MedCare LLC at Lafayette Medical Plaza Letter to Patients

Dear Valued Patient,

We would like to welcome you to MedCare LLC’s at Lafayette Medical Plaza Patient Centered Medical Care. Your personal physician has joined the efforts of the MedCare LLC medical team group in a program known as Patient Centered Medical Care, or PCMC for short.

PCMC is not a place, nor is it something you have to enroll in. PCMC is a medical practice program that uses a team based approach, led by your own physician, which focuses on you, our patient. The PCMC model provides comprehensive, personal medical care with emphasis on wellness and disease prevention, in a friendly, accessible and timely manner.

Your PCMC team combines the skills of other members of your doctor’s office, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, receptionists and administrative staff. In addition, we have added new members to our PCMC team- Care Coordinators. Care Coordinators are experienced medical professionals who will focus their expertise to coordinate the care for patients with complex medical needs, those with high risk medical states, and our patients who have been hospitalized and are now transitioning back to their homes.

Together, your PCMC team at Medcare LLC will focus on your personal health and wellness. We will optimize your care through prevention, screening, and effective early disease intervention. In addition to preventative care, your physician and the PCMC team will help you coordinate individualized treatment for your acute and chronic health needs.

The most important part of this team is you! Your role includes honestly sharing your health concerns, needs and issues with your doctor and your PCMC team to ensure your health care team can work closely with you to create an individualized care plan that is right for your health and wellness goals. For more information about how you can get the most out of your healthcare appointments and treatment, please refer to our list of recommendations and patient expectations (listed on page 3).

Please do not hesitate to contact your office for more information. You may also visit our website at: www.MedCare.NYC

MedCare LLC at Lafayette Medical Plaza Wishing you good health, MedCare LLC

MedCare LLC at Lafayette Medical Plaza important to remember to keep your information current, so if there are any changes to your contact information, insurance, or Your PCMC Team other items, please notify the receptionist so he/she can update The Patient Centered Medical Care model involves a team working your records accordingly. side by side with your physician to aid in providing coordinated care and support. The PCMC team may consist of: your health ■ Medical Assistants care provider, nurse practitioner,, medical assistants, Medical Assistants will call you into the exam room. They will check receptionists and Care Coordinators. You can speak to your vital signs, confirm your pharmacy information, review your designated members of the team whenever you have questions medications, ask you for the reason of your visit and inquire about or concerns about medication, referrals, forms or test results. your health and well-being to collect as much information as possible This team also may contact you per your provider’s directions, for your physician. so it is important for you to know the roles and responsibilities of each team member. ■ Nurse Practitioner PCMH A Nurse may be available in your provider’s office. You may speak to him/her about test results, forms, and medical questions. Nurses Your Physician or Health Care Provider continues to be the primary may also provide counseling/education based on your health needs. leader of your care. Your provider meets daily with his/her care 1E-4 You might receive a call from a nurse to talk about a test result and/ team to discuss any patient concerns and follow up needs. This or any follow-up care that may be needed. team approach will provide you with more time when you come in to see your provider. ■ Care Coordinators

■ Receptionists Care Coordinators are experienced medical professionals who will focus their expertise in care coordination for patients with complex Receptionists check you in. This process may include: registering medical needs, those with high risk medical states, and patients who you, confirming insurance eligibility, taking your picture, collecting have been hospitalized and are now transitioning back to their homes. co-pays, etc. Don’t forget to see the receptionist on your way out because he/she will schedule any appointments as needed. It is You are the most important partner in the PCMC team! Being involved in your care helps to improve and maintain your overall health. Following your physician’s instructions and being honest with your medical team are the first steps in this process. We also want you to ask questions to ensure that you fully understand your medications, referral needs, diagnoses and treatments. Providing information on care received outside of your PCMC team aids the team in coordinating your care. Bring all medication bottles to EVERY appointment. This includes: • Prescription medicines • Over the counter medicines • Herbal medicines Patient Checklist • Vitamins and supplements

Your care team will go over them with you to:

• Review what you are taking Bring all documentation from other • Make sure you are taking them healthcare facilities (including correctly hospitals, emergency rooms or • See if you can take fewer medications urgent care centers) you have visited since your last appointment. Bring all documentation from other This includes: healthcare providers or specialists • Discharge notes you have visited since your last • Laboratory results or other test appointment. This includes: results • Consultation notes Bring any self-monitoring logs you • Laboratory results or other test maintain. This includes: results • Blood pressure • Blood sugar • Weight

Let us know if you received any vaccinations from another provider, pharmacy, or center

Bring the results from any preventative screenings you had done. This includes: • Colorectal cancer screening • Mammograms • Eye exams

Please prepare and bring to your appointment a list of questions or concerns that you would like to discuss with your care team To p d o c t o r s ■ A Full Range of Services If you or someone in your family has specific healthcare concerns, MedCare LLC offers medical services that address virtually every ■ MedCare LLC health and wellness need. Key service areas include:

MedCare LLC is a comprehensive network of over 10 top physicians • Primary Care Provider across a wide range of specialties. Patients of MedCare LLC receive • Behavioral Health quality care with the support of an integrated healthcare system. With • Cardiovascular Care a focus on primary care, this model enables MedCare LLCs physicians to share a patient’s medical information across specialties to ensure • Children’s Health coordinated care that puts the patient at the center of everything. • Gastroenterologist • Laboratory Our physicians are among the most skilled and experienced professionals in the region. • Podiatry • Neurologist All physicians take the time to listen to their patients. This enables • Optometrist them to understand their unique needs and concerns and make the • Women’s Health right decisions that deliver exceptional outcomes. They work collaboratively with colleagues, nursing staff and other medical • Physical Therapy professionals so patients can be confident that they are receiving A Full Range of Tests on site comprehensive, 360 degree care.  Holter Monitor Allergy testing Through an affiliation with MedCare LLC, physicians have access to  resources that support patient-focused, highly attentive care. Our  ECHO test physicians participate in most health insurance plans.  Stress Test  Holter Monitor MedCare LLC  PAD test includes highly  Ultrasounds skilled and experienced  Hearing physicians  Vision across a range  PFT test of specialties. Immunizations performed for children and adults Blood drawing station on premises ■ Pneumonia Vaccination Yo u r He a l t h a n d We l l n e s s A pneumonia vaccine is recommended for persons 65 years of age Recommendations and older. Younger patients with diseases such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases are The following is a brief list of some recommendations for your overall recommended to have the pneumonia vaccine. Speak with your health and wellness. Please note that these recommendations do not physician to see if this vaccination is recommended for you. replace your physician’s management of your individual healthcare needs. We strongly encourage you to meet with your care team to customize your healthcare plan. ■ Blood Pressure Control

A blood pressure of less than 140/90 is recommended for adults. ■ Tobacco Cessation Hypertension (blood pressure above normal ranges) increases a Tobacco use contributes significantly to many disease states including: person’s risk for stroke, heart disease, vascular disease and kidney cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases (including chronic disease. See your physician to evaluate your blood pressure and to lung disease and increased risk for multiple types of cancer). It is develop a plan to assist you in maintaining healthy levels. costly both in terms of health detriment and monetarily for healthcare costs. Your physician can assist you to stop tobacco use. There are ■ Colon Cancer Screening medications that can help reduce the craving for tobacco as well as Colon cancer is a common cancer in our country. The key to those that can reduce the effects of nicotine withdrawal. There are successful treatment is early detection. Adults aged 50 and over are also behavioral techniques that can help you stop tobacco use. We are recommended to have screening colonoscopy. The screening age is here to help you and encourage you through this process. lower for patients in higher risk groups. Depending on the results of your initial exam, the frequency of repeat colonoscopies is determined. ■ Breast Cancer Screening While colonoscopy is the preferred screening tool, there are other

All women beginning at age 40 are encouraged to have screening methods that also can help to detect this disease. See your physician ff mammography performed. If you are at higher risk, the screening to evaluate and to develop an e ective screening program for you process begins earlier. All women are recommended to meet with their physician to discuss their breast cancer risk and to determine appropriate breast cancer screening tests for them. ■ Diabetes Mellitus L e a r n more a b o u t MedCare LLC Diabetes is a growing epidemic in the United States. Diabetes affects many organ systems in your body including your heart, kidneys, eyes, your nervous system and your vascular system. Making sure your Medcare LLC Hours of Operations diabetes is under control is important to prevent damage to these organ systems. A blood test called Hemoglobin A1C helps your Regular: Mon-Fri 10am –5pm physician monitor your blood sugar control. Diabetes should target a Extended: Tue and Thurs 5pm-6pm Hemoglobin A1C of at least under 7.0. It is also important for diabetics Weekend: Saturday 10am –2pm to maintain stringent control of their blood pressure and cholesterol values. See your physician to assess your diabetes risk and control Please, call us to for same day appointment, schedule FU, or just walk in levels. Patient Portal: You may access, register, communicate with office staff, ■ Heart Disease access your record and have conference with your provider If you have existing heart or vascular disease, it is important to using Patient Portal. work with your physician to prevent progression of these diseases. Controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol levels and https://adsportal.adsc.com/PatientPortal/medcare blood sugar levels, as well as avoidance of tobacco products and maintaining a healthy diet can help prevent worsening of your Learn more about MedCare LLC and find a physician: disease. Meet with your physician to develop your personal plan Call 1.718.399.6234 or visit our website at of care. www.medcare.nyc

Medcare LLC easy accessible by public transtportation Anytime you have a test or procedure “G” train at the stop “Bedford-Nostrand” “B38” as well as “B48” buses. such as x-rays, mammography, blood tests, colonoscopies, etc. done by another physician or facility, please have the results sent to your primary care physician.

MedCare LLC at Lafayette Medical Plaza Medcare LLC Diagnostic & Treatment Center For Adults and Children 468 Lafayette Ave. Brooklyn, NY, 11205 Phone (718) 399-6234 Fax (718) 399-3516 NOTES

MedCare LLC at Lafayette Medical Plaza