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.

Provider photo for John Mar

John Mar, MD

Family 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.

My Offices

San Jose Medical Center
Appt/Advice: 1-408-362-4791

See all office information »

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Office Visit

Making an Appointment

When you or your family member is sick

If you or your family member is sick, and you are concerned about the symptoms, please call our Appointment and Advice line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We can not offer walk-in appointments, so this call is important.

When you call, please let the representative know whether you are calling for advice or to schedule an appointment. If you are not sure, our trained nurses can evaluate the symptoms and help determine the type of care needed. Depending on the condition, medical history and your preferences, the nurse may:

  • Provide advice about how to care for yourself or your family member at home.
  • Send me a message so my staff or I may follow up with you directly.
  • Schedule a telephone appointment with me or a trusted colleague.
  • Make an appointment for you or your child to be seen in person.

If you or your family member needs to be seen, the advice nurse will make every effort to schedule an appointment with me. However, in the event that care is needed the same day and I am unavailable, we will schedule your appointment with one of my trusted colleagues.

Getting Here

  • My office address, maps, and transportation instructions are included in "Offices and Directions."
  • Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time for parking and check-in.
  • Please bring your Kaiser Permanente medical card and a photo ID, like your driver's license, with you.

Before Your Visit

Please bring your medications with you.

  • It is important for us to know which medicines, and how much of each, you or your family member is taking because it influences recommendations for tests or other medicines you might need.
  • Our electronic medical record tells us what has been prescribed, but only you can confirm what you or your family member take every day. This includes prescription medications as well as over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin, vitamins, herbs, or supplements.
  • We can talk about renewing your prescriptions during the visit, or if you already have a prescription, you can pick up a refill at the pharmacy while you are here.
  • If you or your family member has a chronic condition, bring any related tools and records you keep at home (e.g., blood pressure log, sugar log, asthma symptom diary and peak flow meter, headache diary).

For routine Well Child visits, please remember to bring your forms

  • Please bring your child's immunization record.
  • For well care visits (check-ups) please bring your completed health questionnaire.

Think about the questions and issues you would like to discuss.

  • It is a good idea to write them down and bring them to our visit.
  • Prioritize items on your list. We will make every effort to discuss each of your concerns, however we may request you to make another appointment if there are too many issues to address within one visit.

During Your Visit

Before you see me, you will meet with my medical assistant (MA).

  • My MA will call you in from the waiting room, take your vital signs, weight, and height and bring you to the exam room.
  • You will be asked whether you smoke and you may be asked about your alcohol use. You may also be asked if you exercise. If you do smoke and are ready to try to quit, we will give you information about the many services we provide to help you quit. We can also give you information about exercise options. We believe that exercise is good medicine.

You will receive a Preventive Health Prompt.

  • Your Preventive Health Prompt lists all of the preventive tests, screenings, and immunizations you have had in the past as well as when you will be due for your next test or screening. We can discuss and schedule any preventive tests that you need. This is also available online.

We will review your medical information, which is readily available through computers in our exam rooms.

  • We can review your lab results and X-rays during your visit. While we are together, I can order any tests, X-rays, or medicines that you will need. You will not need a paper prescription or lab order form. After I submit the order, you just go to the laboratory, pharmacy, or Radiology department and present your membership card.
  • If additional specialty advice is needed while you are in the exam room, I can often call a colleague and get specialty advice immediately.

If you or your family member is here for a sick visit:

  • I'll ask about the symptoms. It's helpful to know when they began; how long they've lasted; what you've tried at home; and what, if anything, helps you or your family member feel better.
  • I will also do a physical exam to look for signs of injury or illness and order any necessary tests, such as lab tests or X-rays.
  • If additional specialty advice is needed during the exam, I can often call a colleague and get specialty advice immediately.

Please ask questions.

  • It is always good to ask questions and voice any concerns you may have about instructions, medical tests, medications, or treatments. If you do not understand my answers, please ask for more information.

You may receive a copy of your After Visit Summary.

  • This summary includes my name and the date and time of our visit, your vital signs, my test orders and your medications or immunizations. It usually includes the instructions I have given you during our visit and any follow-up information.
  • You can refer to your After Visit Summary if you forget what we discussed, or if you just want to recheck your vital signs and weight. You can also view your After Visit Summary online.
  • The After Visit Summary in kp.org is called Past Visit Information.
  • If your child is under 12, you can also sign up to view your child's After Visit Summary online using our Act for a Family Member feature.

After Your Visit

Specialist referral

  • If we talked to a specialist by phone during your visit, we will decide if you should follow up with the specialist or with me for additional issues or questions.
  • If I referred you or your family member to a specialist and scheduled the appointment, you will receive an appointment confirmation.
  • If we did not book the specialty appointment during the visit, you will be contacted by the specialty department to arrange an appointment.

Test results

  • If you or your family member had lab work or other tests done, I'll contact you with your results by letter, email, or phone.
  • You may be able to view the results online. Since the results are often available online before I contact you, my comments and recommendations usually follow separately. By law, some results may not be posted online.
  • If your child is under age 12, you can also sign up to view your child's test results online. You will receive an e-mail notification whenever new laboratory results are available. Because those results are available to you immediately, my comments and instructions will usually follow in a separate e-mail

Follow-up questions/activities

Please remember to:

  • Make sure you complete any follow-up tests or immunizations I recommended.
  • Pick up any medications at the pharmacy.
  • Follow your family member's care plan at home. The home treatment you provide after you see me is a critical part of helping you or your family member feel better.
  • Schedule and keep any follow-up appointments.
  • You can contact me by secure e-mail for nonurgent questions. Your message comes directly to me and I am usually able to respond to questions within 2 business days if I am not away from the office.
  • You can call my office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Advice nurses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to give advice, send me a message, or book an appointment.
  • From my home page, you can also refill your prescriptions, book future appointments, view your test results, and review information about past visits.

Online services

You can manage your care online by signing up for a kp.org account. You can sign up for an account by clicking any of the links under “Stay Connected with Your Doctor” on the left hand side of this page and following the instructions to register. You can also manage your child's care online by requesting access through our Act for a Family Member feature.

Once you have an account or have added your child through “Act for a Family Member, you can:

  • View and compose secure e-mail messages.
  • Manage your or your child's prescriptions and refills.
  • Schedule well visit and nonurgent appointments.
  • View Preventive Services to see whether you or your family member is due for any immunizations or well visits.
  • View your lab results. If your child is under 12, you can also view most lab test results and review information about past visits.



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