Dr. Albert Arteaga of LaSalle Medical Associates and Kimberly Carey, president of MedPoint Management have aligned to streamline operations and enhance LaSalle Medical Associates' ability to provide patients quality health care.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. recently selected a new health care management company, MedPoint Management.
“Together with MedPoint Management we will streamline our operations and enhance LaSalle Medical Associates’ ability to provide patients quality health care,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates.
“MedPoint Management meets health care providers’ needs with a personalized approach to health care management,” said Kimberly Carey, president of MedPoint Management. “We combine the use of advanced technology with the vast health care experience of our employees to help providers meet the challenges of serving a diverse population in the rapidly changing health care environment.”
MedPoint Management assists Independent Practice Associations, more often known in the health care field as IPAs, with management services. These services include processing of insurance claims, resolving grievances, verifying credentials of health care practitioners, advising health care providers about new policies of the health maintenance organizations (HMOs) they work with, evaluating the quality and outcomes of patient care (and, when necessary, making recommendations for improvement), and tracking services provided to those with certain health conditions.
MedPoint Management will work not just with LaSalle Medical Associates’ four clinics in San Bernardino County, but with other practices in the Inland Empire, Los Angeles and San Joaquin Valley that are members of the LaSalle Medical Associates Independent Practice Association.
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 or go on line to LaSalleMedicalassociates.com.
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.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) A November 2010 study by the Insure The Uninsured Project shows that 25.1 percent of San Bernardino County residents under age 65 – more than one in four – are without insurance. In Riverside County, it’s even worse, as 28 percent of people under age 65 there are without insurance.
This is almost 1 million people, and a good many of them are members of the Inland Empire’s middle class. Another study, released by the California Healthcare Foundation in December 2010 shows more stunning statistics about the state’s uninsured population.
Working people in California are more likely to be uninsured than in the United States as a whole, even if they are self-employed or work for a government entity.
More than half of California’s uninsured children are in families where at least one adult has a full-time, year-round job.
One in three of California’s uninsured have family incomes of more than $50,000 a year.
That means that while many of the 7.2 million uninsured California residents earn an otherwise comfortable living, the rising cost of insurance has forced them to view health care as an unaffordable luxury.
Help for uninsured people making up to $88,200 for a family of four is coming in 2014. The national exchange is a key piece of the federal Affordable Health Care Act of 2010.
“In 2014, people will be able to purchase insurance from a national exchange,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, founder and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates. “This exchange will be similar to California’s Healthy Families program, but it will also be available to adults, and to anyone in families making up to four times as much as the poverty level.”
In San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the poverty level is $22,050 per year for a family of four. Larger families will qualify for the exchange even if they make more than $88,200, while individuals and smaller families qualify at lower incomes.
The provisions of this act don’t fully kick in until 2014, but government entities at the federal, state and local levels are already working with health care providers to make the transition to full implementation of this act.
Dr. Arteaga expects there will be some changes to the Affordable Health Care Act of 2010 before it is fully implemented, but is looking forward to the reforms.
“No matter how it is modified, the Affordable Care Act is still a step forward,” he said. “We eventually need to move to everyone having access to health care, whenever they need it.”
The consequences of people being forced to live without health insurance can be tragic.
“Saying someone can live without health insurance is like saying they can live without God in their life,” said Dr. Arteaga. “It may work, until there is a crisis.”
Many health care providers, including LaSalle Medical Associates, help people meet their health care needs by making office visits as affordable as possible.
Dr. Arteaga urges those who must pay cash to do so for annual immunizations and health screenings.
“Prevention is not popular, and I can understand why it may seem difficult to pay money to see a doctor when nothing is wrong,” he said. “But in the long run, it often is much more economical than waiting until something is seriously wrong.”
Often, there are already affordable options to being completely without health insurance. This is especially true for uninsured children.
Perhaps the most startling statistic from the California Healthcare Foundation is: As many as six in 10 of uninsured children are eligible for California’s two largest public insurance programs, Medi-Cal and Healthy Families.
Medi-Cal is for low-income families with children, all children in foster care, and low-income adults who are seniors, disabled, pregnant or coping with certain chronic diseases.
Qualification is based on family size, and ages of the children. County departments of social services determine eligibility.
Both San Bernardino and Riverside counties have multiple branches of their department of public social services. One can find the branch nearest them by calling (951) 955-6400 in Riverside County or (909) 388-0245 in San Bernardino County.
According to Healthy Families’ website. www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov, a family of four (two adults and two children, or one adult and three children) would usually qualify for Medi-Cal if making less than $44,100 yearly. Larger families could make more, and smaller families qualify on a lower income.
Healthy Families partially subsidizes health care for children under 19. This costs their families between $4 and $24 per month per child, up to a maximum of $72 per month per family. These families must also pay co-pays, usually about $5 to $15 per doctor visit, up to $250 per family each year.
Healthy Families is for families whose household income is too much for Medi-Cal but below another state standard, according to www.healthyfamilies.ca.gov. A family of four would qualify if making up to $55,128, with larger families eligible even if they earn more and smaller families qualifying on a lower income.
Families can enroll in Healthy Families with help from their doctor’s office. They have a choice of plans, which in the Inland Empire includes Inland Empire Health Plan, Molina Health Care, Anthem Blue Cross, Health Net and Kaiser Permanente.
LaSalle Medical Associates in California, with offices in San Bernardino, Fontana and Hesperia, has enrolled more families than most medical practices anywhere in California.
The LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, (909) 823-4454; 1505 West 17th St, (909) 887-6494, and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave., (909) 884-9091 in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia, (760) 947-2161.
For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.
Photos: Start your family off right in 2011 by following 10 tips for better health, offered by LaSalle Medical Associates and the Center for Disease Control.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) “The new year is a time to celebrate and make resolutions for better health,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga of LaSalle Medical Associates.
The Center for Disease Control offers 10 tips that almost everyone can follow to make their new year a great one. 1. Wash hands often.
“Keeping your hands clean is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and if they are not available use a hand sanitizer or similar alcohol-based product.” 2. Stay warm and dry.
“Cold temperatures can cause serious health problems, especially in infants and older adults,” said Dr. Arteaga. “In inclement weather, people should take special precautions to stay dry, and dress warmly in several layers of loose-fitting clothing.
“While this may not seem to be a big problem in Southern California, the recent rainy weather proves precautions are necessary,” Dr. Arteaga noted. “We also sometimes must contend with frost, and even snow in the higher elevations of the Inland Empire.” 3. Manage stress.
“The holiday season is often a time of over-commitment and over-spending,” Dr. Arteaga noted. “Now that they are over it is a good time to resolve for more balance between work, home and play. Keep a relaxed and positive attitude, and if you are struggling to find that balance, get help from family, friends or a physician.” 4. Travel safely.
“Whether traveling across town or around the world, stay safe,” said Dr. Arteaga. “Don’t drink and drive. Don’t travel with a driver who has been drinking. Fasten your seat belt, and if you are traveling with children, make sure they are buckled into a child safety seat, booster seat or seat belt, as appropriate for their size and age. Infants should be in rear-facing car seats if they are less than 1 year old or weigh less than 20 lbs.” 5. Be smoke free.
“Avoid smoking and don’t breathe others people’s smoke,” said Dr. Arteaga. “Talk to your LaSalle doctor or other health care provider if you need help quitting.” 6. Get check-ups and vaccinations.
“Exams and screenings can help find problems before they start, or at least early, when the chances for treatment and cure are better,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Vaccinations can help prevent diseases.”
Dr. Arteaga recommends scheduling a consultation with your LaSalle doctor or other health care provider to determine what tests and screenings are needed, as they vary based on a person’s age, lifestyle, medical and family health history and even plans for travel to foreign countries. 7. Watch the kids.
“Children are at higher risk for injuries that can lead to death or disability, so keep a watchful eye on kids when they’re eating or playing,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Keep potentially dangerous toys, food, drinks, household items and other items out of kids’ reach.” 8. Prevent injuries.
“Injuries can occur anywhere, anytime,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Many occur in winter months, and most residential fires occur during winter months. Prevent fires by never leaving fireplaces, stoves or candles unattended, and don’t use generators, outdoor grills or other gasoline or charcoal burning devices inside your home.
Dr. Arteaga also recommends every home have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, which residents test monthly and replace batteries in twice yearly, at the start and end of daylight savings time. 9. Handle and prepare food safely.
“Keep you and your family safe from food-related illnesses,” Dr. Arteaga said. “This is another reason washing hands is important. It’s also important to keep food preparation surfaces clean, and avoid cross-contamination by keeping eggs and raw meat, including poultry and seafood, away from other food preparation and eating surfaces. Foods should be cooked to the proper temperature, and that which isn’t consumed immediately should be refrigerated promptly, at the very latest within two hours of cooking.” 10. Eat healthy, and be active.
“Choose fresh fruit instead of candy,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Find fun ways to stay active for at least 2.5 hours a week. Kids and teens should be active at least one hour a day.”
For help in making any of the above tips a part of your new lifestyle for 2011, contact a health care provider such as LaSalle Medical Associates.
The LaSalle medical clinics are at 17577 Arrow Blvd. in Fontana, (909) 823-4454; 1505 West 17th St, (909) 887-6494, and 565 N. Mt. Vernon Ave., (909) 884-9091 in San Bernardino, and 16455 Main St. in Hesperia, (760) 947-2161.
For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.
Stay healthy. Get a flu vaccine. Call LaSalle Medical Associates at (909) 890-0407 to schedule yours today!
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) The H1N1 pandemic is over, but there is only one way to make sure flu doesn’t come back into your life – get a flu shot every year.
“The Center for Disease Control recommends a yearly flu vaccination as the first and most important step in protecting against the flu,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga of LaSalle Medical Associates. “This year’s seasonal flu vaccine will protect you against H1N1 and two other types of flu viruses.”
“These three viruses are circulating in many parts of the world, and without immunizations, chances are you will come down with one of them,” Dr. Arteaga said.
“The H1N1 virus was especially powerful, causing many hospitalizations and deaths” he said. “It had never been detected in humans prior to 2009, which meant no one was immune.
“Now, many people are immune, but the best way to be sure is to have the vaccination,” Dr. Arteaga said. “Even if you have developed immunity to H1N1, you still may be susceptible to one of the other viruses that are making the rounds. They can be just as deadly.”
“Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated,” Dr. Arteaga said. “But even if half of the population is immunized, there will be significant protection. That half of the population may prevent their neighbors from getting the flu as well. And if 75 percent of the population is immunized, we can stop the flu dead in its tracks.”
Dr. Arteaga urges parents to have their children (and themselves) vaccinated against the H1N1 and seasonal flu viruses.
“Children are especially at risk, because they have more opportunities to be exposed to the virus,” he said.
Even though adults may be at somewhat less risk, it is now recommended that everyone, ages 6 months and older, receive a seasonal flu vaccination, Dr. Arteaga said. Those who imply flu vaccines are unnecessary and harmful, he said, are irresponsibly making light of the subject.
“The benefit of flu vaccines has been proven over and over.”
Flu vaccines are available in two forms. The most common is the flu shot, an injected vaccine. A nasal spray vaccine is available as an alternative for most people ages 2 to 49.
To limit the spread of flu, Dr. Arteaga urges anyone with symptoms to stay home from school and work until they are well, and limit contact with others. They also should contact a health care provider, especially if worried about the symptoms.
Everyone should cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth, he said. Also, healthy people should, to the extent possible, avoid contact with those who have flu symptoms.
“Every time we wash our hands, and take precautions when we cough, there is less flu to go around,” Dr. Arteaga said.
For more information about all types of flu, contact the Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov. or by calling 1-800-236-4636, or the California Department of Public Health at www.cdph.ca.gov or 1-888-865-0564.
The San Bernardino County Public Health Department also can provide information on its toll-free number, 1-800-782-4264, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
According to founder Dr. Arteaga, the primary mission of LaSalle’s clinics is “to offer high quality medical care to the whole family with courtesy and respect.”
The LaSalle medical 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.
Dr. Jill Biden recently announced new federal regulations requiring most private health plans to cover preventative medical services.
Dr. Albert Arteaga, President and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, encourages Inland Empire residents to take advantage of the preventative health care services that will soon be covered by private insurance, by scheduling appropriate health screenings. To do so at LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.
(San Bernardino, Calif.) –New federal regulations require new private health plans taking effect on or after Sept. 23, 2010 to cover most preventative medical services without co-payments or other fees.
The United States departments of Health and Human Services, Labor and Treasury issued these new regulations recently. The new rules will provide for free access to preventative services such as blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol tests; many cancer screenings; routine vaccinations; pre-natal care; and regular wellness visits.
That’s good news to Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO and founder of LaSalle Medical Associates. For more than 25 years, Dr. Arteaga has advocated making going to the doctor no more intimidating than going to the grocery store.
“People should be able to come see the doctor before they get sick,” 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.
One of the United States’ most well-known physicians, Dr. Jill Biden (wife of Vice President Joe Biden) also sees making preventive services affordable to all as a necessity.
“One of the best ways to improve the quality of life – and control health care costs – is to prevent illness in the first place,” said Dr. Biden, who announced these regulations for the three federal departments that created them. “Focusing on prevention and early treatment makes more sense than trying to play catch-up with a potentially deadly disease.”
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.
To make an appointment, or for additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.
-end-
To make sure your kindergartener is happy, healthy and does well in school make an appointment today for the required kindergarten physical. Students who play sports, and in some cases, students attending college, also need physicals. (Photo by Carl Dameron)
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – For many students, seeing the doctor for a physical evaluation is necessary at the start of a new school year.
“Physicals are required when a child enters school in California, most commonly kindergarten,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. “And if an older child is into sports, almost all schools will require them to obtain a physical at the beginning of the season. Also, college students often need back-to-school physicals as a condition of living on campus.”
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 himself 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 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 preventative 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.”
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. “
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.
To make an appointment, or for additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407.
Keep your baby happy and healthy like Alondra by making sure she has the proper vaccinations. DTap, which prevents whooping cough, is an especially important vaccination as California is experiencing an epidemic of the disease and already one baby has died from it in San Bernardino County. Photo by Carl Dameron
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) – “Pertussis is now an epidemic in California’,” states the San Bernardino County Public Health Department website.
Statewide, there have been 910 cases of pertussis, which causes “whooping cough,” reported from January through June 15, the county health department reports. This compares to only 219 cases in the first six months of 2009.
Five infants – all under three months of age – have died from the disease since January. One death was in San Bernardino County this spring.
“But, there is a way to prevent this disease from spreading,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates. “That is by making sure all children are immunized against this sometimes deadly disease.”
Babies should receive immunization against pertussis at 2 months, 4 months, and 6 months of age, according to the Center for Disease Control. Young children should receive booster shots between 15-18 months, and again at ages 4-5 years.
Pertussis, which is administered with vaccines for diphtheria and tetanus, is one of the required immunizations children must have before they begin school. The vaccine given to children age 6 and younger is known as DTaP.
“With many schools in the Inland Empire returning to a new year in August, parents should schedule back-to-school immunizations immediately,” Dr. Arteaga said. “If they wait until only a few days before school starts to make the appointment, we may not be able to see them before their new school year begins.”
“Pertussis is a very serious threat this year,” Dr. Arteaga added. “Children can avoid it and many other diseases simply by staying current on immunizations.”
Four booster immunizations – including DTaP – are needed for all kindergarteners before entering school for the first time, said Dr. Cheryl Emoto, director of medical services. And, as they grow older, children need additional immunizations.
“Children entering kindergarten should receive boosters for DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and Varicella (chicken pox),” Dr. Emoto said. “Fortunately, there is a combination vaccine that is available that allows for only three injections instead of four.”
If parents have kept up with their child’s immunizations from birth, only the above booster immunizations are needed. However, if the child is behind on their other required immunizations, they may need several doses of immunizations to get “caught up.”
New this year, says Dr. Emoto, is an updated pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar 13). This vaccine includes added protection as compared to the older version (Prevnar 7) and all children between 15 months and 5 years of age should have one additional dose of the newer Prevnar, “even if your doctor previously told you that your child was up-to-date.”
When children turn 11, they should receive the meningitis vaccine for the first time, and a Tdap booster, Dr. Emoto said Tdap covers the same diseases (Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis). The Tdap vaccine is particularly important this year because of the pertussis epidemic.
Parents should schedule these vaccines shortly after the child’s 11th birthday, but they also can be part of a back-to-school immunization routine for any student, even those over 18.
“Children older than 11 who have not received these vaccines should also come in to get them,” she said. “And if you have a teenager who is enrolling in college, planning to live in a dormitory, and hasn’t been vaccinated for meningitis and Tdap, they should be vaccinated now.”
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.
Whether young or old, people need immunizations to ensure continued health. LaSalle Medical Associates can provide these needed immunizations at its four clinics in San Bernardino, Fontana and Hesperia.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) “You’re never too old for immunizations.” “It is not just children who need immunizations,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president and CEO of LaSalle Medical Associates. “Especially as we get older, or when we travel to foreign countries, immunizations are a safe way to guard against diseases that could cause unnecessary pain and suffering.” For the very youngest adults, those in the 18-26 age category, two immunizations are especially recommended, although both can be given in the preteen and earlier teen years. The first of these is the meningitis vaccine, as this disease is especially contagious among people who live in close proximity, such as a college dormitory. “If you are enrolling in college, and are planning to live in a dormitory, and you haven’t been vaccinated for meningitis, you should be vaccinated now,” said Dr. Cheryl Emoto, director of medical services for LaSalle Medical Associates. Young adults up to age 26 should also receive a vaccine against the human papiolloma (HPV) virus, which is a sexually transmitted disease that infects the genitals, and can cause cancer in either sex, but is especially likely to cause cervical cancer in women. 2010 is the first year it has been available to males. “The HPV virus is the main cause of cervical cancer in women,” Emoto explained. “It is important that a girl or young woman receive three doses, which are given over a six-month period, before her first sexual encounter in order for the vaccine to be fully effective. Young men can also benefit from this vaccination, especially if they receive it before becoming sexually active.” Young and older adults may also need a tetanus booster, as it should be given every 10 years. There are also vaccinations especially recommended for both middle-aged adults and senior adults. Middle-aged adults, especially those who were less than five years old at any time between 1963 and 1968, should consider a measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccination. This is because a vaccine used during those years relied on a “killed” virus instead of a live virus, which was not as effective as the live virus vaccine used since 1969. Measles/mumps/rubella vaccines are especially crucial for women of childbearing age, and anyone who attends college or trade school, works in health care or will soon travel internationally or on a cruise ship. Adults born prior to 1957 usually do not need measles or mumps vaccines, as most of them contracted both mumps and measles before the first vaccine was developed in 1963. However, any in this age category who either work in health care, or who are pre-menopausal women, should consider the MMR vaccine if they have not yet received it. But there are vaccines needed for older adults. The pneummococal (pneumonia) vaccine is recommended for all over age 65 and Zoster (shingles) vaccine is recommended for all over the age of 60. Adults over these ages are at greater risk of developing serious health problems if they contract these diseases. People of any age who are traveling outside the United States may need vaccinations against diseases that are much more prevalent in other countries, such as hepatitis and meningitis. 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.
The staff of LaSalle Medical Associates are ready to schedule appointments for children who will need back-to-school immunizations before starting a new grade. Beat the rush, call (909) 890-0407 to schedule an appointment before summer even begins. Photo by Chris Sloan
(San Bernardino, Calif.) –With many schools starting in August, it’s not too early to make an appointment now for back-to-school immunizations.
In fact, some children will need to see the doctor for mandatory immunizations before they can start a new year at school.
“It is important not to wait until the last minute,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates, Inc. “In the fall and late summer, we get very busy with these required immunizations. Why not beat the rush, and schedule your family’s immunizations now?”
Four booster immunizations are needed for all kindergarteners before entering school for the first time, said Dr. Cheryl Emoto, director of medical services. And, as they grow older, children need additional immunizations.
“Children entering kindergarten should receive boosters for DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and Varicella (chicken pox),” Dr. Emoto said. “Fortunately, there is a combination vaccine that is available that allows for only three injections instead of four.”
If parents have kept up with their child’s immunizations from birth, only the above booster immunizations are needed. However, if the child is behind on their other required immunizations, they may need several doses of immunizations to get “caught up.”
New this year, says Dr. Emoto, is an updated pneumococcal vaccine (Prevnar 13). This vaccine includes added protection as compared to the older version (Prevnar 7) and all children between 15 months and 5 years of age should have one additional dose of the newer Prevnar, “even if your doctor previously told you that your child was up-to-date.”
When children turn 11, they should receive the meningitis vaccine for the first time, and a tetanus booster (Tdap), Dr. Emoto said. The Tdap vaccine is particularly important because not only does it help prevent tetanus, but it also includes additional protection for pertussis (the “p” part in Tdap).
“Pertussis causes whooping cough and there has been an increase in the number of cases of whooping cough just in the early part of this year,” Dr. Emoto said.
Parents should schedule these vaccines shortly after the child’s 11th birthday, but they also can be part of a back-to-school immunization routine for any student, even those over 18.
“Children older than 11 who have not received these vaccines should also come in to get them,” she said. “And if you have a teenager who is enrolling in college, planning to live in a dormitory, and hasn’t been vaccinated for meningitis, they should be vaccinated now.”
In addition to the meningitis vaccine and Tdap, young people (boys and girls) ages 9-26 should receive a vaccine against the human papiloma virus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted disease that infects the genitals, and can cause cancer in either sex, but is especially likely to cause cervical cancer in women. 2010 is the first year it has been available to males.
While giving this vaccine to children in elementary school is not without controversy, many doctors, including those at LaSalle Medical Associates, are highly in favor.
“The HPV virus is the main cause of cervical cancer in women,” Emoto explained. “It is important that a person receive three doses, which are given over a six-month period, before their first sexual encounter in order for the vaccine to be fully effective. Both young men and women can benefit from this vaccination, especially if they receive it before becoming sexually active.”
The key, Emoto said, is to have the vaccine before any sexual activity, and while parents might think their children will wait till they are older, statistics show that almost half of teenagers report at least one sexual encounter during high school. “Prevention, prior to exposure, with the HPV vaccine will prevent disease and save lives.”
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.
People of all ages and ethnicities should take precautions when enjoying fun in the sun, especially swimming.
(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) Climbing High, an online newsletter from Guides Network, puts it rather succinctly: “…there is no such thing as a healthy tan.”
Most of us know skin cancer is growing at an alarming rate. “There is an epidemic of non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States,” reported Dr. Howard Rogers of Advanced Dermatology in Norwich, Connecticut.
Years ago we “knew” that a tan was a sign of “good health.” After all, sun exposure is our primary source of vitamin D which, says kidshealth.org, “helps us absorb calcium for stronger and healthier bones.”
But the organization also alerts us to the fact that, “Kids rack up between 50 percent and 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18.”
The Inland Empire’s LaSalle Medical Associates, with four Inland Empire clinics, sees more than its share of sun damage victims.
“It’s especially a concern in the High Desert,” points out LaSalle’s Audit and Education Coordinator Barbara Graber. “Kids play outside more hours and more days, which means more sun exposure, a potential for skin damage, heat exhaustion, sunstroke and heat illness. Young people involved in sports,” she continues, “are at real risk because they tend to lose track of outdoor time, and seldom have enough fluid intake.”
But, it’s not just children we should be concerned about, Graber notes. “Older adults love to garden. They go outside early in the day when the temperature is cool. Then, as the desert summer temps slowly pick up, they may not even be aware how their body temperature has risen.”
The sun may be hammering the back of the neck and hands, the ears and nose, especially if they began the day in a t-shirt and without a hat, and stayed that way through the mid afternoon; the strongest sun rays usually occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Sunlight contains three types of dangerous ultraviolet (UV) rays. UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and can contribute to skin cancers. UVB rays can cause sunburn, lead toward cloudy cataracts of the eyes, may damage the immune system and also contribute to skin cancer. And then there are the most highly dangerous UVC rays, fortunately blocked from reaching the earth by the ozone layer.
How can you avoid the UVA and UVB rays? The obvious answers are to stay indoors or to cover up as completely as possible. Not always very practical. So, accept them we must, though not without a fight say numerous sources:
Avoid sun exposure during the sun’s peak hours, usually 10-2
Apply sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher a half hour before sun exposure and then reapply regularly, remembering the nose, ears, neck and hair partings
Wear sunglasses with 99-100% UV protection
Use a SPF-rated lip balm
Wear a wide-brimmed hat
Stay hydrated with plenty of water
Stay covered as best you can
If possible, stay under an umbrella
All of these suggestions apply to the elderly as well. As we age our skin becomes thinner and more fragile, requiring even more attention and care than we might be used to.
And older people may have difficulty with upper body movements, so sunscreens that are easy to apply, such as those in towlette form or as powders or gels, arevaluable. Additionally, since skin of the elderly is often dry, doctors suggest chemical-free or water-based sunscreens.
“The sun can be our friend,” says LaSalle’s founder Dr. Albert Arteaga, “but a friend we greet with care. Sunburns, especially in youth, can harm us all many years later.”
About LaSalle Medical Associates
LaSalle’s philosophy is that everyone deserves quality health care, and to be treated by his or her physician with dignity and respect. LaSalle Medical Associates clinics welcome low income, elderly and disabled patients. They accept most insurance.
LaSalle has four Inland Empire clinics. Two are in San Bernardino at 1505 West 17th Street and 565 North Mt. Vernon Avenue, the Fontana facility at 17577 Arrow Boulevard and Hesperia’s at 16455 Main Street.
For more information or to make an appointment, call (909) 890-0407.
