Frequently asked questions Q: When do I go to an urgent care center? A: Urgent care centers provide care for sudden illnesses or injuries that require prompt medical attention but are not emergencies.* Urgent care centers are a smart alternative to hospital emergency rooms because they usually offer shorter waiting times. Urgent care centers are also open late and do not require an appointment, making them a good choice for patients who need non-emergent* medical attention after hours or on weekends and holidays. In addition, your co-payment may be lower depending on your insurance benefit plan. Member guide Selecting an Empire Physicians Medical Group doctor does make a difference. If you choose to visit an urgent care center, your doctor should be contacted prior to your visit so he or she can better coordinate your urgent care medical needs. Your doctor can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling his or her office. If you are instructed by your doctor or his or her staff to go to an affiliated urgent care center, please see the list in this booklet. *Please note: Urgent care centers are not emergency departments. If you are experiencing acute symptoms that you believe could result in serious jeopardy to your health or your unborn child s or serious impairment or dysfunction of your body, please seek medical help as quickly as possible by either calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency hospital. Q: What do I do if I need to go to a specialist? A: Please contact your primary care doctor and let them know your concerns. Q: How do I obtain an authorization/referral? How do I get the status of my authorization/referral? A: To get an authorization/referral, have your primary care doctor submit the request to the medical group. To get status of your authorization/referral, you need to call your primary care doctor. Q: My authorization was denied. How do I appeal that decision? A: To appeal a denied authorization/referral, please contact your insurance company/health plan to file a grievance. The insurance company/health plan will review your denied request and will either overturn or uphold the decision. Q: How do I get a second opinion out of a network? A: Please contact your primary care doctor and let them know your request and they will contact your insurance company/health plan for the authorization/referral. Important phone numbers: 1-760-770-8678, Ext. 5 Empire Physicians Medical Group Customer Service Name of primary care doctor Primary care doctor phone # Health plan Health plan member service # Hours of operation: Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Customer service 1-760-770-8678, Ext. 5 Mon. - Fri. 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Visit: empirephysicians.com Visit: empirephysicians.com
Table of contents Customer service When to call 3 Business hours 3 Who is Empire Physicians Medical Group? 3 Doctor appointments How to make visits effective 4 Location of services/map 5 Where do I go for urgent care? 6 Which hospitals does my doctor use? 6-7 Where do I go for laboratory tests? 7-8 Where do I go for radiology services? 8 Preventive services guidelines 9 What is the difference between a health plan and a medical group? 10 Frequently asked questions back cover When do I use the urgent care facility? Going to a specialist How do I obtain an authorization or referral? Checking the status of an authorization How do I obtain a second opinion? Empire Physicians Medical Group is a network of independently-contracted doctors and part of OptumCare. OptumCare keeps you healthier and feeling your best by providing care that is built around you. Learn more at optumcare.com. Optum and OptumCare are trademarks of Optum, Inc. 2
Welcome to Empire Physicians Medical Group Empire Physicians Medical Group, part of OptumCare, would like to thank you for choosing one of our primary care doctors for your health care needs. This member resource guide contains information about your medical network. Our customer service team is also here to answer your call and help you with your health care service questions. Shortly after enrollment, we reach out to new members with a phone call to introduce ourselves and go over any new information about our medical network and doctors. Stay healthy. Stay connected. Our goal at Empire Physicians Medical Group is to keep our patients as healthy and informed as possible. You have access to: Reasons to call customer service You need a doctor s phone number You have received a bill and don t understand it You want to understand the referral process You have a question or concern about your health care When to call customer service Hours of operation: Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Health and wellness through an assortment of articles and blog posts Community events and classes to keep you fit, informed and socially active Resources and tools available to help you make the right choice when it comes to your health Updates on important Medicare dates and deadlines Senior Discount Booklets Call 1-844-368-5899 to receive your free copy! Senior Discount Resource Guide Telephone: 1-760-770-8678, Ext. 5 If you have a speech or hearing impairment and use TTY, please call 711. 3
A great doctor appointment starts with you First visit When you see the doctor and office staff, introduce yourself and let them know by which name you like to be called an example, William may want to go by Bill. Learn what days are busiest and what times are best to call. Share your medical history. Tell the doctor about your illnesses, operations, medical conditions and other doctors you see. Give the new doctor all of your former doctor s names and addresses, especially if they are in a different city. Give information about your medications. Tell the doctor about your habits. Voice other concerns. Making good use of your time Be honest. For instance, you might say: I have been trying to quit smoking, as you recommended, but I am not making much headway. Decide what question(s) are most important. Pick three or four questions or concerns that you want to talk about most. Remember the doctor may not be able to answer all of your questions. Even the best doctor may be unable to answer some questions. If a doctor regularly brushes off your questions or symptoms as simply the effects of aging, you may want to think about looking for another doctor. Take notes. Take along a notepad and pencil and write down the questions you have for the doctor. Write down the main points or ask the doctor to write them down for you. Call or email the doctor. If you are uncertain about the doctor s instructions after you get home, call the office. If you ll be seeing your primary care doctor for the first time, you ll want to schedule your first visit appointment. Call your primary care doctor s office today! 4
Empire Physicians Medical Group map Coachella Valley Cathedral City Coachella Desert Hot Springs Indian Wells Indio La Quinta Palm Desert Palm Springs Rancho Mirage Yucca Valley 29 Palms 111 N. Indian Canyon Dr. Sunrise Way Vista Chino Gene Autry Trail Date Palm Dr. 10 Ramon Rd. Sinatra Rd. Washington St. Bob Hope Dr. Monterey Ave. Portola Ave. Cook St. Avenue 42 Fred Waring Dr. 10 111 Jefferson St. Monroe St. 111 Avenue 50 10 Harrison St. 247 Paxton Rd. 62 Sunburst Ave. N. Lovekin Blvd. W. Barnard St. N. Broadway 95 29 Palms Hwy Avalon Ave. 10 E. 14th Ave. Onaga Trail Joshua Ln. Warren Vista Yucca Trail 78 Urgent care centers Lab services Hospitals Outpatient radiology services Note: Changes occur on a daily basis and while we try to maintain our records, there may be changes that are not reflected on this directory. 5
Empire Physicians Medical Group services Urgent care centers Important: To seek same-day care during regular office hours, you should always contact your primary care physician (PCP) first before going to an urgent care facility. Urgent care is not a substitute for the regular care you receive from your PCP. Desert VIP Urgent Care 72-630 Fred Waring Dr., Ste. 101 Palm Desert, CA 92260 1-760-674-1923 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. Weekends 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Holidays: Call First 100 S. Sunrise Way, Ste. A 1-760-969-5999 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. Weekends 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Holidays: Call First Desert Urgent Care 74-990 Country Club, Ste. 310 Palm Desert, CA 92260 1-760-341-8800 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Weekends 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Novak Urgent Care 80-545 Highway 111, Indio, CA 92201 1-760-347-9221 Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Palm Desert Urgent Care 72-757 Fred Waring Dr., Ste. 1 Palm Desert, CA 92260 1-760-340-5800 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Sat. 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Sun. 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Holidays 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Premier Urgent Care 82-013 Doctor Carreon Blvd., Ste. G Indio, CA 92201 1-760-775-9500 Open 24 hours a day/7 days a week including holidays Executive Urgent Care of Indian Wells 74-785 Highway 111 Indian Wells, CA 92210 1-760-346-3932 Mon. Fri. 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Weekends 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Closed federal holidays Avalon Urgent Care (High Desert Area) 58471 29 Palms Hwy., Ste. 303 Yucca Valley, CA 92284 1-760-365-0851 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Weekends 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Holidays 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Specialty Urgent Care (High Desert Area) 57402 29 Palms Hwy., Ste. 1 Yucca Valley, CA 92284 1-760-365-2520 Mon. Fri. 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Hospitals Desert Regional Medical Center 1150 N. Indian Canyon Dr. 1-760-323-6511 Eisenhower Medical Center 39000 Bob Hope Dr. Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 1-760-340-3911 Hi-Desert Medical Center 6601 White Feather Rd. Joshua Tree, CA 92252 1-760-366-3711 Note: Changes occur on a daily basis and while we try to maintain our records, there may be changes that are not reflected on this directory. 6
Empire Physicians Medical Group services (Cont.) John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital 47111 Monroe St. Indio, CA 92201 1-760-347-6191 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Sat. 8:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Lab services Please visit labcorp.com for hours of operation. **Occupational Testing Locations LabCorp - Bermuda Dunes 41120 Wahsington St., Ste. 105 Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203 1-760-200-2968 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. LabCorp - Blythe** 101 E. Hobson Way, Ste. A Blythe, CA 92225 1-760-922-5882 Mon. Fri. 6:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. LabCorp - Coachella 1293 6th St., Ste. 16 Coachella, CA 92236 1-760-391-9066 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Closed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. LabCorp - Indio** 81-557 Doctor Carreon Blvd., Ste. B-6 Indio, CA 92201 1-760-347-9789 Mon. Fri. 6:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Sat. 7:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m. LabCorp - Indio 81-767 Doctor Carreon Blvd., Ste. 204 Indio, CA 92201 1-760-863-0375 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. LabCorp - Indio 81-880 Doctor Carreon Blvd., Ste. C-101 Indio, CA 92201 1-760-347-0035 Mon. Fri. 5:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m. LabCorp - La Quinta 79180 Corporate Center Dr., Ste. 104 La Quinta, CA 92253 1-760-777-8419 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. LabCorp - Palm Desert** 73345 Highway 111, Ste. 204B Palm Desert, CA 92260 1-760-568-6933 Mon. Fri. 6:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. LabCorp - Palm Springs** 555 E. Tachevah Dr., Ste. 3E103 1-760-322-3097 Mon. Fri. 6:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Sat. 8:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. LabCorp - Palm Springs 1695 N. Sunrise Way 1-760-322-0976 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. LabCorp - Palm Springs 1100 N. Palm Canyon Dr., Ste. 207 1-760-322-4570 Mon. Fri. 7:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Closed for lunch from 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. LabCorp - Rancho Mirage** 35-280 Bob Hope Dr., Ste. 103 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 1-760-202-7069 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Note: Changes occur on a daily basis and while we try to maintain our records, there may be changes that are not reflected on this directory. 7
Empire Physicians Medical Group services (Cont.) LabCorp - Rancho Mirage 72780 Country Club Dr., Ste. 303C Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 1-760-341-8248 Mon. Fri. 7:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. LabCorp - Yucca Valley** 57725 29 Palms Hwy., Ste.110 Yucca Valley, CA 92284 1-760-369-2139 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Outpatient radiology services Desert Advanced Imaging - Locations Bermuda Dunes 41120 Washington Blvd., 2nd Floor Bermuda Dunes, CA 92203 1-760-200-4168 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Closed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. X-ray Indio 81-880 Doctor Carreon Blvd., Ste. A-102 Indio,CA 92201 1-760-863-3857 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. Weekends 10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. (on call) X-ray, Mammography (Mon.-Fri. only) Palm Desert - El Paseo 72605 Hwy 111 Palm Desert, CA 92260 1-760-346-1303 Mon. Fri. 10:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. Weekends 10:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. (on call) X-ray Sat. 7:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. (by appointment) MRI, CT, Fluoroscopy, X-ray Palm Springs - El Cielo 275 N. El Cielo, Ste. B-1 1-760-318-1934 Mon. Fri. 8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Weekends 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. X-ray Palm Springs - Tahquitz 2601 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way 1-760-318-2980 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Open MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Mammography, Ultrasound, X-ray Rancho Mirage 35-800 Bob Hope Dr., Ste. 150A Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 1-760-770-1920 Mon. Fri. 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Sat. 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. (by appointment) PET/CT, MRI, CT, Mammography, X-ray, Interventional Radiology, Ultrasound Yucca Valley 57840 29 Palms Hwy. Yucca Valley, CA 92284 1-760-969-6583 Mon. Fri. 10:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. Weekends 9:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. (on call) X-ray Palm Desert - Fred Waring 72855 Fred Waring Dr. Palm Desert, CA 92260 1-760-837-1420 Mon. Fri. 7:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Note: Changes occur on a daily basis and while we try to maintain our records, there may be changes that are not reflected on this directory. 8
Preventive services reference guide* Discuss with your doctor Fall risk prevention Bladder control issues Smoking cessation Immunization update (flu, pneumonia) Medication review Preventive service Frequency Wellness visit Annually Mammogram screening Once every 2 years for women Colorectal cancer screening Ask your doctor what testing is the most appropriate for you Diabetes screening Ask your doctor, varies based on results Diabetes management: HbA1c Cholesterol Kidney function Blood pressure Retinal eye exam Ask your doctor, usually at least annually Cardiovascular screenings for cholesterol, lipid and triglyceride levels Glaucoma test Usually annually Once every 2 years Bone mass measurement Once every 2 years for people with certain medical conditions *This list is a partial and high level overview. For complete information, please visit the Medicare website: medicare.gov/publications 9
Health insurance plan; medical network; doctor: What does it all mean? Health insurance plan Your health plan pays the cost of covered health care services. This can include: Medical care Behavioral health Prescription drug coverage Through your health plan, you choose a medical network and primary care doctor. Your primary care doctor and health care team You choose or have chosen a primary care doctor through the medical network. Your primary care doctor along with their health care team will work with you to deliver the medical care you need and offer the best treatment plan for you. Medical network (Empire Physicians Medical Group) You choose your medical network through your health plan. The medical network gives you access to your primary care doctor, hospitals and other health care providers. Your medical network coordinates with your primary care doctor to deliver the medical benefits available to you through your health plan. This can include: Hospitalization Urgent care Specialist referrals Case management Lab services X-ray services Your primary care doctor coordinates the following care: If you need a referral to a specialist If you need to be admitted to a hospital If you look at your member ID card, you should see the name of your medical network (i.e. Empire Physicians Medical Group) and the name of your primary care doctor with the phone number. This is who you should contact for all routine care. Let us give you an example of a similar arrangement not related to health care. You are going to have new kitchen cabinets installed. You go to a home improvement store (ex. Lowe s or Home Depot) and choose the ones you want. When the people arrive to install them, the delivery van is from ABC Kitchen Cabinets. The home improvement store has sub-contracted the work to them, but it remains responsible for the outcome. The relationship between your health plan and Empire Physicians Medical Group is like that. We provide our Medicare members with sponsored events, health fairs and send semi-annual newsletters (Senior Connection). Empire Physicians Medical Group is contracted with the health plan you have selected, and we are committed to your health and well-being. 10
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