At PPMA, we pride ourselves on the quality of our relationships – our trusted relationships with patients, our vital relationships with specialists and our commitment to constantly improve our practice of medicine.
Maintaining and cultivating this close network of specialists, often only a few steps away at the Hoag Hospital medical offices, allows us to quickly navigate our patients through the system and find medical answers quickly. We are able to assimilate all of our patients’ information from various sources and immediately collaborate with the right specialists to move your care forward as promptly as possible.
We recently had a patient who was previously scheduled for an oncology consultation, but had to wait three weeks after her initial diagnosis to see a specialist. Following the patient’s call to PPMA on a Wednesday, the patient had an appointment at our Newport Beach office the next day. After we walked over to one of our trusted specialists with copies of the patient’s pertinent medical history physically in our hands, the patient was seen later that afternoon. The patient began treatment for the diagnosis on the following Monday, less than five days after picking up the phone and reaching out to our office.
This is not an isolated occurrence. Advocating for our patients, even those we have barely met, is our duty as PPMA physicians and we are committed to providing the best care for every patient that walks through our doors. As concierge doctors, the relationships we have formed are essential not only for the success of our practice, but also allow us to continually grow as physicians. Our model of medical practice allows us to spend more, quality time with each patient, as well. Other doctors spend less than 18 minutes with each patient, in a long assembly line that defines their day. A recent study found that the average patient only speaks for 23 seconds before the physician interrupts. We encourage our patients to speak freely and this allows us to absorb and reflect on the entire situation, not just the first few words a patient opens with during an appointment.
Since we spend more time with each individual patient to develop a full and accurate picture of their medical situation, we also have more time to focus on preventative measures and wellness planning. Treating current diseases and conditions is an important part of our everyday mission, but providing guidance on healthy lifestyle practices for our patients is the best approach when preparing our patients for a long and healthy life.
“I will prevent disease whenever I can, as prevention is preferable to cure.”
-Hippocratic Oath
With every case, we strengthen our relationships and knowledge of the medical field as every diagnosis is as unique as the individual patient we treat. The medical system can be extremely complicated and even overwhelming at times, but partnering with the right physicians to manage your care, such as those at PPMA, can make it easier to navigate.