Keeping You Connected

The SCCMA keeps you up to date on the latest news,
policy developments, and events

Local News

rss

Patients Seek Mental Health Care From Their Doctor But Find Health Plans Standing in the Way

by Anrti Pattani of California Healthline When a longtime patient visited Dr. William Sawyer’s office after recovering from covid, the conversation quickly turned from the coronavirus to anxiety and ADHD. Sawyer — who has run a family medicine practice in the Cincinnati area for more than three decades — said he spent 30 minutes asking questions about the patient’s exercise and sleep habits, counseling him on breathing exercises, and writing a prescription for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder medication. At the end of the visit, Sawyer submitted a claim to the patient’s insurance using one code for ...

Tips for Caring for Individuals with Vision Loss and Dementia

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Melody Huang, O.D.  Written by: Kelly Brown  What is Dementia? Dementia describes a variety of conditions related to mental impairment. It includes memory loss, inability to think clearly and reason, and decision-making.  Alzheimer’s is the most well-known form of dementia but is by no means the only disease under this umbrella. In most cases, dementia interferes with someone’s ability to function day-to-day. It tends to affect older adults. But younger people are not immune to developing dementia. Despite its prevalence in the older community, it is not a normal part of ...

Aging and Eyesight

Written by Melody Huang, O.D. | Source: Vision Center  Updated on May 3, 2022  Many changes take place in our eyes as we get older. Many of these changes are normal, while others are serious eye diseases that require medical attention. While we are not able to stop or reverse the aging process, most of these eye conditions are treatable.  Beginning at age 40, ophthalmologists recommend getting regular eye exams every year (even if you have healthy eyes) in order to maintain eye health and detect any age-related vision problems. Presbyopia Presbyopia means losing the ability ...

COVID-19 Medications Are Available for You to Prescribe to Your Patients: Update from the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department

Prescribe the Oral Antiviral Paxlovid to Your Patients  · When given early in the course of infection, medications like Paxlovid can reduce the likelihood of severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death.  · The National Institute of Health COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines recommends Paxlovid, an oral antiviral, and Remdesivir, an intravenous antiviral, as preferential therapeutics based on their efficacy and convenience of use.   · If neither Paxlovid nor Remdesivir are available or clinically appropriate, the NIH recommends providers use the following alternative therapies: Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral, or Bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment.    Prescribe Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ...

Health Update: New STD Legislation and Updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention

HEALTH UPDATE County of Santa Clara Public Health Department Health Officer 976 Lenzen Avenue, 2nd Floor San Jose, CA 95126 HEALTH UPDATE: New STD Legislation and Updated CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV Prevention DATE: January 25, 2022 TO: All Healthcare Providers FROM: Sarah L. Rudman, MD, MPH STD/HIV Controller Young people and adults in Santa Clara County continue to be affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and the COVID-19 pandemic has made it more challenging for many communities to access care. This increases the need to ramp up screening, testing, and linkage to care ...