Samme's Corner
Samme is the Caduceus mascot who has spent many years observing medical behavior with a critical eye. Samme is never wrong - and he can prove it.
Dear Samme : I am a fit 65-year old man who has been fighting with Medicare the past six months. My brother (who is 67) is with a Medicare Advantage plan in Northern California. As part of his membership, they cover a membership in a fitness club as one of their benefits. He goes to the fitness club four times each week and is now more fit than I. He believes it's helped his golf game, as well as his overall sense of well-being.
I selected Medicare because I wanted to have the most possible choices in which doctors I see, and did not want to be burdened with the referrals that the Medicare Advantage HMOs have. But, I think ...
New for You in 2012
Health insurance is expensive, you're shouldering a larger share of healthcare costs, and getting sick can really pinch your pocketbook. Many of the conditions physicians see in their offices are directly related to lifestyle choices- which means they can be reversed by making different choices. Giving you greater power to manage your personal health will make it easier for you to make better choices that benefit both your body and your wallet.
To give you greater control over your healthcare, we are rolling out the following services February 1:
Appointments: all appointments for primary care, pediatrics, optometry and gynecology services can now be made directly online. No need to “Reserve an Appointment.” Select an office location, select a service, select a provider, choose your date and time and confirm. That's it. Appointments for Specialists will continue to use the “Reserve an Appointment” feature on this website.
Skype Consults: visits with physicians for dermatology or reviewing abnormal test results can now be conducted using Skype from the comfort of your home (or office). No longer do you need to come to the office for these services.
EasyLab: a comprehensive lab panel reveals enormous amounts of information about your health status and your organ functions to both you and your physician. Many people put off having lab tests, fearing the cost. To encourage you to get appropriate blood work to benefit you and your physician, we've made five key test panels very affordable. Additionally, we'll email you a copy of the result. Check our Cash Prices on this website.
FastPay: we've added the ability to pay your bill online directly from your bank account.
Podcasts: our physicians are launching a series of podcasts based on real health issues seen in their offices. The brief Q & A session will address a specific health problem and provide real-life solutions for resolving it. The podcasts will be available from this website and from our iPhone/Android App.
Whipworm Eggs: the New Immuno Booster
Scientists have been trying to figure out why diseases that affect the immune system have increased dramatically over the past several decades in much of the developed world. Many scientists support the "hygiene hypothesis," which says our environment has become too clean: humans are no longer exposed to micro-organisms in the environment as they used to be, when society was more agrarian. The theory contends that lessened exposure to disease ultimately results in a weakened immunosystem.
Researchers at the University of Iowa tested this theory by selecting a "safe" parasite, whipworm from pigs (not known to cause illness in humans and cannot reproduce in them) to use for therapeutic purposes. According to the researchers, the introduction of whipworm appears to spur the body to produce more of a type of immune cell that counters the inflammatory response from diseases, according to Robert Summers, MD, professor in gastroenterology and hepatology at the university. Eggs are ingested and pass through the stomach to the intestine; the worms then hatch and latch on, stimulating the immune system. After about two weeks they die and are absorbed or excreted.
Dr. Summers published studies in 2005 on the successful use of parasites with Crohn's disease and ulcerative cholitis. Another area of interest is in multiple sclerosis, with two small studies published last year. The studies showed brain lesions decreased in four of five patients three months into treatment, and rebounded two months after treament ended. Some researchers believe this type of therapy holds promise for autism. Montefiore Medical Center and albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York plans to begin research with adult autism volunteers later this year.
What's the Buzz in Healthcare?
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), a product of healthcare reform legislation, will link patients, physicians and large health insurance plans to examine the cost of services and patient health data, with the goal of lowering health care costs. Medicare launched the Pioneer ACO project, in which physicians may choose to participate with patients and insurance organizations to track cost data and health outcomes and report all to the federal government. At this time, the physicians of Caduceus Medical Group have elected not to participate in any ACO. Should you receive a letter which states otherwise, please contact our business office at 714.646.8000 for assistance. Alternatively, you may call 1-800-Medicare for direct assistance.