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.
David Sobel, MD
Internal Medicine
An important part of being your physician is providing you with reliable health information and easy ways we can communicate with each other. My colleagues and I have developed My Doctor Online so you can e-mail me, check your lab results, make an appointment, access our many online programs or get information about a particular health topic - any time it's convenient for you.
Quick Links
- Healthy Lifestyle Online Programs
- Healthy Pleasures, My 8 minute Podcast
- Mind Body Health
- Guided Imagery Tapes and Podcasts
- Managing Your Back Pain
- San Jose Health Education Resources
- Quit Tobacco Medications
- Managing Your Headaches
- Manage your health online-Getting started
- Up To Date
- Patient Handouts
- Anatomical Charts
- Travel Clinic
- Cervical Cancer Screening Saves Lives
- Young Adult Health
- La detección del cancer de cuello del útero salva vidas (Spanish)
- Mammograms Save Lives
- Las mamografías salvan vidas (Spanish)
- Health Links
- National Insitutes of Health
- Prepare for Your Procedure - Emmi
- Cold, Flu and Cough
- Spine Care Exercise Videos
- Smartmoves: Computer & Laptop Setup, Stretching (Ergonomics)
- San Jose Medical Center Virtual Tour (English)
- San Jose Medical Center Virtual Tour (Spanish)
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?
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?
You can browse through the professional and personal profiles of physicians in internal medicine on this Web site. Our Choose your Doctor page will allow you to find physicians in your area. You can also see whether a physician is fluent in your primary language. Talk to your friends or to another physician you see at Kaiser Permanente; they might recommend a physician in your area.
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.
You may reach us by calling our 24-hour Appointment and Advice line or by sending us a secure nonurgent message through your kp.org account. I will respond within 2 business days if I am not away from the office. Please e-mail nonurgent concerns only. For urgent concerns, call the 24-hour Appointment and Advice line.
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.
You can make or cancel routine appointments and view future appointments anytime at kp.org/appointments. (You must be registered to access these secure features on our Web site. To register, visit kp.org/register.) To schedule routine and urgent care appointments by phone, call our 24-hour Appointment and Advice line.
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, work-related injury/Occupational Medicine, travel clinic, Ob/Gyn, Optometry, or Psychiatry. 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?
Yes. Most of your lab test results will be available for viewing online. Due to privacy concerns and regulations, some may not be. 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.
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 with any urgent concerns.
How do I refill my prescriptions?
You can visit any of our main or satellite pharmacies to fill prescriptions. You can refill prescriptions online through the Prescriptions section on my Web site. 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. If you order online, by telephone, or by mail order service, you can 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'm out of refills?
If you have no refills left when you place your order, the pharmacy will contact me to request additional refills. Please allow an additional 2 business days to process your order when you have no refills remaining.
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 and see how many refills you have, or call us.
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 or by phone.
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?
You don't need paperwork or an appointment to get a lab test. You can do lab tests at any Kaiser Permanente lab.
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, and 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.
Fasting is having nothing to eat or drink except water and any medication you take. It is important to fast before certain tests or procedures. If you have diabetes, check with us before fasting.