more clinics. Then we started our own IPA (independent practice association) to keep up with new demands to make health care more and more efficient.”

“It has always been our goal to treat as many patients as we could while giving them the best health care possible,” he said.

Some, who have recognized LaSalle Medical Associates as a leader in health care, by giving them awards for their endeavors, include:

• The federal Center for Disease Control, which recognized Dr. Arteaga as California’s first Childhood Immunization Champion. This award recognized his efforts in educating the parents of LaSalle’s pediatric patients, and the greater Inland Empire community, of the importance of childhood immunizations
• The California Medical Association, which recognized Dr. Arteaga with its Ethnic Physician’s Leadership Award, recognizing his contributions to improving health care in the Latino community
• The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Resolution Award for outstanding community efforts
• The San Bernardino County Medical Society’s Merlin Hendrickson, M.D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Community. Dr. Arteaga was recognized for his efforts to provide health services to Inland Empire children.

• Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP), as Riverside and San Bernardino counties’ best health care provider, and for being one of the top enrollers in all of California in the state’s former Healthy Families program
• The African American Health Initiative as a model provider in a two-year study of Black health care in San Bernardino County.
• Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine, which recognized LaSalle Medical Associates as one of the top 15 Latino-owned businesses in the Inland Empire

Despite all this success, it hasn’t always been an easy path for the Arteagas.

“Life doesn’t always play out as you expect,” Dr. Arteaga said. “That is certainly true in my life as a health care provider. Good intentions require good management. Providing good management has been every bit as challenging as my years in medical school were more than three decades ago!”

One of the biggest changes in health care took place just this year. In 2014, Covered California part of the federal Affordable Health Care Act – which Dr. Arteaga has long been a champion of – came into being.

“Although Covered California does not yet mean everyone has insurance, it does mean that many patients who couldn’t afford health care before now can do so,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Health care is no longer an out-of-reach luxury for those who couldn’t afford insurance, but is a basic right for everyone

Dr. Arteaga has always thought that health care is a basic right, and has operated LaSalle Medical Associates as if that were the case.

Dr. Arteaga targeted his marketing to Latinos and low-income people who were underserved.  Providing high quality medical services to underserved populations were crucial to the success of LaSalle Medical Associates.  They later expanded from Fontana to San Bernardino and Hesperia. These communities have many low-income people in need of quality affordable medical services.

He also is Latino, so he easily related to his Latino patients in ways they appreciated. They told friends and family about LaSalle Medical Associates, which caused his popularity in the Inland Empire’s Latino culture to swell.

Dr. Arteaga has always believed that his key to business success was finding a way to get paid for their services, instead of telling patients they had to figure that out on their own before seeing him. For most of LaSalle’s history, that business model meant LaSalle employees educated patients about their health care insurance options.

Most patients LaSalle saw over the years qualified for either Medi-Cal or Healthy Families. The latter, which like Medi-Cal was run by the state of California, offered low to moderate-income parents who didn’t qualify for Medi-Cal a subsidy for the health care of their children from birth to age 19.

Things have changed in the last two years. In 2013, California got a head start on the Affordable Care Act; they created Covered California and merged Healthy Families and Medi-Cal together.

In 2014, one of the key Covered California’s requirements is everyone must have health insurance or pay a penalty. This means, many patients applied and signed up for Covered California, Medi-Cal or other insurance first, and then choose or are assigned to LaSalle Medical Associates.

Consequently, rather than informing new patients of their insurance options, LaSalle Medical Associates employees now more likely are helping the patients understand how their health insurance system works.

Dr. Arteaga acknowledges the Covered California has brought changes some people will take a while to get accustomed to. One of these is a concept called managed care.

“The structure of the Covered California means many people, both those who had some other type of insurance and those who were uninsured, are now in managed care for the first time,” he said.

Managed care is called this because it requires a doctor, such as one of the physicians in LaSalle Medical Associates, to coordinate patients’ health care services. These primary care doctors have a general, family or pediatric practice, and will treat patients for many of their symptoms, but will refer the patients to specialists when more expertise is needed.

Managed care has been around since the 1990s, Dr. Arteaga said, but it has become more popular. It’s usually more cost-efficient to have managed care, he explained, people choose to buy managed care for its lower premiums.

Medi-Cal has used managed care for nearly two decades. Meanwhile, LaSalle Medical Associates, since the beginning, has accepted Medi-Cal when many doctors would not, and now has a reputation among those familiar with Medi-Cal for providing quality services, no matter how payment is provided.

Even though there wasn’t “managed care,” as it now known when Dr. Arteaga started his practice, even back then he was in favor of patients developing close relationships with one family doctor.

“Thirty years ago I wanted to see all the patients, and manage their health care. That has not changed, but I have learned that in order to do so, a physician must take a leadership role. Otherwise, many patients will seek or demand services that are redundant or not needed.”

Dr. Arteaga sees the physician as an advocate for the patient, one who will make sure patients get the services they truly need. Sometimes, just as some patients will push for more health care than is necessary, some insurance companies will resist paying for what a doctor recommends, but that is not the intent of managed care.

“I want the patient, the doctor and the insurance company to develop a positive team, Dr. Arteaga said. “There may be opposition, but that should not stop any of us in trying to make quality health care succeed.”

Besides managed care and its great expansion through the Affordable Care Act, another large change in the health care industry over the last three decades has been more careful monitoring of expenses by insurance companies.

Now, it is better for a medical group like LaSalle Medical Associates to band with even more doctors, so they can take advantage of economies of scale, and provide health care more cost-efficiently.

This is why LaSalle Medical Associates formed an Independent Practice Association (IPA) in 1995, and has grown it to the point it now serves more than 600 medical clinics serving more than 170,000 patients each year in nine California counties.

LaSalle oversees administrative functions of all these medical clinics, although they are owned and manage their patients’ health care separately.

Another move to make health care more efficient, in many ways, is one that LaSalle Medical Associates only recently transitioned to. It now is keeping track of patients’ charts with electronic medical records, ridding itself of the wall full of patients’ medical records that once were a hallmark of many medical clinics.

“Electronic medical records make it easier to share patients’ records among a team of doctors who treat one patient, which results in better health care” Dr. Arteaga said. “It is also easier to keep patients’ records confidential this way.”

One other significant change over the last 30 years has been that most patients are more involved in their health care now than they were in 1984.

“They ask more questions now. Because of the Internet, and because people talk more about health care with their friends, patients now have more information. Not all of the information out there is correct, so this means a doctor helps the patient sort the good from the bad, and develop a treatment plan that works. This is another reason why the managed care approach is necessary.”

One thing Dr. Arteaga has learned during his three decades of medical practice is that change can be good. In fact, one thing he loves about being the CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates is that he gets to lead other health care professionals through the changes their industry faces.

“I love being collegial, and helping other doctors learn,” he said. “When they resist change, it is going to be more difficult for them. They should not expect to practice medicine as it was done 30 years ago, or even 10 years ago.”

In the end is true LaSalle Medical Associates has spent Three Decades Making People Healthier.

For more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go on line to LaSalleMedical.com.

About LaSalle Medical Associates

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle’s clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia and 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality care to more than 245,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group, Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital.

Dr. Albert Arteaga, and wife Maria, receiving an award from the San Bernardino County Medical Society for outstanding contributions to the community. photo by Carl Dameron

(Ontario, CA)  Hispanic Lifestyle recently named LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. as a leading Latino Owned Business that has survived and thrived during the economic downturn.

“Hispanic Lifestyle is pleased to recognize LaSalle Medical Associates as a business that not only survived the economic downturn but thrived,” said Richard Sandoval, president of Hispanic Lifestyle.

“We are seeing the results of seven years of hard work coming to fruition,’’ says LaSalle founder and President Dr. Albert Arteaga, on his honor from Hispanic Lifestyle. “To me, as a Hispanic, this is like the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. On an emotional level, it’s like winning the battle of Cinco de Mayo, Bunker Hill and the World Cup at the last minute.”

Since 2007, LaSalle has expanded its Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality patient care to more than 170,000 residents of Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group,

Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group, Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redlands Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, and Parkview Community Hospital.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., owns four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating about 40,000 children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County.

LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and the insurance companies participating in Covered California, which is a program offering a state subsidy to middle class families for the health care coverage required by the Affordable Care Act. LaSalle also accepts private insurance policies offered by IEHP, Molina, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Care 1^st, and Health Net and Medicare by Easy Choice Health Plan, Molina and Care1st Health Plans.

Find a LaSalle clinic in Fontana at 17577 Arrow Blvd., in Hesperia at16455 Main St. and in San Bernardino at 1505 West 17th St. or 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave.

Dr. Albert Arteaga and wife Maria will be recognized for their achievements as part of

Hispanic Lifestyle’s Business Expo and Conference luncheon on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at the Ontario Airport Hotel in Ontario, California at 11:30 am.  The conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The all day conference and expo features presentations by Latino/Latinas Executives of Influence, a panel discussion on business matchmaking. The conference will be captured for distribution for Southern California PBS television stations and the Hispanic Network website.

“The awardees were compiled from audience nominations and business profiles that have been featured on Hispanic Lifestyle,” said Richard Sandoval, producer of Hispanic Lifestyle.

For more information call (951) 940-9099, email events@HispanicLifestyle.com or go online at http://www.hispaniclifestyle.com

For more information on LaSalle Medical Associates call (909) 890-0407.

About LaSalle Medical Associates

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle’s clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia and 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality care to more than 245,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group, Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital.

New clothes and a pair of new shoes are part of going back to school, but so are physicals and immunizations. Free immunizations are available at LaSalle Medical Associates clinics in Fontana, Hesperia and Fontana. Photo by Chris Sloan

(San Bernardino, Calif.) – For many students, seeing the doctor for their annual physical is a requirement at the start of a new school year.

While in the past, some families couldn’t afford school physicals because they lacked health insurance, The Affordable Care Act and California Covered in most cases allows health care providers to offer preventive care at no cost, even when patients have health insurance policies that usually require co-pays.

“Annual physicals are a good idea for everyone,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, In some cases, the schools your children attend will require them.”

“Physicals are required when a child enters school in California, most commonly kindergarten,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, founder and president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. “If a middle school, high school, college or university student plans to play sports, all schools will require them to obtain a physical at the beginning of the season. Many college and university students often need back-to-school physicals as a condition of living on campus.”

School Physicals and Immunizations are generally FREE with California Care health insurance membership.

Physicals for children typically include making sure they have reached adequate height and weight for their age. Doctors also make sure children are up-to-date on the immunizations needed for their age.

Young children also are evaluated to make sure they can perform certain tasks. For instance a child entering kindergarten should be able to play well with other children, state his or her first and last name, color with crayons and dress him or herself.

Kindergarteners who are not able to do these things may have developmental delays that will cause them to need extra help throughout their education, and may also have medical conditions that need close monitoring by a doctor.

As with adults, physicals also are a time to check overall health, by checking blood pressure, hearing and vision. Doctors also may order blood tests to check for anemia, and a urinalysis to check for infections and diseases such as diabetes.

“All of these things we check for in a physical are what’s known as preventive health care,” Dr. Arteaga said. “We want to make sure we catch things as early as we can so that we can start interventions before they cause serious health problems.”

“Thankfully, now that almost all families have health insurance, these interventions will not be an expensive burden on them. With insurance, they may have to pay a small deductible or copay for treatment, but not the hundreds or thousands it would cost without.”

Most K-12 students in San Bernardino County begin school in August, as do many colleges. Parents of any students needing a mandatory back-to-school physical to start school before Labor Day should schedule an appointment with their doctor immediately. Athletes, and anyone who starts school in September should not wait much longer.

“It is important not to wait until the last minute,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Summer is our busy season, and some doctors won’t be able to see you right away and we do accept patents with out an appointment. “

To make an appointment, or for more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call the LaSalle clinics nearest you; Fontana 17577 Arrow Blvd. in phone (909) 823-4454, in Hesperia 16455 Main St.  phone (760) 947-2161, and in San Bernardino 1505 West 17th St. phone (760) 947-2161 and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. phone (909) 884-9091 .

About LaSalle Medical Associates

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle’s clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia and 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality care to more than 245,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group, Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital.

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School Start Dates

• San Bernardino City Unified School District – Monday,    August 4
• Rialto Unified School District – Monday,   August 4
• Fontana Unified School District – Thursday, August 7
• Hesperia Unified     School District –    Monday,   August 11
• Rialto Unified School District – Monday,   August 4

The CDC says immunize your children

• Children need immunizations (shots) to protect them from certain dangerous childhood diseases. Without immunizations, your child can get these diseases – some of which have no cure.
• When you get your children fully immunized, you are giving them the best protection against these diseases. Getting immunized also helps protect your community.
• Diseases spread more easily from person to person if people don’t have all their shots.

Recommended Immunizations for Children (Birth through 6 years)

• See also Immunizations and Developmental Milestones  [2 pages]
• Recommended immunizations for children  [2 pages]

• See also Spanish version

 Recommended Immunization s for Preteens and Teens

“We are honored to have more Doctors to help serve the thousands of patients who have placed their trust in our network of primary physicians and healthcare professionals in California,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga founder and Chief Executive officer of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. Left to Right: Dr. Joseph V. Selvarj, Dr. Albert Arteaga, Dr. Cheryl Emoto, and Dr. Felix A. Albano.

(Fresno, CA)  LaSalle Medical Associates Inc. grows in the Central Valley announcing a new contract with Care 1^st to serve as its Medicare healthcare provider in Fresno County.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality patient care to approximately 150,000 people in Fresno, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Madera, Tulare, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

“Care 1st has tapped in to LaSalle’s long standing service presence in the Central Valley to help them serve Medicare patients.  LaSalle is already delivering a full range of Medi-Cal insurance products including and Medicare in a number of other counties in California,” said Carl Maier, executive vice president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.

LaSalle Medical Associates is one of the largest independent minority owned healthcare companies in California. LaSalle also accepts Anthem Blue Cross, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) in 9 California counties.

“Many people think of LaSalle as a medical provider for children’s services.  They are very surprised to know we deliver services to children, adults, seniors and people with disabilities.  Many of the people we serve today already have Medicare or will get Medicare shortly because of their disabilities,” said Maier.

“LaSalle currently serves Medi-Cal and Medicare patients in the Central Valley, we are in active negotiations to bring more products to counties we serve,” said Maier

“I am honored to have more Doctors to help serve the thousands of patients who have placed their trust in our network of primary physicians and healthcare professionals in California,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga founder and Chief Executive officer of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.

LaSalle plans to continue to grow and serve low-income people and welcomes the new Affordable Health Care Act some times called Obama Care.

“As a large provider of service to government sponsored health care programs we understand what the state’s implementation of the Affordable Health Care Act and expansion of Medi-Cal means here in California.  A lot of uninsured people with a high demand for service are going to be coming to doctors, clinics and hospitals in 2014,” said Dr. Arteaga.

“Our mission continues and LaSalle is preparing to welcome 1 million new low-income patients in the nine counties we serve.  We are recruiting more health care professionals to increase our ability to provide more health care to more patients.  Why?  Everyone deserves high quality health care delivered with dignity and respect regardless of ethnicity or income,” said Dr. Arteaga.

About LaSalle Medical Associates

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle’s clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia and 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality care to more than 245,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group, Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital.

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LaSalle Medical Associates celebrates 29 years of service with 160,000 patients

Dr. Albert Arteaga, and wife Maria, receiving an award from the San Bernardino County Medical Society for outstanding contributions to the community. photo by Carl Dameron

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  In June 1984 Dr. Albert Arteaga and Maria his wife, a nurse started their medical practice not just to heal the sick and injured, but to change patients’ perception of “going to the doctor.”

Dr. Arteaga explains, “I want everyone to feel that going to the doctor is no more intimidating than going to the grocery store.”

The Arteaga’s also built their practice on the belief that “everyone deserves high quality health care”.  Everyone also deserves to be treated by their doctor with “dignity and respect regardless of ethnicity or income”.

That philosophy has been successful.  On the first day of his practice Dr. Albert Arteaga and Maria saw two patients at their clinic at 17577 Arrow Boulevard in Fontana.  Now LaSalle Medical Associates cares for 160,000 patients across nine counties in California.

Success came quickly as word spread of caring doctors that also accepted Medi-Cal and affordable cash payments.

By 1992 the Fontana location grew and LaSalle had added clinics at 16455 Main Street in Hesperia, two in San Bernardino at 1505 West 17th Street, and 565 N. Mount Vernon Avenue.

On the first day, owner Dr. Albert Arteaga and his wife Maria then employed as his nurse and still his chief assistant saw two patients at their clinic in Fontana. Today, LaSalle Medical Associates has grown to four clinics and 120 employees, and an Independent Practice Association (IPA) serving more than 1,900 doctors.

To run the growing business the Arteaga’s opened a corporate office in San Bernardino at 685 Carnegie Drive, Suite 230.

The Arteaga’s started an Independent Practice Association or IPA in 1995 in response to changes in health care created by government and insurance companies.  The insurance companies prefer to negotiate for health care services and compensation with groups of physicians rather than individual doctors.

LaSalle Medical Associates accepted the challenge and has grown to a network of 1,900 independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality patient care.  Now LaSalle Medical Associates is one of the largest independent minority owned healthcare companies in California.

LaSalle has a team of 120 healthcare professionals at LaSalle’s four clinics in San Bernardino County.  Through its IPA 1,900 independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, deliver high quality patient care in Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Stanislaus, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, San Joaquin and Madera counties.

“I think 29 years shows we have been doing good things for our patients and employees and we have been doing it for a long time,” Dr. Arteaga said.  He added, “It proves two things. Number One, we are honest.  Number two we are reliable.  We aren’t here today and gone tomorrow.  In the medical field, being solid means being reputable and reliable.”

In 29 years of business the Arteaga’s have seen good times and bad, recession and boom, and several business challenges.  Through it all Dr. Arteaga has strived not only to be a great physician, but also a good businessman.

“Treating patients with dignity and respect is not only the right thing to do, it is also a good business practice, it has built us a solid, loyal patient base,” said Dr. Arteaga.

Those patents in turn recommended LaSalle Medical Associates to their friends and family.  Some of who now have chosen LaSalle for their health care needs for three generations.

“It’s not usual for us to see the second generation of children we started treated 29 years ago,” said Maria Arteaga.  “We are honored to be trusted with the lives of our patients and their children.”

The LaSalle Medical Associates Healthcare team gave more than 10,000 flu vaccines last year. LaSalle is getting ready for this years flu season. Left to right: Dr. Joseph V. Selvarj, Dr. Albert Arteaga, Dr. Cheryl Emoto, and Dr. Felix A. Albano.The new flu season starts September 1, 2013 with flu vaccines available at all LaSalle clinics. LaSalle has the Fluzone High Dose vaccine for seniors, the intradermal flu vaccine is a shot that is injected into the skin instead of the muscle, and nasal flu mists for children and adults. Photo by: Chris Sloan 

The Arteaga’s have also focused on keeping expenses low and service quality high.  And they have helped many patients who might otherwise struggle to pay for even basic medical care to find insurance that will pay the bill.

Since Dr. Arteaga’s specialty is pediatrics, La Salle Medical Associates initially focused on serving children of the lower income and disabled. Dr. Arteaga quickly realized there were even greater community needs.

With his guidance, LaSalle expanded its service to include family and internal medicine, and obstetrics/gynecology. All stemming from the Arteaga’s “obligation” to “help whenever we can.”

Public and professional recognition has not escaped LaSalle Medical Associates and The Arteaga’s.

In 2012 Dr. Albert Arteaga, became California’s first-ever CDC Childhood Immunization Champion and one of only 39 across the country receiving the prestigious honor.

Many uninsured families with children under 19 can get help through the Healthy Families program; help is also available to some children and adults through Medi-Cal. For those who don’t qualify for these programs, the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 provides additional options. Photo by: Albert Ateaga

The California Medical Association awarded him the “Ethnic Physician’s Leadership Award,” recognizing his contributions to medical care in the Latino community. He also was named one of the top 15 Latino-owned businesses in the Inland Empire by Hispanic Lifestyle magazine.

Dr. Arteaga was awarded the San Bernardino County Medical Society’s Merlin Hendrickson M.D. Award for his outstanding contribution to the community.

Inland Empire Health Plan selected LaSalle’s clinics as Riverside and San Bernardino counties’ best healthcare provider, while the African American Health Initiative selected LaSalle as a “model provider” of Black healthcare in San Bernardino County.

The San Bernardino Board of Supervisors has presented Dr. Arteaga a Resolution for his outstanding community efforts, and the Inland Empire Health Plan awarded LaSalle Medical Associates a Proclamation Award in appreciation of outstanding community work and for being the state’s number one enroller of the Healthy Families program, an insurance plan for children of low-to middle-income families.

What does the future hold?

“As a large provider of service to Medi-Cal patients we understand what the state’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act and expansion of Medi-Cal means here in California.  A lot of uninsured people with a high demand for service are going to be coming to doctors, clinics and hospitals in 2014.  LaSalle is preparing to welcome those one million new low income patients in the nine counties we serve,” said Dr. Arteaga.

He added, “We are recruiting more health care professionals to increase our ability to provide more health care to more patients at the rate Medi-Cal pays”.

LaSalle has also created new partnerships to fund expansion and is contracting with more cost effective service providers with larger service areas for lab work, x-rays, imaging and supplies, and expanded their billing and payment capabilities.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. is preparing for the expected increase in Californian’s who will be eligible for low-cost healthcare under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, says Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and chief executive officer of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. The law, which is often referred to as “Obama Care,” takes effect in 2014.

For the Arteaga’s success is defined by service to those in need of medical services.  By any measure LaSalle Medical Associates patient growth is a testimony to their service to their communities.  Not bad for a couple of idealist who wanted not just to heal the sick and injured, but to change patients’ perception of “going to the doctor.”

LaSalle Medical Associates Clinics are located at:

• 17577 Arrow Boulevard in Fontana – Click here for Map to Fontana Clinic
• 1505 West 17th Street – Click here for Map to San Bernardino (17th Street) Clinic
• 565 N. Mount Vernon Avenue – Click here for Map to San Bernardino (Mt. Vernon Ave.) Clinic
• 16455 Main Street in Hesperia – Click here for Map to Hesperia Clinic

About LaSalle Medical Associates

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle’s clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia and 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality care to more than 245,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group, Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital.

“At LaSalle we know how important childhood immunizations are to parents, schools and children’s health. With most Inland Empire children starting school in only a few weeks, a delay could result in children missing school,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.

“For families with no insurance, LaSalle Medical Associates offers immunizations for free through the California Vaccines for Children program.”

(San Bernardino, Calif.) – August is the month many Inland Empire children head back to school. Many of them, especially in grades 7-12, need to make sure they have all the necessary back-to-school immunizations.

At LaSalle Medical Associates children can get their vaccinations for free, often the same day.

“At LaSalle we know how important childhood immunizations are to parents, schools and children’s health.  With most Inland Empire children starting school in only a few weeks, a delay could result in children missing school,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc.

Dr. Arteaga urges parents to schedule appointments for their child’s back-to-school examinations as soon as possible with a letter to all parents served by their four clinics in Fontana, San Bernardino and Hesperia.

“I received a letter from LaSalle reminding me to bring in my children for their annual check ups and immunizations.  I called at 8:30 a.m. Monday morning to get an appointment for 2 p.m. the same day,” said Malaika Jacocks.  “We lost our shot record and the nurse gave us certified copies for the school – without being asked, she was so nice.”

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) encourages all parents to have their children immunized.  According CDPH:

• Children need immunizations (shots) to protect them from certain dangerous childhood diseases. Without immunizations, your child can get these diseases – some of which have no cure.

• When you get your children fully immunized, you are giving them the best protection against these diseases. Getting immunized also helps protect your community.

• Diseases spread more easily from person to person if people don’t have all their shots.

“Children in families who receive Medi-Cal will not be charged for school vaccines,” Dr. Arteaga said. “And for families with no insurance, we can offer this immunization for free through the California Vaccines for Children program.”

The California Vaccines for Children program is a federally funded program.

The state of California requires that all children in grades 7-12 be immunized against whooping cough, also known as pertussis.  Before starting classes, children in these grades must show proof of having been immunized after their 10^th birthday.

“Most children are immunized against pertussis before they started kindergarten,” said Dr. Arteaga. “But the immunization weakens over time, so the new law makes sure adolescents are still adequately protected against this disease.”

This state law came after an epidemic of pertussis cases in 2010, affecting more than 9,000 people and causing 10 deaths, including two infants in San Bernardino County. Pertussis epidemics affected many states in 2012 and California rates appear to be higher than usual again in 2013.

Vaccinating older children not only keeps them healthy, but also prevents the disease from spreading from adolescents to infants and preschoolers, who are at greater risk of serious complications.

Children starting kindergarten also need immunizations, including a pertussis, tetanus and diphtheria vaccine designed for young children called DTaP. They also need proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis and Varicella (chicken pox.)

“If parents have kept up with their child’s immunizations from birth, only booster immunizations are needed for kindergarteners,” Dr. Arteaga said. “However, if the child is behind on their other required immunizations, they may need several doses of immunizations to get caught up.”

The LaSalle Medical Associates clinics are at:

• 17577 Arrow Boulevard in Fontana – Click here for Map to Fontana Clinic
• 1505 West 17th Street – Click here for Map to San Bernardino (17th Street) Clinic
• 565 N. Mount Vernon Avenue – Click here for Map to San Bernardino (Mt. Vernon Ave.) Clinic
• 16455 Main Street in Hesperia – Click here for Map to Hesperia Clinic

For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.

About LaSalle Medical Associates

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., operates four clinics employing more than 120 dedicated healthcare professionals, treating children, adults, and seniors in San Bernardino County. LaSalle’s patients are primarily served by Medi-Cal and they also accept Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle’s clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, 16455 Main St. in Hesperia and 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., is also an Independent Practice Association (IPA) of independently contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics, delivering high quality care to more than 245,000 patients in Fresno, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

LaSalle’s IPA members in the Inland Empire include: LaSalle Medical Associates, Arrowhead Orthopedics, Arther Medical Group, Rancho Medical Group, Rancho Paseo Medical Group, Alessandro Medical Group Banning Medical Group, and San Bernardino Urological Associates. Hospital affiliations include: Rancho Springs Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Community Hospital of San Bernardino, St. Bernadine Medical Center, Mountains Community Hospital, Redland Community Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Corona Regional Medical Center, Riverside County Medical Center, Parkview Community Hospital.

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