What is Integrative Medicine?

Integrative medicine is healing oriented and emphasizes the centrality of the physician-patient relationship. It focuses on the least invasive, least toxic and least costly methods to help facilitate health by integrating both allopathic and complementary therapies. These are recommended based on an understanding of the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual aspects of the individual.

Integrative medicine
	Focuses on relationship-centered care
	Integrates conventional and complementary methods for treatment and prevention
	Involves removing barriers that may activate the body’s innate healing response
	Uses natural, less invasive interventions before costly, invasive ones when possible
	Engages mind, body, spirit, and community to facilitate healing
	Acknowledges that healing is always possible, even when curing is not

(Source Integrative Medicine, 2nd edition, David Rakel MD, ed., 2007, Saunders, Elsevier, Philadelphia, PA.)

How do I make an Appointment?

Click on Schedule an Appointment and follow the instructions on the page. Choose a day that works for you and click on any open times that are available. All new patients must schedule one hour appointments. Returning patients can schedule half hour or one hour appointments.

Will insurance pay for my visit?

Every insurance company is different and I would encourage you to check with yours prior to our appointment. I do not bill insurance directly and require payment at the time of your visit (by check, cash, debit card, Visa/Mastercard/Discover). After our visit, I will provide you with a “superbill” which you can submit to your insurance for reimbursement. The amount of reimbursement will depend on your particular insurance plan. For more information, see Payment and Insurance.

I am currently a provider for Blue Shield, Healthnet PPO, Pacificare PPO, United Healthcare, Aetna, First Health/CCN and Blue Cross in the “non-preferred” category. I expect patients with Medicare to be able to be reimbursed for my services at 80% of Medicare charges after my application with Medicare is processed (by January 2008). I do not contract with HMO’s or accept MediCal.

Can you be my primary care physician?

I do comprehensive care like a primary care physician, but unlike a primary care physician, I do not take call, do hospital admissions, or routine exams (including pap smears). I can treat you for the full range of child and adult health issues from an integrative medicine point of view. I require that all of my patients have another primary care physician to cover them in case of emergencies.

How do I reach you with questions or concerns?

You can leave a message on my voice mail, 465-9088, which I check on a daily basis, Monday through Friday. Alternatively, you can . In case of urgent issues, please call your primary care physician or go to a local urgent care facility.

How do I get to your office?

We are located in Capitola, California just around the corner from the famous Gayle’s Bakery. Capitola is just south of Santa Cruz, California and a 1 1/2 hour drive from San Francisco and a 45 minute drive from San Jose (allow more time for travel during rush hour).

MapQuest | Google Maps

From the North

Take Highway 1 South and exit at the Soquel/Capitola exit called Porter Street/Bay Ave. Go right off the highway onto Bay Ave. and continue through the stop sign. At the second stop sign (with Gayle’s Bakery ahead of you), take a left onto Capitola Ave. We are approximately 1 block up on the right at 720-A Capitola Ave. You will see a group of three octagonal wooden buildings. Ours is the first on the right as you turn in the drive. Please park at our building only or on the street. The parking spaces at the other buildings are reserved for the other businesses.

From the South

Take Highway 1 North and exit at the Soquel/Capitola exit called Porter Street/Bay Ave. Go left at the bottom of the ramp and back under the highway onto Bay Ave. Go straight through the first stop sign. At the second stop sign (with Gayle’s Bakery ahead of you), take a left onto Capitola Ave. We are approximately 1 block up on the right at 720-A Capitola Ave. You will see a group of three octagonal wooden buildings. Ours is the first on the right as you turn in the drive. Please park at our building only or on the street. The parking spaces at the other buildings are reserved for the other businesses.