Dear Patients of East Valley Internal Medicine- Ahwatukee Location,

This newsletter is to inform you about some important news regarding our Ahwatukee location.   To better serve our patients we will be closing Ahwatukee operations and centralizing all patient care to our Chandler location.  Our official last day of patient care at the Ahwatukee office will be on Wednesday March 27, 2013.   We will begin seeing our Ahwatukee patient in our Chandler office on Thursday March 28, 2013 and look forward to introducing you to expanded services that will streamline your care and provide you with greater access to your care team and your health information.   Dr.’s Rodriguez and Arce will stop seeing patients in Ahwatukee on February 28,2013, all future appointments for these providers will resume in Chandler on March 1,2013.

Our Chandler office is in a familiar location– adjacent to the Chandler Regional (Dignity Health) Hospital.  There is plenty of door step parking and an elevator that will place you at our front doors.  A map of our Chandler location is included in this publication below.

This relocation from our office in Ahwatukee was a difficult decision but with todays’ economy and Healthcare Reform Act aka. “ObamaCare” uncertainty, we made a decision based on how to continue serving our patients with minimal inconveniences.   We are pleased to have plenty of physical space in our Chandler office, offer same day appointments and a broader range of services to serve you better.  Our Laboratory is open from 6:45-3:30 Mon-Friday and labs can be done at time of service during your visit with your provider.  Whether you are seen in our Ahwatukee or Chandler locations, within East Valley Internal Medicine you have a “medical home”. That means you are part of a family– your care team– that includes your physician, medical assistant, phlebotomist, radiology tech and front office care coordinators, among others, to ensure your time is well spent during an office visit and afterwards.

Thank you for placing your trust in East Valley Internal Medicine.  It is our privilege to serve you.   Please call us at 480-821-3821 with any question you might have during our transition.

Sincerely,

The Health Care Team at East Valley Internal Medicine

Chandler Location Address:

655 S. Dobson Road Suite A201

Chandler, Arizona 85224

Appointments and Walk Ins are welcome!   Call us at 480-821-3821 or email us with any questions. 

Osteoporosis literally means “porous bone” and refers to decreased bone mass and deterioration of the bone.  People who have osteoporosis have an increased risk of hip and spine fractures.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases, 10 million people in the US alone currently have osteoporosis. Low bone mass, or osteopenia, affects another 34 million in this country.

Osteoporosis can develop in anyone; however, some risk factors for developing osteoporosis included the following: age 50 or older, female gender, family history of broken bones, Caucasian or Asian American ethnicity, small bone structure, low body weight (less than 127 pounds), frequent smoking or drinking, and low calcium diet.

There are no symptoms of osteoporosis and the first indication may be a fall that results in a broken bone.  Adults of all ages need calcium, vitamin D, and exercise to maintain everyday bone health and help to prevent osteoporosis.  Weight bearing exercise is an important preventative factor.

To find out if you have osteoporosis, you should have a bone density scan.  This simple test involves the patient lying on a cushioned table and being exposed to very little radiation.  East Valley Internal Medicine offers bone density testing in our facility for the convenience of our patients.

Take the opportunity this May to discuss osteoporosis with your healthcare provider today!   480-821-3821

Since its inception in 1979, The Skin Cancer Foundation has always recommended using sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher as one important part of a complete sun protection regimen.  Sunscreen alone is not enough.  We have listed a few skin cancer prevention tips below:

• Seek the shade, especially between the suns peak hours of 10AM and 4PM.
• Do not let your skin burn
• Avoid Tanning and UV Tanning Booths
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV blocking sunglasses.
• Use a broad spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day.  Apply 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside.  Reapply every 2 hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
• Examine your skin head to toe every month, noting changes in moles, freckles, bumps and birthmarks or new marks on your skin.
• Be aware of sun-sensitizing medications.  Some common prescription and over the counter drugs including antibiotics; certain cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes medications; and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others)— can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.  Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of any medications you take.  If they increase your sensitivity to sunlight, take extra precautions to stay out of the sun in order to protect your skin.
• See your physician every year for a professional skin exam

Make an Appointment with your Provider and discuss your skin concerns today.   480-821-3821

Please join us in welcoming Christina Zimmerman as a valued member of our team.  Chrisitina ia a Nurse Practitioner and comes to East Valley Internal Medicine with over 4 years of experience in treating patients and over 8 years in the health care industry.   Christina is a Arizona native and enjoys staying active in the community donating her time and expertise to local charitable organizations.

Christina is accepting patients at the Chandler office Monday-Friday from 7AM-7PM.  She specializes in Adult Health, Women’s Health and Preventative Medicine.

Schedule your appointment today!  480-821-3821

As a modern health care provider, it is important to East Valley Internal Medicine to provide patients with electronic access to health information. The E-Clinicals Patient Portal web-based patient portal allows us to do that in a way that is secure , private, and accessible 24-hours a day.

The patient portal can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet using a browser i.e. Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.

Once logged into the portal, patients can:

• Exchange messages with our practice*
• Request/schedule appointments
• Request prescriptions and refills
• Review test results
• Review bill statements
• Research health topics
• Review personal health information
• Complete and update medical forms
• Update your profile and contact information

If you are an existing patient, please log in using the information provided to you by East Valley Internal Medicine.