LaSalle News

Dr. Arteaga cautions that ultimately, the medications you take should always be ones that your doctor feels are best for you. However, a talk with your doctor about the cost of treatment and your ability to pay may result in substantial savings as well as a better health outcome.

(San Bernardino, Calif.) What if your doctor prescribes a new medicine that reacts badly with a prescription you received from a recent emergency room visit, it can happen, sometimes with disastrous results.  How can you prevent this?

“Bring all of your prescriptions with you to every doctor visit, especially those you have given by another doctor or emergency room visit” said Dr. Albert A. Arteaga, founder and president of LaSalle Medical Associates.

Informing your doctor of your current prescriptions helps to determine what medications will work best with your current treatment. It also can ensure that your doctor knows every medication you are taking and that each patient gets the best care possible for the recommended treatment.

“If you take a prescription regularly for an ongoing condition, your physician needs to be aware of it,” said Dr. Arteaga.

Dr. Arteaga encourages every patient to make their physician aware of all prescription and over-the-counter medications they are taking, as well as any vitamins and herbal supplements.

Medications and their containers come in different shapes, sizes and contents. Make sure your doctor knows about all of medications you are taking.

By providing this vital information, your doctor is able to determine if you are taking any medications you no longer need or taking more than one drug to treat the same condition.  Your doctor will also be able to tell if the reason for your visit is a side effect of your current medication and reduce the risk for any future adverse drug interaction.

Dr. Arteaga also points out that when you bring your prescriptions to your scheduled doctor visit, you may be able to minimize your out-of-pocket costs as well. In fact, there may be a less expensive variety of the same medication.

“Remember, newer isn’t always better,” said Dr. Arteaga. ”Some older drugs may work just as well for you and cost you a lot less.”

Dr. Arteaga cautions that ultimately, the medications you take should always be ones that your doctor feels are best for you.  However, a talk with your doctor about the cost of treatment and your ability to pay may result in substantial savings as well as a better health outcome.

For more an appointment or more information call LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. at (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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LaSalle Medical Associates can provide students entering grades 7-12 a free Tdap immunization if they have Medi-Cal, Healthy Families or no health insurance. Tdap covers pertussis, for which all students in these grades must be immunized before starting school. Call today to schedule this immunization and others these and younger children may need. Photo by Chris Sloan

(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.

New this year is a state of California requirement 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 were immunized against pertussis before they started kindergarten,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. “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. 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.

Dr. Arteaga urges parents to schedule appointments for their child’s back-to-school examinations as soon as possible. With most Inland Empire children starting school in only a few weeks, a delay could result in children missing school.

Finances need not be a concern.

“Children in families who receive either Medi-Cal or Healthy Families will not be charged for these 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. Children who have insurance, but whose insurance doesn’t cover the cost of the vaccine, may also be eligible.

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 Blvd. in Fontana, 1505 West 17th St. and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave. in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia.

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

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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.

“As pediatricians, we strive for 100 percent immunizations of pediatric patients and, while that’s probably a utopian objective, our goal is to get as close as to that 100 percent as we can,’’ says Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and founder of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. . “This CDC recognition is the fruit of two to three years of intense labor on part of the LaSalle staff, my wife Maria and I.” Photo by Carl Dameron

 

(San Bernardino, CA) The transmission of the influenza (flu) virus from health care professional to patients has become a growing concern. In fact, each year in the United States, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized, with as many as 49,000 people dying after contracting the flu.

To a large degree, the flu virus is passed from person to person. A fact that has not been lost at San Bernardino based LaSalle Medical Associates. Dr. Arteaga understands that health care professionals play a key role in combating the spread of the flu virus. LaSalle Medical Associates has a culture of preventative care, starting with their employees and family.

“It is extremely important for us to show leadership and to set an example for our patients by getting immunized to prevent germs from circulating,” said Dr. Albert A. Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates. “In many cases we may be the only barriers to preventing the spread of the virus.  Therefore, we encourage our staff to do exactly what we are asking others to do.”

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recently released its annual report on vaccination rates among health care employees across the state. It says that while employee vaccination rates has increased slightly form 2010 to 2011, only 64 percent of health care personnel receive vaccinations to combat against the flu.

Operating clinics in Hesperia, Fontana and two in San Bernardino, LaSalle Medical Associates boast an overall average of 91 percent vaccination rate for staff and health care workers.

As a dedicated advocate for immunizations, Dr. Arteaga stresses that vaccinations remain the single most effective tool to fight the spread of the virus from professional to patient.

“I believe that the vaccination of all health care professionals is essential in preventing transmission of germs causing illness from patient to patient,” said Dr. Arteaga. “At LaSalle we are doing everything possible to lead by example, and encourage our employees to receive flu vaccinations. In fact, our corporate office has a 100 percent flu vaccination rate.”

Nurse gives an immunization. LaSalle Medical Associates has a culture of preventative care, starting with its employees and their families.

This is a belief that Dr. Arteaga holds very dear. In fact, he believes it so strongly that he personally asked all of the LaSalle staff to get their vaccinations, as well as their families. As a result, LaSalle offered its employees and family members vaccinations free of charge.

“The importance of this issue in preventative health should not be minimized. However, it must be a belief that is embraced from the top down,” said Dr. Arteaga. “I am very proud of our employees. Our entire staff has really answered the call to be proactive and create a barrier to the spread of germs by using this preventative measure. ”

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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“We are seeing the results of three years of work coming to fruition,’’ says Arteaga on his honor as a CDC Immunization Champion. “To me, as a pediatrician, 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 all at the last minute.”

Dr. Albert Arteaga is California’s First-Ever CDC Childhood Immunization Champion

(San Bernardino, Calif.)  Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and founder of LaSalle Medical Associates, is California’s first-ever CDC Childhood Immunization Champion and one of only 39 across the country receiving the prestigious honor.

The award given by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes advocates who work to make sure children are protected by immunizations. Nominations for the award are open to one individual from each state. Already, LaSalle’s clinics boast a 91 percent influenza immunization coverage rate among its staff and medical associates, which serves as an example for its patients.

“We are seeing the results of three years of work coming to fruition,’’ says Arteaga on his honor as a CDC Immunization Champion. “To me, as a pediatrician, 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 all at the last minute.”

In recent years, Dr. Arteaga and his staff have increased childhood immunizations rates among their patients. Highlighting this success is a pilot project created a few years ago in which each LaSalle clinic staff collected, sorted and organized data identifying pediatric patients in need of updates to their childhood immunization charts. Parents of those children were called and asked to bring them in for their immunizations, Dr. Arteaga says.

This pilot project is now a permanent part of LaSalle’s culture and routine, Arteaga says.

“As pediatricians, we strive for 100 percent immunizations of pediatric patients and, while that’s probably a utopian objective, our goal is to get as close as to that 100 percent as we can. And, friendly reminders can only go so far, which is a reason we needed a better approach,’’ says Dr. Arteaga. “This CDC recognition is the fruit of two to three years of intense labor on part of me and staff.”

While the number of children receiving vaccinations in pediatric offices is high, the percentage of those children whose vaccinations are up to date may not be, says Dr. Arteaga. This statistic is in no way a reflection of a possible deficiency in services as the onus is on the parents to ensure their children are up to date on their vaccines. LaSalle’s goal is to ensure each pediatric patient’s immunization chart is updated.

“Friendly reminders can only go so far, which is a reason we needed a better approach to reach parents. The CDC recognition is a reflection of our work to reach parents,’’ Dr. Arteaga says. “From a pediatric stand-point, this honor has major impact because unlike, lets say surgeons whose mark of excellence is based on surgery outcomes, a pediatrician’s performance is marked by how much we do in pediatrics. Ensuring our patients timely immunizations is a big component of our jobs and a mark of excellence.”

The CDC Childhood Immunization Champion Award is given jointly by the CDC and the CDC Foundation. It is given annually to individuals who are doing an exemplary job or going above and beyond to promote or foster childhood immunizations in their communities.

Individuals were selected for the honor based on the following criteria:

• Has provided community leadership on immunization issues and collaborated with others to build support for and increase immunization rates of infants and young children.
• Has used creative and/or innovative strategies to promote infant and young child immunization and meet unique immunization challenges within their community, state or region, including, for example, reaching hard-to-reach or under-immunized populations.
• Has been a visible immunization champion in a community and/or medical system by acting as a spokesperson, advocate, and/or educator.
• Has been an advocate for immunization policy advancements.

This year’s nominations were submitted directly to state immunization programs. Managers of those programs reviewed and evaluated nominees and then made a recommendation to the CDC.

“This CDC recognition is the fruit of two to three years of intense labor on part of me and staff,” says Dr. Albert Arteaga.

In his nomination letter, Dr. Arteaga’s accomplishments noted several community collaborations and outreach efforts to build support for increasing childhood vaccination rates as well as promoting vaccines for various common communicable viruses, such as the seasonal flu. An example is a 2011 partnership with the Inland Empire African American Chamber of Commerce, where Dr. Arteaga co-sponsored a series of Public Service Announcements (PSA) on local radio stations promoting the flu vaccine. Messages were delivered in English and in Spanish.

In addition, and as a member of the Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) Provider Advisory Council, Dr. Arteaga promotes utilizing provider reimbursements as an incentive to increase immunization rates of its members through the Healthy Families Program. Dr. Arteaga is also diligent in clarifying or dispelling common misinformation associated with childhood immunizations. To aid in these efforts, he produces and publishes a quarterly patient newsletter providing insight on vaccinations as well as to dispel any myths and concerns.

As president of the Latino Health Collaborative and a former San Bernardino County First 5 commissioner, Dr. Arteaga advocates for increasing funding for childhood immunizations. He also served on the California State Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board as the physician representative for Healthy Families, advocating for an increase in childhood vaccinations.

Left to right: Dr. Albert Arteaga, President of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc., California State Senator Gloria Negrette-McLoud, Carl Maier, LaSalle’s Executive Vice President of Operations and in the back Carl Dameron president of Dameron Communicaitons, LaSalle’s Public Relations firm.

“Dr. Albert Arteaga’s leadership and collaboration with others to build support for and increase immunization rates for hard-to-reach and under-immunized populations is commendable,’’ says Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod. “His work with disease prevention of children and minorities is a testament to his commitment to improve community health. I want to congratulate Dr. Arteaga for his work and recognition as one of California’s CDC Childhood Immunization champions.’’

Award recipients were announced during National Infant Immunization Week, April 21-28.
For more information call LaSalle Medical Associates corporate office at (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.

These handy poster with instructions is available for free at all LaSalle Medical Associates offices in San Bernardino, Fontana and Hesperia, or download this one today.

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)  Swimming and other water activities are excellent opportunities for physical activity however they also can lead to unintentional deaths.
With summer around the corner and water growing in popularity for child’s play, LaSalle Medical Associates is urging local residents to remain cautious and vigilant around swimming pools regardless of size.

“The average 2-year-old is two-and-a-half to three feet tall so while a two foot tall wading pool seems safe to an adult, it is a danger to a small child,’’ said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and founder of LaSalle Medical Associates Inc. on pool safety. “Small children can drown in only a few inches of water so parents, grandparents, and babysitters need to pay attention to children around any sized swimming pools.”

The leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, and the highest rate among children is drowning. This information according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the United States, drowning is the leading cause of injury death among children ages one to four. It is estimated three in 10 drowning victims are children younger than age five.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates 260 children under age 5 drown in pools each year. The agency also estimates nearly 3,000 hospital emergency room visits are due to incidents involving children, under age five, playing in swimming pools.

“We, as adults, become complacent because children are having fun or we feel comfortable in our environment at the time. But, swimming pools are potentially dangerous for children and we have to keep this in mind all the time,” says Barbara Graber, the education and audit coordinator for LaSalle.

Wadding pools are very affordable however, parents looking into buying small, portable pools such as a wading pool should consider those with sides rigid enough for children to grab. Also, the pool’s surface should be sturdy and not slick so as to avoid slipping. photo by Carl Dameron

To prevent drowning, the recommendations are to:

• Learn survival swimming skills.
• Avoid using alcohol while swimming or supervising children near water.
• Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while swimming or playing in or around water.
• Never let older children be in charge of younger children in pool areas.
• Place a fence around pools or spas with a gate that locks. Keep gate closed and locked at all times.
• Never swim alone.
• Keep a cordless, water-resistant phone near the pool in the event of an emergency.

Parents looking into buying small, portable pools such as a wading pool should consider those with sides rigid enough for children to grab. Also, the pool’s surface should be sturdy and not slick so as to avoid slipping.

In each of its four clinics, LaSalle’s Clinic Safety Committee has, on display, posters with pool safety tips. These posters are available to the public, LaSalle officials say.

“The idea is to keep these safety tips in the face of parents in order to convey the message,’’ Arteaga says. “Drowning can become a tragedy, but it is one that is most avoidable.”

In addition to pool safety, LaSalle is also encouraging local residents to protect their skin while enjoying time outside in the sun.

“More time in the pool means more time in the sun and the sun can cause serious sunburns even possibly leading to various levels of skin cancer later in life,’’ Graber says.
Graber suggests using sun block with a SPF of at least 15, which will stop 93 percent of the sun’s harmful ultra violet rays.

Remember to reapply after swimming, she says.

To pick up a free pool safety poster listing important safety tips for children and seniors, go to at any of the four LaSalle’s Inland Empire clinics: in San Bernardino at 1505 West 17th Street and 565 North Mt. Vernon Avenue, or in Fontana at 17577 Arrow Boulevard, and in Hesperia clinic at 16455 Main Street.

For more information or to make an appointment, 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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Victor Madero, LaSalle Medical Associates New Director of Network Development. Photo by Michael Downer.

(San Bernardino, Calif.) LaSalle Medical Associates has a reputation for a commitment to providing community-based healthcare that ensures maximum availability of medical services.  In keeping with this commitment, LaSalle Medical Associates is excited by the addition of Victor H. Madero as their new Director of Network Development.

In his new role with LaSalle, Victor Madero will lead the strategic effort for LaSalle’s expansion of its Independent Practice Association (IPA) network in Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Kings, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare Counties.

“There are three branches of the healthcare field,” said Victor. “Health plans, hospital systems, and managed care organizations. Having worked for both a health plan and a hospital, this was the natural progression for me to work for a managed care organization with a reputation for quality health care, like LaSalle. It just seemed to fit. I am very excited about joining the LaSalle family.”

LaSalle Medical Associates is poised to expand its independently contracted doctors, hospitals, and clinics throughout California.  Victor will be responsible for creating business strategies for negotiating contracts with new and existing large physician groups, hospitals, and clinics.  His leadership will focus on maintaining optimum levels of quality care for a network with close to 200,000 lives.

“We are delighted to welcome Victor to LaSalle Medical Associates,” said Dr. Albert A. Arteaga, founder and president of LaSalle Medical Associates. “His diverse healthcare experience and insights gained through work with Anthem Blue Cross and White Memorial Medical Center will play an integral part in building the type of relationships our providers can not only trust, but may rely on to be responsive to their needs.”

“My primary goal with LaSalle Medical Associates is to partner with a range of health care providers and to help expand the choice of hospitals, primary, and specialty care physicians into new communities in order to increase medical access where patients need it most” said Victor. “Building trusting relationships has always been a key component in the positions I have worked in. My desire is for our providers to feel like an extension of the LaSalle family within their county. In order to be a true partner, we need to show our commitment to actively helping them grow, and not merely managing from a distance. Although we are a large organization, we would like to cast the shadow of a smaller organization by listening and knowing what our providers need most to be successful.”

For more information call LaSalle Medical Associates corporate office

at (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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Lowell King, Regional Operations Officer for Goodwill Southern California and Carl Maier, Executive Vice President of LaSalle Medical Associates agreeing to partnership that provides local jobs. Photo by Michael Downer

(San Bernardino, Calif.) Transforming lives through the power of work. For many throughout the Inland Empire, the Goodwill of Southern California plays a vital role as an employment resource. In addition, local businesses see them as a partner ensuring highly sensitive documents are disposed of properly and within regulated guidelines.

Joining that growing list of businesses partners is LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. Operating a total of four clinics in Fontana, Hesperia and San Bernardino, LaSalle has partnered with Goodwill Industries to meet with HIPPA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations, requiring the proper disposal of unneeded documents.

“This is the kind of alignment opportunity we look for,” said Carl Maier, Executive Vice President of Operations for LaSalle Medical Associates. “By partnering with Goodwill we are ensuring we maintain compliance, while partnering with a local organization. We are doing something good for the environment and providing local job opportunities for those with disabilities. It really doesn’t get any better than that.”

The income Goodwill generates from its shredding service assists in funding education, job training and placement services, providing people who have disabilities and other vocational disadvantages the opportunity to become productive and self-sufficient in the community.

LaSalle is dedicated to their belief of doing more together than you can apart, this partnership with Goodwill Industries assists in maintaining local employment opportunities for 25 individuals with disabilities.

Goodwill’s journey to provide shredding services began in 2005, with the desire to become self-sufficient and create opportunities for its participants, which would generate a positive cash flow.

“We realized that government funding support changed and is no longer what it once was,” said Lowell King, Regional Operations Officer for Goodwill Southern California. “As a nonprofit, we wanted to become more self-sufficient. When we began to look at our options, shredding aligned well with our organization.”

Certified by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), the shredding program, which is available nationally, was launched in Southern California in 2005 and expanded to the Inland Empire in 2007. Each Goodwill Secure Bin is bar coded and tracked. The facility is under 24-hour video surveillance, guarded by security personnel 24 hours per day. In addition, all Goodwill Secure Shredding trucks have GPS tracking.

“NAID certified is the premier certification in the shredding industry,” said King. “We are proud of our chain of custody and process in the handling of documents and that we actually exceed every regulation required for shredding.”

In fact the chain of custody concept implemented by Goodwill ensures that document containers are not only locked, but that they are never left unattended.  Even clients can’t retrieve items once they are placed in the container.

“In life, there are three things that are very transformational; your faith, your health and a job,” said King. “Our contracts help organizations to be environmentally conscience as well as help provide jobs to those with disabilities. By partnering with organizations like LaSalle, we are changing lives by getting folks working that never had that opportunity before. At the end of the day, that is a good feeling.”

On the heels of this successful partnership, LaSalle is currently working to extend this same service to members of its Independent Practice Association (IPA).  Located throughout California, their network of 1,900 contracted doctors, hospitals and clinics deliver high quality patient care with more than 190,000 patient visits per year.

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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(San Bernardino, Calif.) Clean hands save lives! It’s a simple message repeated by health care providers and agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), daily.

Keeping hands clean is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of infection and illness, such as the common cold and influenza, says Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates.

As you touch people, surfaces, pets and objects, you accumulate germs on your hands, and although it’s impossible to keep your hands germ-free, washing your hands frequently can help limit the transfer of germs.

“Just think about all the things you touch everyday. You come in contact with germs all the time, so there are many opportunities to wash your hands,’’ says Arteaga.

Consider these key facts about hand washing from the CDC:

• A third of adults in the U.S. do not wash their hands after using the bathroom.
• One in four adults don’t wash their hands after changing diapers.
• Less than half of Americans wash hands after cleaning after pets.
• A third of adults wash hands after sneezing/coughing.
• Less than one in five adults washes their hands after touching money.
• One in three E. coli occurrences is caused from not washing hands before handling food.

How to Wash

“If hands are kept clean, the transmission of germs from person to person is greatly reduced,” Arteaga says. “But just holding your hands under running water won’t do the trick. There are proper techniques to follow,” he continued.

The best way to effectively eliminate most germs, Dr. Arteaga says, is to wash your hands with soap and water for about 15 to 20 seconds, followed by a good rinse.

“Be sure to wash the backs of your hands, between your fingers where germs can hide, and under your fingernails,’’ Dr. Arteaga says. “You must scrub your hands vigorously for at least 15 to 20 seconds to remove germs.”

For those concerned about time, Dr. Arteaga suggests looking no further than the “ABC Song.” He says singing the “ABC Song,” which is about 20 seconds in length, is not only effective in timing your own hand washing but is a unique way to help children develop their vocabulary skills and understand the importance of proper hand washing.

As an extra precaution, when using public restrooms, Dr. Arteaga suggests drying your hands with a paper towel, using it to turn off the water. Then, before discarding the paper towel, use it to open or close the bathroom door.

In the event a sink and or soap and water are not available, Dr. Arteaga suggests using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel or wipes, which are also effective in eliminating germs. But, Dr. Arteaga also points out, soap and water is still best in removing germs and bacteria.

“Many people use alcohol-based hand sanitizers, but if there is visible dirt on your hands, the alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not going to be as effective,’’ he says. “You need to use soap and water to rinse the dirt off your hands. If your hands aren’t visibly dirty, and you do not have soap and water available, make sure the hand sanitizer contains at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective in killing most germs and viruses.”

When to Wash

Wash your hands before and after you eat, use the toilet, change a diaper, touch an animal, blow your nose, cough or sneeze, handle garbage and touch a computer screen or telephone.

Dr. Arteaga says it is also good practice to wash your hands after visiting a park, entering our homes, and using our computers and telephones.

“Repetition is the mother of conversation,’’ he says. “The more you repeat something, the more it becomes ingrained in you to do it. So we must continue to instruct people on the proper way to wash their hands so that they don’t forget.”

Dr. Arteaga and his wife, Maria, a registered nurse, founded LaSalle Medical Associates 27 years ago. He and his team of 120 health care professionals treat thousands of patients for infectious diseases, such as the common cold and seasonal influenza each year.

LaSalle operates clinics in Fontana, Hesperia and San Bernardino.

LaSalle Medical Associates is an Independent Physicians Association (IPA), which has a membership of 1,900 health care professionals serving 190,000 patients in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Kings, Madera, San Joaquin and Tulare counties.

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

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Carl Maier, LaSalle Medical Associates VP of Operations.

(San Bernardino, Calif.) LaSalle Medical Associates continues its strong commitment of providing quality patient care, with the addition of Carl Maier as Executive Vice President of Operations.

A seasoned healthcare executive, Maier will oversee the overall operational policies and procedures, network development, marketing and strategic planning, for LaSalle.

In addition, Maier will steer the operations and strategic partnerships of LaSalle’s Independent Practice Association’s (IPA) network of 1,900 independently contracted providers, with more than 190,000 patient visits per year in Los Angeles, Madera, Riverside, San Bernardino, Fresno, Kings, San Joaquin and Tulare Counties.

“Carl’s superb knowledge of healthcare operations and has the ability to create an integrated system, together with his unique ability to develop trusting relationships with physicians are a tremendous asset to LaSalle Medical Associates,” said Dr. Albert A. Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates.

Before Joining LaSalle, Maier served as the Chief Marketing Officer for Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP) and the Chief Executive Officer of OneAero Inc., an aviation parts supply marketing company. Managing a budget of $5.6 million and supervising nearly 100 staff, his expertise and knowledge of the healthcare industry played a pivotal role in IEHP achieving several milestones, including: increasing Medi-Cal market share, improving call center satisfaction ratings and creation of a marketing and outreach system that was ultimately adopted by the State of California.

“LaSalle Medical Associates believes we can do more together than we can alone.  That means forming strong partnerships with our providers and organizations like MedPOINT Management, which helps us with much of the day to day operations,” said Maier. “My role is to ensure that our teams work well together, and that we deliver a better provider and patient experience.”

Maier earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside. His interests include: ancient history, running, art history, scuba diving and skiing.

Maier’s professional associations include: California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Olmstead Advisory Committee (2007-2009), Local Health Plans of California Marketing Executives Committee (2002-2009), California HealthCare Foundation Performance Standards for People with Disabilities Work Group (2005), California HealthCare Foundation Retention Work Group (2004), A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management Alumni Association Advisory Board (1999- 2001).

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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Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, congratulates Dr. Franklin Chu upon receiving the inaugural "We Care Award". Photo by Michael Downer

(San Bernardino, Calif.) The LaSalle Medical Associates recently presented its inaugural “We Care Award” to the San Bernardino Urological Associates, which was accepted by founding member Dr. Franklin Chu.

Created by Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, the award pays tribute to doctors for their commitment to providing quality service and patient care in the local community.

Dr. Chu and his team continue to deliver quality care for the well being of their patients for more than 27 years. Dr. Chu says that sometimes, patients come to him very upset because they need or are on Medi-Cal.  With offices in San Bernardino and Apple Valley, he explains that it is important to understand the frustration of his patients, giving them a little more leeway to express themselves.

The issue revolves around the predisposition of some doctors to provide socio-economically challenged patients with care that is not of the highest available quality, based on what saves time and money for the physician and their practice.

“When I am treating patients, I don’t differentiate in the type of care they receive based on their coverage. You would never be able to tell if the patient I am seeing is privately insured, utilizes a HMO or is a Medi-Cal patient. Once I see the patient I see a person who needs medical care, not what they are paying me. Their healthcare is the most important thing to me,” said Dr. Chu.

As the president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Dr. Arteaga operates clinics in San Bernardino, Fontana and Hesperia, as well 1900 physician members in his Independent Practice Group (IPA). Understanding the challenges and demands in providing quality care, he explains that too often our focus is on the disappointments and not the good things that happen in life.  We created this award to direct that focus to highlight the positive things and people we encounter.

“We feel strongly that Dr. Chu and his staff are an excellent example of quality service is all about,” said Dr. Arteaga. “The time has come that we recognize them for all they do time and again, without any recognition. They are truly unsung heroes.”

Dr. Arteaga points out that as a specialist, you often see patients who have a great need of care. Dr. Chu and his staff were selected due to their ability to consistently provide high quality, sensitive care with understanding to patients.

The San Bernardino Urological Associates is conveniently located across the street from St. Bernardino Medical Center at 89 East 21^st Street. Offering an excellent medical research program, cutting edge medications and treatment methods are often made available to cancer patients locally.

For additional information about San Bernardino Urological Associates call (909) 882-2973.  For information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go on line to www.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.

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