My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Brian Hertz, MD
Internal Medicine
Welcome to My Doctor Online, a web site that my colleagues and I developed to make it easier for you to take care of your healthcare needs. On this site you will find answers to many of your questions about my clinical practice. Also included are several online features that will allow you to e-mail me, check your laboratory results and refill prescriptions. I hope you find its content informative and useful.
Quick Links
- Wellness Coaching
- Managing Your Back Pain
- Managing Your Shoulder Pain
- Managing Your Knee Pain
- Managing Your Heel Pain
- Patient Handouts
- Flu Shot Clinic Information - Adults
- Anatomical Charts
- Prepare for Your Procedure - Emmi
- Stroke Group
- Medical Weight Management
- Managing Your Headaches
- Quit Tobacco Medications
- Video: Sinus Rinse
- Modified Epley Maneuver
- Screen for Colon Cancer with FIT
- Cervical Cancer Screening Saves Lives
- La detección del cancer de cuello del útero salva vidas (Spanish)
- Mammograms Save Lives
- Las mamografías salvan vidas (Spanish)
- Young Adult Health Website
- Cold, Flu and Cough
- Health Links
- Smartmoves: Computer & Laptop Setup, Stretching (Ergonomics)
General References
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Common Questions About Internal Medicine
Here are answers to some common questions you may have about the Medicine department.
Physicians in Internal Medicine provide comprehensive care for adults ages 18 and over. This includes preventive care, care for acute illnesses, and ongoing care for chronic conditions. Some physicians in Internal Medicine have a subspecialty such as infectious diseases or geriatrics.
What specialists work in the Internal Medicine department?
What specialists work in the Internal Medicine department?
Internal Medicine physicians, family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants may practice in the Internal Medicine department.
- Internal Medicine physicians specialize in treating adults 18 and over.
- Family medicine physicians are trained to provide care to people of all ages.
- Nurse practitioners are nurses with advanced education and licenses that allow them to diagnose and manage medical conditions within their specialty.
- Physician assistants are licensed to work under the supervision of a physician.
How much training do physicians in Internal Medicine have?
In addition to graduating from medical school, our Internal Medicine and family medicine physicians have completed a 3-year residency training program in internal or family medicine. If they decide to pursue further specialty training, then they complete an additional fellowship. After training is completed, an Internal Medicine or family medicine physician takes an exam in order to become "board certified." This distinguishes the physician as a true specialist in his or her field. Continued certification is achieved through periodic exams and specialized classes throughout the physician's career. All of our internal medicine and family medicine physicians are board certified or are in the process of achieving this designation.
How do I choose a physician in the Internal Medicine department?
How do I choose a physician in the Internal Medicine department?
- Our Choose your Doctor page will allow you to find physicians in your area. You can browse through the professional and personal profiles of physicians in internal medicine on this Web site. For example, you can also see whether a physician is fluent in your primary language.
- You can talk to your friends or to another physician you see at Kaiser Permanente if they have any recommendations.
- You can switch anytime either online or by calling new member services at 866 -413-1581.
How often should I come in for a visit?
How often should I come in for a visit?
How often you come in for a visit is something you and your personal physician can discuss. Depending on your age and whether you have a chronic condition, you may need screening tests or immunizations. We feel it's very important to get all the preventive care you need.
In general:
- If you have not met your physician before, you should ideally talk on the phone or in person within the first six months, particularly if you have any chronic medical conditions or take any long-term medications.
- Patients between 50 and 65 should consider checkups at least once every two years.
- Patients 65 and older should have a check up at least once a year.
How can I contact my doctor?
You may reach us by
- Calling our 24-hour Appointment and Advice line at 415-444-2940
- Sending us a secure nonurgent message through your primary doctor's MyDoctor Online (link to www.mydoctoronline.kp.org) page. I generally respond within 2 business days if I am not away from the office. Please only e-mail nonurgent concerns.
- For urgent concerns or issues that cannot wait up to 2 business days, please call the 24-hour Appointment and Advice line at 415-444-2940.
- For any genuine medical emergencies, you should call 911 or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Will I always see the same doctor?
Usually, yes! However, you may not see your own doctor if you want a certain day and/or time for your appointment and your physician is not in the office at that time. You may also see a new doctor if you need an urgent or same-day appointment.
How do I make an appointment?
- Online: You can make or cancel routine appointments and view future appointments anytime through any MyDoctor Online (link to www.mydoctoronline.kp.org) page. (You must be registered to access these secure features on our Web site. To register, visit kp.org/register.)
- Phone: To schedule routine and urgent care appointments by phone, call our 24-hour Appointment and Advice line at 415-444-2940.
Do I need to call you first to see a specialist? Which specialists can I contact directly?
Do I need to call you first to see a specialist? Which specialists can I contact directly?
You don't need a referral for:
- Health Education (415-444-2173 or 707-765-3565)
- Work-related injury/Occupational Medicine (415-444-2900 or 707-765-3800)
- Travel clinic (415-482-6763)
- Ob/Gyn (415-444-4450 or 707-765-3940)
- Optometry (415-444-2990 or 707-765-3930)
- Psychiatry (415-444-3522 or 707-765-3565)
- Allergy - San Rafael Service area only (415-444-2960 or 707-765-0254)
- Dermatology for non-urgent and cosmetic issues - San Rafael Service area only (415-444-2939 or 707-765-2062)
In addition, if you have seen another specialist within the last 13 months, you can contact them directly by phone or e-mail.
Can I review my lab results online?
Can I review my lab results online?
Yes. Most of your lab test results will be available for viewing online. Due to privacy concerns and regulations, some may not be (this includes PSA-prostate surface antigen, hepatitis, sexually trasmitted disease tests, and radiology results). If you do not see the test results you are looking for online, you can call or send an e-mail message to your personal clinician.
Can I e-mail my doctor?
Yes. You can send secure, confidential e-mail to your doctor at any time during the day, night, or on weekends. We are usually able to respond to your messages within 2 business days if not away from the office. Since we may not be in the office all the time, it's best to contact our Appointment and Advice line at 415-444-2940 with any urgent concerns.
How do I refill my prescriptions?
How do I refill my prescriptions?
- In person: You can visit any of our main or satellite pharmacies to fill prescriptions.
- Online: You can refill prescriptions online through the Prescriptions section on my Web site.
- Mail order: To refill prescriptions using our mail-order service, fill out the preprinted order forms available at our pharmacies. By telephone, you can call the number on your prescription label.
- Home Delivery: If you order online, by telephone, or by mail order service, you can choose to get most of your refills delivered to your home, postage paid, within 7 to 10 days.
Certain medications such as controlled substances and narcotic pain medications require additional processing time due to prescribing regulations. We recommend you submit requests for these medications at least two business days in advance of when you them. Walk in requests for most controlled substances and narcotic pain medications will generally not be approved unless authorized by your primary care physician.
What do I do if I am out of refills?
What do I do if I am out of refills?
- Request a refill online (link to kp.org/pharmacycenter) or by contacting your pharmacy (the number on your bottle).
- If you have no refills left when you place your order, the pharmacy will contact me to request additional refills.
- Your prescription bottle may say "0" refills, but if you called us in the past for a refill, you may have more refills available.
- You can check the prescription number online (link to kp.org/pharmacycenter) to see how many refills you have, or call your pharmacy (link to pharmacy hours/location).
- Please allow an additional 2 business days to process your order when you have no refills remaining.
As a new member, what do I need to do?
As a new member, what do I need to do?
We recommend that you start by choosing a personal physician. You can do this online (link to https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/) or by calling member outreach at 866 -413-1581.
We also recommend that you transfer any prescriptions from you non-Kaiser Permante pharamcy. For the San Rafael Medical Center area, you can call our new member pharmacist at 415-444-2578 orcontact your Kaiser pharmacy of choice. Please allow 2-3 business days to process the transfer.
To transfer a prescription from a non-Kaiser Permanente pharmacy to any of our pharmacies, simply give your Kaiser Permanente pharmacist your prescription number and the pharmacy’s name and phone number. Your Kaiser Permanente pharmacist will handle the rest. Please allow two or more working days to process the transfer.
Where/how do I complete labwork?
Where/how do I complete labwork?
You don't need paperwork or an appointment to get a lab test. You can do lab tests at any Kaiser Permanente lab. San Rafael service area labs are listed here (link to labs). If any labs that require that you be fasting, then you should goto the lab after having nothing to eat or drink for 10-12 hours except for water and medications. Fasting labs are usually done in the morning.
How do I get a kp.org account? What does it provide?
How do I get a kp.org account? What does it provide?
With My Health Manager on kp.org, you can:
- E-mail your doctor
- Find results of most lab tests
- Schedule and cancel routine appointments
- View future appointments
- View past office visit information
- Refill prescriptions
- View immunization records
- View eligibility and benefit information
- Act for a child or other family member
- Take advantage of health tools, resources, and information online
You must be registered to access these secure features on our Web site. To register, visit kp.org/register.
What does fasting mean?
Fasting is having nothing to eat or drink for 10-12 hours except for water and medications. It is important to fast before certain tests or procedures. If you have diabetes, check with us before fasting.