Central California Alliance for Health | Living Healthy | December 2018

5 HEALTHY Think of your Primary Care Provider (PCP) as your gateway to good health. Your PCP will see you for checkups and immunizations and will help you manage any chronic conditions you have, such as diabetes. Your PCP will also be your first stop when you’re sick and when you need advice about staying well. A PCP can be a general practice or family medicine doctor, a pediatrician or an internal medicine doctor. Your PCP may be a clinic or medical group. Among other things, your PCP will: ●  ● Guide all of your health care ●  ● Be the one you go to for regular care and when you’re sick ●  ● Help prevent health problems ●  ● Refer you to other doctors as needed Over time, your PCP will get to know your health history and help you make good choices so you can stay well. We can help you find a doctor One of the best ways to stay well is to work closely with a doctor. If you don’t have one already, we can help. To find a doctor near you, call Member Services at 1-800-700-3874 . What is a PCP? Or you can use the online Provider Directory on our website at https:// provider.portal.ccah-alliance.org/ providerdirectory/ . This simple step can lead to a healthier you. Communicating with your PCP When it comes to health care, patients play a major role. One way to do your part is by practicing good communication with your PCP. Clear and honest communication between you and your PCP can help you both build a safe connection. This means you can talk about your concerns and have the information you need to make good choices about your health care. If you would like an interpreter because your doctor doesn’t speak your language, let your PCP’s office know when you call to make an appointment. Tell them what language you need and ask them to call the Alliance’s telephone interpreter services when you arrive. This service is free to all Alliance members. Other tips ●  ● Bring a list of all the medications you are taking. ●  ● Consider asking a friend or family member to go with you. ●  ● If you have any special needs, let them know. This includes special medical needs, such as wheelchair access or interpreting services. ●  ● Give the office notice if you have to cancel. Call them as soon as you know you won’t be able to keep your appointment. Don’t forget to reschedule. Correction to “FluMist for the 2018–2019 flu season” in the September newsletter: FluMist is in the list of recommended vaccines for children two years of age and older (adults through 49 years of age). Infants and children younger than nine years of age may need two doses of the vaccine. As a reminder, all persons starting at six months of age should receive an annual flu vaccination.