News

Electronic Health Records (EHR) coming in September!

Posted 8/7/08: Peninsula Pediatrics is pleased to announce the introduction of NextGen Electronic Health Records in our offices. Electronic Health Records refer to an individual patient's medical record in digital format.

We completed the first phase by switching our billing and appointment programs in May. Physicians and staff have been training this summer in preparation for EHR starting in September. Immunization dates are being entered now so we will have this information during patient visits.

Initially, physicians will have the paper chart and the EHR at the visits. Later, a paper chart summary will be transferred to the EHR. Paper charts will be retained and stored for future reference. EHR will make retrieval of medical information more efficient for staff and patients. We will be able to print out immunizations dates and summaries for school and camp forms. Later, we will be sending prescriptions directly to pharmacies.

Mills Peninsula Medical Group (MPMG), our HMO medical group, is partnering with physicians to promote this electronic clinical integration in our community. MPMG physicians that adopt the NextGen EHR will be able to send clinical reports between specialists and primary care physicians electronically.

Flu Vaccine Recommendations

Posted 8/31/08
Young children are more likely to get the flu and then spread it to the rest of the family. The best way to keep your children from getting the flu and the risk of serious complications from the flu, is to get a flu vaccination each fall. We recommend a flu vaccination for all children 6 - 59 months old, children with chronic medical problems, and their household contacts. Please call our office at the end of September or check our Web site periodically for flu vaccine updates and flu vaccine clinic dates.

Additional details in this notice posted in our offices:

2008-2009 FLU VACCINE NOTICE Flu Vaccine Recommendations for 2008 Flu Season (October 2008 – April 2009) All Infants 6 - 59 months old All children with chronic medical conditions including Asthma or chronic lung disease Diabetes or other metabolic disease Blood or Kidney chronic diseases Immunologic deficiencies or aspirin treatment Household Members, including healthy siblings, of infants 0 - 59 months old and children with chronic medical conditions Flu vaccines are given by appointment only October:  Vaccines will be given to those at highest risk (infants 6-23 months old, children with chronic medical conditions, and their household contacts). November:  Vaccines will be given to children 6-59 months old, and their household contacts, as well as any low risk children. Nasal vaccination (Flumist) is available for low risk children 5 years old and older Note:  Children 8 years & younger need 2 vaccines one month apart the first year they receive the flu vaccine. Please ask your pediatrician if you have any questions Peninsula Pediatric Medical Group, Inc.

New Babies at Peninsula Pediatrics

Posted 8/07/08: There are two new arrivals in the families of our professional staff.  Drs. Yuan and Zivitz each have new baby boys.

Dr. Yuan's baby, Kai Alexander Yuan Smollin, is now six months old.  Dr. Yuan reports that even though he was born a little early, he has been busy catching up to other babies his age.  She and her husband find Kai wonderfully fun and that every smile is a little miracle, but that he is also quite a little handful!

Dr. Zivitz is currently on a four month maternity leave and is planning to return to work full time at the end of October. Her son Nathaniel was born on June 24th weighing 9 lbs 3 oz and was welcomed by her two older sons, Jackson and Zachary. Both older boys are doing their best to turn Nate into a Red Sox fan (sorry Giants!). During her leave, she is spending a month in Vermont with extended family, playing with her boys and enjoying the East Coast weather.

Blue Shield PPO Notice & Update

Posted 7/10/08:
Blue Shield PPO Update

We regret that Blue Shield will not negotiate our PPO contract at this time.  Despite what Blue Shield representatives may tell you, we are willing to negotiate with Blue Shield.  We continue to be in-network providers for Blue Shield HMO. 

Peninsula Pediatrics has learned that other medical practices have been unable to conclude negotiations with Blue Shield.  Menlo Medical Clinic, Stanford University and Packard Children’s Hospital are no longer in the Blue Shield PPO network.  We know that other physicians’ offices in our area have also been unable to negotiate with Blue Shield and have, or will, leave the Blue Shield PPO network. 

We are sorry for the inconvenience that this insurance contracting dispute has caused the families in our practice.  We encourage parents to inform your employer about the difficulty you have finding in-network physicians.  During your next open enrollment you may wish to choose another health insurance.  If your health insurance choices are limited, ask your benefit or HR department to add another PPO plan.

Our pediatricians will continue to see our Blue Shield PPO patients as out-of-network providers. 

Posted 5/26/08:
Blue Shield PPO Notice

We are sorry that Blue Shield of California has not offered us acceptable PPO contract rates. Consequently, our contract is terminated effective May 29, 2008. This change does not affect our Blue Shield HMO contract through Mills Peninsula Medical Group. We wish to continue to see our Blue Shield PPO patients. We will bill parents for our services and Blue Shield will mail you your reimbursement at your Out-of-Network benefit. We are continuing negotiations with Blue Shield and hope to resolve our contracting issues this summer. Please check our Web site regularly for updates.

Additional information is in our letter to parents below.

Families with Blue Shield PPO Insurance We need to inform you that we have terminated our Blue Shield of California PPO contract effective May 29, 2008.  We are sorry that this termination was necessary in order to negotiate fair payment rates for our Blue Shield patients.  We hope Blue Shield will agree to increase payment and we can sign a new contract before May 29.  This change does not affect our Blue Shield HMO contract through Mills Peninsula Medical Group.  Blue Shield contracts permit changing payment without any negotiation with doctors.  Blue Shield of California PPO is now paying less than the federal government pays for Medicare.  In our community, physician offices cannot operate with payment less than what Medicare pays.  You may help us negotiate a reasonable fee schedule by contacting your employer’s benefit or HR department, your health insurance broker or calling Blue Shield of California PPO directly at 800-424-6521 to complain.  Hopefully, your voice may make a difference at Blue Shield.  What does this change mean to you?  If Blue Shield does not agree to increase payment, we will no longer be a preferred provider after May 29.  Parents may continue to bring children to our office but you will be billed for the full charge of the visit.  Blue Shield of California PPO will process our charges as Out-of-Network.  Most out of network charges have a deductible and higher co-payment.  Please refer to your policy for details.  We want to continue to serve our Blue Shield of California PPO families.  We hope that Blue Shield will agree to pay fairly and will offer us acceptable payment rates so termination can be avoided.  We will post information on this website, www.penpeds.com, as soon as we have additional information.  If you do not have Internet access, please call our office after May 20 for updated information.  For your information, we have PPO contracts with the following insurances: Aetna CCN Cigna Great West First Health Health Net United Healthcare Multiplan & PHCS Blue Cross of California (now named Anthem Blue Cross)