Dear APHCV Patients,

You might be concerned about coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.  We, at Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc., have been following guidelines from local and national authorities to ensure the health and safety of our patients, physicians, staff, and the communities.

In order to reduce the speed of spread of COVID-19, APHCV has decided that, effective Wednesday March 18 2020, telephone visit appointments are convenient and safe ways to provide you with care from your home.  We are contacting you to inform you about this change and explain how telephone visit appointment will work. You can continue to schedule by calling for appointment at (323) 644-3888.

To help protect you and your family from possible exposure to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we strongly advise you and your family of the following:

• If you have cough, cold or flu symptoms or have been exposed to any ill contacts, please call us at (323) 644-3888 for instructions or make telephone visit appointment with our Provider instead of an in-person office visit.
• If you have an urgent issue, please call (323) 644-3888 for telephone visit appointment instead of an in-person office visit. Our Providers or Triage Staff will provide guidance for your health concern and make recommendations for next steps. If an in-person visit is needed, our Provider will be able to assist you.
• If you have any question about appointment, please call (323) 644-3888. As always, if you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Advice on staying healthy:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands with soap and water regularly. Alcohol hand sanitizers are also effective.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Stay home when you are sick (and keep sick children home from school). But make sure to arrange to pick up medication and keep your medical appointment (Remember APHCV now provides telephone visit appointment for you with your provider)
• Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you use a tissue, throw it away after use and wash your hands afterwards.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

For more up to date information on coronavirus, go to www.aphcv.org. We are asking screening questions to our patients and visitors at our facility entrance to protect you, your family, communities and our staff. We appreciate for your understanding and cooperation.

Thank you for working with us to keep you and your families and our communities safer.

Sincerely, APHCV Care Team

Take Action to Lower Your Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk

Knowing your cancer risk and taking steps to lower your risk for getting breast or ovarian cancer may save your life.

Learn Your Family History of Cancer

• Encourage family members to share information.
• It may save those they love.

Follow these tips:

• Cancers can run in families.
• Explain that you are creating a record of your family’s history of cancer.
• Word your questions carefully and be a good listener.
• Write down who had cancer, age when diagnosed, and type of cancer.

Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes: 

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Get enough physical activity
• Breastfeeding your babies can lower your risk of breast cancer

Increase the chance of finding breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.

• Know how your breasts normally look and feel.
• If you do find a lump, do not be afraid.  Finding one early can be lifesaving.
• Talk to your doctor right away, if you notice changes in your breast.
• Talk to your doctor if you have a higher risk, including a family history of cancer.

APHCV accepts new patients. Give us a call if you want to make an appointment.

More information: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/young_women/bringyourbrave/resources/infographics/takeaction_infographic.htm

Written by: Priya Gandhi

It’s National Preparedness Month! Has all the recent earthquakes and wildfires have you thinking about ways to be more prepared in case of an emergency?  This year, the focus is not only on knowing how to protect your home for emergencies but also how to protect your health and wellness after an emergency. It is important to have your own access to resources and an emergency supplies kit, since access might limited depending on where you are or the impact the disaster has on health care systems. Try to pack multiple emergency kits so that you are prepared whether or a disaster happens while you are in your car, at work, or at home. Be prepared with paperwork to prove your medical and insurance coverage, identification documents, and any copies of an emergency action plan. Remember, these emergency kits should be personalized to your health needs and conditions, so that it can be the most useful to you to protect your health and wellbeing.

Personal Needs

One way to be prepared is to have items that protect your physical, mental, and emotional health during an emergency. Be sure to have these items unique to you, so that it is most likely to benefit you. This can include identification papers, medical documents, and even power backups for your electronic devices.  Be sure to check out the CDC website to find emergency checklists that are fit for you and your family.

Prescriptions

A disaster could make it difficult to find an open pharmacy and get your prescription filled. It is important that you organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency. Only 8% of Americans pack their medications in their emergency supplies kit. It is also important to write out your prescriptions and have it handy on you in case an emergency happens in your car, at home, or at work.

The CDC has resources such as checklists, emergency action plans, and educational materials for you and your family to use in situations such as these. Be sure to check their website: https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/npm/npm2019.htm.