SMA: To Health!

Spend 90 minutes with Dr. Martha Sandoval in her bilingual (English and Spanish) Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) series to learn more about health and lifestyle. This group appointment focuses on MyPlate Method, healthy weight and obesity, cardiovascular risk, prediabetes and diabetes, sleep apnea, fatty liver, mental health, cancer, plant-based food and lifestyle and more. During the appointment, you’ll be able to discuss medical conditions in greater depth and ask questions.

Locations: Palo Alto Medical Foundation, South Bay, Santa Cruz

For further details or to schedule, please contact our Shared Medical Appointment care team at (855) 729-7174.

SMA: Healthy Heart

In this monthly Shared Medical Appointment (SMA), Family Medicine doctor Suzanne Ware, M.D., offers bilingual (English and Spanish) education and awareness to maximize your health and improve your quality of life. You’ll have the chance to learn about:

• Medications
• How to treat obesity
• Hormone health
• Heart disease and stroke risk reduction
• Diabetes and metabolic syndrome
• Nutrition and meal selection
• Gut health
• Vitamins and other supplements
• How to understand lab results
• Fatty liver disease

Locations: Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Selected Bay Area locations

For further details or to schedule, please contact our Shared Medical Appointment care team at (855) 729-7174.

SMA: Heart Smart

Spend 90 minutes with family medicine doctor Monique Browns, M.D., learning about your health, labs and medications. Bring your questions, concerns and medical issues, discuss your medical conditions in greater depth and learn practical information about nutrition and lifestyle. Dr. Brown offers Winter/Spring and Summer/Fall sessions at the PAMF location in Watsonville.

Each seasonal Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) includes such topics as:

• Blood sugar and diabetes
• Micro- and macronutrients
• Practical approaches health and nutrition
• Blood pressure
• Portion sizes
• Fatty liver disease
• The MyPlate Method
• Medications
• Stress
• Why diets fail
• Weight set point
• Mindful eating
• Weight loss meds and surgery options
• Exercise tips

Locations: Palo Alto Medical Foundation, South Bay, Watsonville

For further details or to schedule, please contact our Shared Medical Appointment care team at (855) 729-7174.

SMA: Medicare Million Hearts®

The Medicare Million Hearts Shared Medical Appointment (SMA) is a collaborative effort with Medicare, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Sutter Health. The program’s goal is to help people reduce their risk for heart attacks and strokes. The MH Model supports the national Million Hearts Initiative, launched in 2012 with the goal of preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes. Lessons from the MH Model will help Medicare take better care of future patients.

Your doctor or nurse will screen you for your 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke using a Risk Calculator. The Risk Calculator uses several pieces of information about your health, including your age, gender, blood pressure, cholesterol level and smoking status. Within small group visits of 10 to 12 patients, you’ll receive an engaging presentation on the latest healthcare and preventive measures along with a packet of resources. You’ll also receive undivided attention in reviewing your health and crafting a plan of action. Together, we’ll discuss ways you can cut your risk for having a heart attack or stroke during the next 10 years. High-risk patients will be offered a one-year follow-up visit.

Depending on your calculated risk score, our Community Health Resource Center (CHRC) nurses and health educators may contact you to offer additional support, including classes to help you throughout your heart health journey.

Locations: Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Selected Bay Area Locations

For further details or to schedule, please contact our Shared Medical Appointment care team at (855) 729-7174.

SMA: Healthy Rhythm

Imagine encountering an entirely new hypertension appointment model with a complete healthcare team and a small group of like-minded and motivated patient peers — at no extra cost to you.

With the Healthy Rhythm Shared Medical Appointment (SMA), our trained team of medical professionals will educate and equip you with practical tips for successful healthy living, targeted toward combating (pre)hypertension within a supportive environment. This 90-minute group visit accommodates six to eight patients, allowing for extended time with your provider and the encouragement to participate with each other and our medical team.

Our end goal is to prevent, delay or even reverse your hypertension symptoms, increase your longevity and help you enjoy life to the fullest.

By offering excellent treatment, preventive education and supportive accountability within a dynamic group setting, the SMA model provides an ideal setting for tackling hypertension.

Location: Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Bay Area

For further details or to schedule, please contact our Shared Medical Appointment care team at (855) 729-7174.