Kern Family Health Care | Family Health | Spring 2020

FAMILY HEALTH 2 KFHC office address: 2900 Buck Owens Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93308 NEED A DOC? Go online to kernfamilyhealthcare.com to find a nephrologist near you. What is a nephrologist? Nephrologists specialize in treating kidney problems. Your kidneys are small organs that filter waste and extra water from blood. They also make hormones that help control blood pressure, make red blood cells and activate vitamin D. If you have signs of kidney problems, your doctor might refer you to a nephrologist. Kidney problems include: y  y Kidney disease. y  y Infections. y  y Abnormal growths. To treat kidney disease, your nephrologist may recommend: y  y Medicines. y  y Changes in your diet. In severe cases—known as kidney failure—dialysis may be needed. Your nephrologist will work with your doctor to monitor your treatments. Sources: American College of Physicians; National Institutes of Health Care after hours Did you know that Kern Family Health Care has an Advice Nurse Line? You can call and speak to an advice nurse to help you decide what to do when you or a family member is sick or hurt. Our advice nurses can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can answer health care questions when you can’t reach your doctor. To speak with an advice nurse, call us at 661-632-1590 (Bakersfield) or 800-391-2000 (outside of Bakersfield). Timely access to care Kern Family Health Care has standards so that you receive timely access to care. The amounts of time you should have to wait when scheduling your appointments with your doctor, specialists and other health professionals are listed below. If you have to wait longer than these appropriate wait times when scheduling an appointment, please give us a call at 661-632-1590 (Bakersfield) or 800-391-2000 (outside of Bakersfield) and we will help you schedule a more timely appointment. Type of medical appointment Appointment wait times Routine doctor and follow-ups 10 business days* Specialists 15 business days* Mental health 10 business days* Urgent appointments for services that do not require prior authorization Within 48 hours* Urgent appointments for services that require prior authorization Within 96 hours* Ancillary services such as x-rays, lab tests and physical therapy 15 business days* Telephone wait times during normal business hours 10 minutes Triage—24/7 services 24/7 services—no more than 30 minutes Initial prenatal care 10 business days *Health care providers can be flexible in making appointments if a longer waiting time is not harmful to the member’s health. It must be noted in the member’s record that a longer waiting time will not be harmful to the member.