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summer2008east bayQuarterly nEWS to help you thriveyour best bet:Fitness provides a hostof health benefits 8digital dashboardMy Health Manager isyour online health tool 3in transitionOur classes helpyou prepare formenopause 6
in brieftop tipsa helping hand with financesIf you need help from time totime to pay for your medicalservices, you may be eligible forKaiser Permanente’s MedicalFinancial Assistance (MFA) Programor the Discount Payment Program.The MFA Program helps members who are having difficultypaying for the care they receive.There are several requirementsto qualify for the MFA Program,including having a householdincome that is at or below 350% ofthe federal poverty guideline. Formembers above 350%, but below400%, you may be eligible for theDiscount Payment Program, whichprovides a reduction to theamount you need to pay.# To find out moreabout our MFA orDiscount PaymentPrograms, call 1-866399-7696 or visit kp.org/mfa.help in your languageInterpreter services are available in your language, 24 hours a day, 7 daysa week, at no cost to you. For details, see pages 12 to 14 of the enclosedGuidebook, or call our Member Service Call Center at 1-800-464-4000(English), 1-800-788-0616 (Spanish), 1-800-757-7585 (Chinese dialects),or 1-800-777-1370 (TTY for the hearing/speech impaired).ayuda en su idiomaDisponemos de servicios de interpretación gratuitos en su idioma las24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana. Para detalles al respecto,consulte las páginas 12 a 14 de la Guía adjunta, o llame a nuestro Centrode Llamadas para Servicios a los Miembros al 1-800-788-0616 o al1-800-777-1370 (TTY para personas con problemas auditivos/del habla).your health, connectedMy Health Manager puts you in charge of your health.Member YvelyseSantiago’s computeris like a window intoher health. That’sbecause she can useit to connect with herhealth informationwhenever she wants.With My HealthManager on kp.org,Santiago can refillmost of her prescriptions, check recentlab results, and e-mailher doctor’s officefrom the convenienceof her computer. Shecan also make routineappointments orcheck the details andinstructions from2 @ Kaiser PermanenteEditorial BoardCarole BartolottoTerry Bream, RN, MNLisa BrillJohn Brookey, MDNancy CartwrightCaz CazanovDebby CunninghamShannon DorseyCam DuongClaudia JonesKristin JuelMargaret LapizRon OwensChristine PaigeAlbert Ray, MDDavid Shearn, MDDavid Sobel, MDJanet VenturinoElizabeth Villaluz# It’s easy toget connectedto My HealthManager onkp.org. Go tokp.org/registerand create auser name andpassword.What would you dowith four more hours a day? Visit kp.org/tvturnoff to learnabout how limiting screen time can benefit your whole family.your deductible plan in actionPartners in Health is published by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. If you have ideas for topics you’d like us to address in future issues, please write us at Partnersin Health, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., 300 Lakeside Drive, 13th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. E-mail partnersinhealth@kp.org. Questions? Call our MemberService Call Center at 1-800-464-4000. Partners in Health and its graphic representation are trademarks of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. Reproduction withoutpermission is strictly prohibited. No material in this issue may be reproduced without written permission from Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. Partners in Health does notpromote any form of medical treatment, nor is it meant to replace the advice and care of health professionals. Entire publication Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., 2008.All rights reserved. Printed with soy ink. Some photos include models and not actual patients. ( 2008 Masterfile, 2008 Veer)Editorial StaffDonna Taylor, Managing EditorAna Ferreira, Creative ConsultantYale Lee, Copy EditorBenjamin Seto, Writerhealth encyclopediato learn more aboutwhat the results mean.“I think it’s just greatthat Kaiser Permanenteis thinking of us, thepatients, when theydevelop all these newtechnologies.”think outside the �溝通我們每週 7 天每天 24 ��我們每週 7 天每天 24 �務。12-14 �查閱附上指南中的第中心 1-800-464-4000 (英語)，1-800-757-758512-14 心 �)，或查詢。1-800-777-1370 (聽力與語言障礙者電傳專線 TTY) 查詢。previous visits.“It helps remindme of what I needto do to keep myselfhealthy,” says Santiago. She also addsthat using My HealthManager is moreconvenient for herbecause she can dothings such as sendan e-mail to herdoctor with routinequestions any time,day or night.Santiago says herfavorite tool is theone that allows herto check her recentlab results and thenlinks her to the onlineLocal EditorEsther RoupeKEBsummer 2008If you have one ofour deductible plans,what you pay for careat the time of serviceis different than whatyou pay if you haveour traditional plan.For most services, youhave a deductible—afixed amount you mustkp.orgpay in a calendar yearbefore we will pay forcertain services.To help you plan eachvisit, we suggest youview our sample feelist for an estimate ofhow much you may payfor a particular serviceyou’re scheduled toreceive. Go to kp.org/treatmentestimatesto view the list. If youhave questions aboutyour deductible plan,call our DeductibleProducts Service Teamat 1-800-390-3507,weekdays from 7 a.m.to 5 p.m.partners in health 3
in your areajust for youat your servicegrowing withyou in PinoleConstruction of our new PinoleMedical Offices continues asworkers start focusing on themechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems of the building andstart installing the interior wallsthis summer.The medical offices at 1301Pinole Valley Road are scheduledto open this winter, providinga variety of primary care servicessuch as adult medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics/gynecology.It’ll also have radiology servicesand pharmacy, laboratory, andhealth education departments.The Pinole Medical Officescomplement the care providedby our Richmond Medical Center.As some primary care physiciansare relocated from Richmondto Pinole, there will be moreroom for specialty physiciansin Richmond. You’ll now haveconvenient and quality care inboth Richmond and Pinole.men 55 and older needed for studyAre you a male Kaiser Permanente member, aged 55 years or older,with mild to moderate difficulty starting and/or maintaining urine flow,and have not yet begun any treatment for this problem?If so, you may qualify as a candidate for a Santa Clara study wheremen are taught an easy, painless, self-administered maneuver that maybe useful in overcoming these difficulties. For information, call ourUrology Department at (408) 851-4515 to arrange for a discussion ofparticipation in the study with Dr. Mehdi Kamarei.4 @ Kaiser Permanentesummer 2008When you visit ourmedical facilities,we want you to getthe care and theservice you need inan environment that’sfriendly and comfortable. So we’verecently launcheda new program toenhance the servicewe provide you.The Service Advisor program waslaunched late lastyear at our UnionCity Medical Officesand was recentlyextended to ourFremont and HaywardMedical Centers. Ouradvisors are availablein many units andareas of our medicalfacilities to helppatients, family members, and visitors inany way they can.The advisors embodyour goal of deliveringexcellent service toall who come to usfor care.“We view membersand visitors as ourguests,” says Kimberly Graves, servicedirector. “The ServiceAdvisor program willimprove the alreadyoutstanding care ourmembers receive.“Our commitmentto high-quality service is at the core ofeverything we do,”Graves says.“Our commitment to highquality service is at the coreof everything we do.”new gift shopcoming soon to OaklandYou may have noticed workers busy on a project on the 1st Floorof our Oakland Medical Center hospital. They’re constructinga new gift shop, which will offer many great gift options when itopens this fall. Thank you for your patience during construction.kp.orgpartners in health 5
learn morethe right startin transitionhealthy readingUnderstanding the naturalphase of menopause.Program gets kids hooked on books.Menopause is a natural part of awoman’s life. It’s the point in yourlife when you haven’t experienceda menstrual period for more thana year. If you understand whatoccurs during menopause, you’llbe more prepared to make healthychoices for this next chapter of life.“Every woman experiencesmenopause differently,” saysChristine Shaheen, senior healtheducator in Fremont, Hayward,and Union City. “Some womendread it while others approach itwith a sense of freedom.”For most women, menopauseoccurs in their 50s. Some mayexperience menopause-relatedsymptoms (such as hot flashes,mood changes, and night sweats)in their 40s during perimenopause, a time when hormonesstart fluctuating.“Every woman experiencesmenopause differently.”“More women are aware of thesymptoms associated with menopause and perimenopause andthey’re coming in for treatment,unlike the previous generationthat would simply grin and bearit,” says Jayanti Jha, MD, anobstetrician/gynecologist at ourFremont Medical Center.6 @ Kaiser PermanenteDr. Jha—who teaches a classin Fremont called Menopause:Hot Flashes, Hormones, andHealth—says that there are moretreatment options available today,such as hormone replacements.Medical treatment may benefitsome women, and lifestyle choicessuch as healthy eating and physical activity are recommended forall. “A healthy way to embracemenopause,” Shaheen says, “is tounderstand it, know how to planfor it, and know how to care foryourself on this journey.”To find out more about menopause classes and any related fees,call (510) 784-4531 in Hayward,(510) 248-3455 in Fremont,(510) 752-6150 in Oakland, and(510) 307-1588 in Richmond.# Learn more by readingMenopause, A Kaiser PermanenteGuidebook for Women, which isavailable in English and Spanishat your local Health EducationDepartment. Or go to kp.org/health and search for “menopause,” which will lead you toarticles in our health encyclopedia.summer 2008Kids who start readingat an early age can dobetter in school—andin life. So we’d liketo help foster a loveof reading by givingout free books duringwell-child visits.This is part of thenational Reach Outand Read program,which promotes earlyliteracy by partnering with pediatricsdepartments acrossthe country. Both ourRichmond and Hayward Medical Centershave been participating for several years.Our Oakland MedicalCenter started takingpart in Reach Out andRead a few monthsago, and Fremontparticipates as well.“The purpose is toencourage parents toread to their children,”says Gina Gallitero,senior health educatorat Oakland. She sayskp.orgeach child’s pediatriciangives his or her patientan age-appropriatebook during sevenwell-child visits atKaiser Permanente.(Your child will havenine well-child visitsbetween the ages of6 months and 5 years.)Rebecca Gentemann,MD, a pediatricianand the physician leadfor the Reach Outand Read program inOakland, says even ifa child is too young toread, reading to yourkids is a good way tobuild an early appreciation for books. “Westart out with boardbooks for the 6-montholds, and they usuallyjust chew on thebooks. But they’reable to learn whata book is and how toturn the pages.”Dr. Gentemann saysan added bonus is theparent-child interactionthat comes with reading together. “Parentalinvolvement is crucialto the program,” shesays. “Whether it’sfor 5 or 15 minutes,reading to your child isa time to sit there andcuddle with your childin your lap and flipthrough the pages.”As the programdevelops in Oakland,our Pediatrics Department will also stockbooks for kids toread in the waitingroom. Gallitero saysthere will eventuallybe volunteers in thewaiting area who willread to the kids.# For more aboutthe Reach Out andRead program, go toreachoutandread.org.partners in health 7
your best bet:exercise“If there was one singlething you could do todramatically improve your health,there is no doubt that it wouldbe exercise,” says Robert Sallis,MD, president of the AmericanCollege of Sports Medicineand a family and sports medicinephysician at our RanchoCucamonga Medical Offices.“Regular physical activity, at thecorrect intensity, is so powerfulin maintaining and improvinghealth that it should be prescribed, just as a medicine ordrug would be.”The Fountain of YouthExercise is vital to your health.After age 25, you lose a quarter tohalf a pound of muscle mass everyyear. This loss of muscle decreasesyour metabolism (the rate at whichyou burn calories) which meansyou can’t eat as much as you usedto without gaining weight.But exercise is about more thanjust weight control. Studies showthat regular physical activity, evenjust walking briskly 30 minutes aday, can: m- Reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer’s diseaseby one-third.- Reduce mortality and therisk of recurrent breastcancer by almost 50%.- Lower your risk of coloncancer by over 60%.- Decrease depression aseffectively as Prozac orbehavioral therapy.- Reduce your risk of heartdisease by 40%.- Reduce your incidence ofdiabetes and high bloodpressure by almost 50%.- Help kids perform betteron standardized academicachievement tests.8 @ Kaiser Permanentesummer 2008Fitting Fitness In“We were born to move. Justlook at kids spontaneously running around. Yet, as a whole,we’re becoming less fit,” saysKirk Pappas, MD, a physicalmedicine and rehabilitation physician at our Santa Rosa MedicalCenter. “Schools have fewerphysical education programsdespite evidence that physicaleducation improves academicperformance. And we’re eatingmore convenience foods insteadof fresh foods. We don’t makeenough time in our day to getsome exercise.”Now that research has proventhat being fit goes far beyondgiving us an attractive body andhealthier heart, the question is notwhether we should exercise, butwhen? Some days, finding thetime to brush your teeth may bea challenge, let alone carving outtime in your schedule for exercise.You should aim to get 30 to60 minutes of physical activitydaily. This time can be brokendown into 10-minute intervalsthroughout the day. Considergetting up earlier to fit in a workout. Or do a cardio or weightroutine while you watch TV.Mini-Fitness MomentsThroughout the day, sneak incardio, strength training, andflexibility-enhancing stretches.- Take stretch breaks, especiallyif you sit at a desk all day.Yoga moves are great forstrengthening your coremuscles; consider taking a classat your local Kaiser Permanentefacility to learn some poses.- Hit the floor and do a setof crunches or push-ups.Whether you’re at home orat the office, you can getyour heart pumping quicklycontinued on page 10your very own online health coachNothing motivateslike a partner, andnow you can accessthe next best thingto a jogging buddy:our online HealthCoach tool featuringbehavioral psychologist Sheri Pruitt, PhD,from our SacramentoMedical Center.Through shortvideos and interactivequestions, you cankp.orgdesign a custom planfor changing activitylevels and improvingeating habits.“Rather than critiquing your performanceor eating habits, themodules help youremember your goalsand stay on track,and offer great ideasbased on your specificneeds,” says Kim Smith,MPH, in RegionalHealth Education.To access the HealthCoach tool, visit yourphysician’s home pageat kp.org/mydoctorand look for the linkon the left-hand side.You need to be registered on our Web siteto use these securefeatures. If you’re notalready registered, goto kp.org/register toget access today.partners in health 9
women’s healthwith these easyexercises.- If you’re at thepark or playinga game with thekids, make aneffort to runaround just asmuch as they do—there’s no need tosit on a benchwhile the kids play.more exercise resources- Visit kp.org/fitness for exercise tips and ideas.- Sign up for a yoga, tai chi, or Pilates class atyour local Kaiser Permanente facility (seemore about the benefits of these ancientexercises in our CAM column on page 12).For class information and any fees, call HealthEducation or go to kp.org/classes.- Kaiser Permanente members can findpreferred rates on fitness club membershipsat kp.org/choosehealthy.Fresh is bestPhysician promotes farmers’ markets.If you’ve visited theFriday farmers’ market at our OaklandMedical Center,you’ve probably runinto Preston Maring,MD, checking out thevegetables or chattingwith local farmers.Dr. Maring, a gynecologist and associatephysician-in-chief atOakland, is known asthe person behindthe farmers’ marketsat various KaiserPermanente medicalcenters. He organizedthe first one in 2003.Now you can read hisrecipes and thoughtson healthy food onhis blog at kp.org/farmersmarketrecipes.“I’m not a trainedchef. All I do is shareideas,” says Dr. Maring.“I have a basic theory.10 @ Kaiser PermanenteIf I can cook a particular recipe, anyone can.I want to encouragepeople to eat local, eatwhat’s in season, cooktogether as a family,and eat together asa family.”Using fresh ingredients from our farmers’markets, the doctordevelops recipes suchas spinach and leekfrittata and roastedtomato salsa. He getsideas from readingcookbooks and magazines or talking withfriends and family. Oneof his regular contributors is his 28-year-oldson, a trained chef whois pursuing a medicalcareer.Along with his workwith the farmers’markets and his blog,Dr. Maring is activein bringing moreorganic food into ourhospitals for patients.He’s helped to bringpesticide-free produce from small andmid-sized farms to all19 medical centers inNorthern California.“Pesticide-free foodis ultimately best forthe patient, is the safest for the farmers togrow, and the best forthe planet,” he says.# Go to kp.org/farmersmarket to finda Kaiser Permanentemarket near you.help forheadaches“Not tonight dear, I have a headache.” It’s not a punch line; it’s areality! I got caught in traffic, forgotmy lunch, and did an unscheduledemergency surgery in the middle ofan already busy schedule. And nowI’ve got a major headache.Unfortunately, headaches areitem on my plan was to check outa common ailment. Studies showthe online SmartMoves ergonomicsthat one person in every fourprogram found in the Healthyhouseholds suffers from migraines. Living Online Programs link on theAnd women are three times morephysician home pages. I now knowlikely than men to suffer fromto stretch my neck often when Iheadaches.spend time at my computer. I alsoWhile 80% of headaches areplan to keep ibuprofen around intension headaches, there is a range case I get a headache.of headache types, with differentChances are you or someone inlevels of pain and symptoms.your family has headaches. VisitThere are also lots of headache“Managing Your Headaches” totriggers: stress, hormones, weather, learn more about self-care andexhaustion, medicines, and foods.prevention. Then maybe you’ll beIdentifying and avoiding triggerssaying, “Tonight’s the night, dear!”can help prevent headaches.Oh, by the way, this online programI wanted to learn more aboutis useful for men, too!# Visit your doctor’s home pagemy headache so I went to myat kp.org/mydoctor and look forhome page at kp.org/mydoctor/the “Managing Your Headaches”tflanagan and clicked on thelink on the left side.“Managing Your Headaches” linkin the left bar.As a regular columnist,I downloaded a headache diaryTracy Flanagan, MD,to help me understand my personalKaiser Permanente’striggers and discovered that mostwomen’s health leaderof my headaches are probablyin Northern California,caused by too much computer use.offers expert adviceNext, I used the action planningand information on health issuestool to identify what I could do tofacing women today.help manage my headaches. OnecorrectionIn our spring Partners in Health column “Ready ornot, here comes baby,” we provided an incorrect amount of folic acid totake daily. It should be 400 micrograms.summer 2008kp.orgpartners in health 11
complementary medicineexercise:alternative movementAnxiety, back pain, depression
Kaiser Permanente’s Medical Financial Assistance (MFA) Program or the Discount Payment Program. The MFA Program helps mem-bers who are having difficulty paying for the care they receive. There are several requirements to qualify for the MFA Program, including having a household income that
