Do you have flu shots?
Yes, we currently have flu shots available for patients 6 months of age and older.
Are you accepting new patients?
We are currently accepting new patients. We request that new patients arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment. Click here to download a registration form to complete prior to your first visit.
What insurance do you accept?
We accept most HMO and PPO insurance. If you have a HMO insurance, you will need to contact your health plan and request us as your primary care provider.
What do I do if I need urgent care?
If you have an urgent after-hours or weekend medical problem that cannot wait until office hours, you can seek care at a local urgent care center. Note: Patients with PPO insurance, Medicare and Tricare may go to an urgent care facility of their choice. For our HMO patients, we recommend one of the urgent care centers listed here.
What hospitals are you affiliated with?
Our physicians are on staff at Inland Valley Medical Center and Rancho Springs Medical Center. Our patients have access to these hospitals plus other local hospitals, including Menifee Valley Medical Center, Hemet Valley Medical Center, Fallbrook Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center and the Temecula Valley Hospital.
What do I do in case of an emergency?
If you have a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Do you offer same-day appointments?
Urgent same-day appointments are available. Please contact the office for an appointment.
How do I transfer my medical records?
If you are a new patient, you will need to ask your previous primary care physician to have your records transferred to us. If you are transferring your records from us, you can download our medical records release form, fill it out and fax it to us.
How do I refill my prescriptions?
Please call your pharmacy for all medication refills. We advise you call at least 48 hours in advance in order to give us and your pharmacy time to process your request. If you use a mail-order service e.g. Express Scripts, CVS Caremark or Optum RX, please contact them at least one to two weeks prior. If you have not been seen recently, your refill request may be denied and you will be asked to schedule an appointment.
How do I get a referral to see a specialist or get a particular test?
We recommend you make an appointment to see your primary care physician. Your PCP is the most qualified person to coordinate your care and refer you to the appropriate specialist or order the proper test. Also, depending on your health plan, a prior authorization may be required to see a specialist or get a particular test.
How do I get my lab and X-ray results?
We make every effort to notify you of all test results when available. However, for faster results, please access our patient portal.
What is a DO?
An osteopath, or DO, is a physician who has trained in the field of osteopathic medicine. Like an MD, an osteopath is a fully trained and licensed physician. DOs and MDs are considered equal, legally and in terms of their authority to diagnose and treat various health conditions, prescribe medication and perform surgery. The difference between an MD and a DO is the approach toward medical education. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the whole person and the connection between the musculoskeletal system and disease and symptoms. Osteopaths cover the same curriculum as MDs, plus they receive an additional 300 to 500 hours of specialized osteopathic training, studying the musculoskeletal system. Many osteopaths use a broad range of gentle hands-on techniques called osteopathic manipulative techniques (OMT), which include soft-tissue stretching, deep tactile pressure and mobilization or manipulation of joints to prevent and treat disease.
When can I expect my doctor to return my message?
Phone messages left for the providers during business hours are triaged and returned based on urgency. During office hours, we are busy caring for our scheduled patients. Most phone messages left for the providers are returned late in the day at the end of office hours. For non-urgent questions, please access our patient portal.
For more answers to your questions about Temecula Valley Primary Care Physicians and our health care services, please call us at 951-221-0590 from Murrieta, Wildomar, Lake Elsinore, Hemet or Temecula in southwest Riverside County, CA, or schedule a appointment through our online form.
Important Patient Information
Annual Physicals: What is covered by insurance?
Many of our patients have health insurance plans that cover the cost (including co-pay) of a yearly PREVENTIVE health care visit; otherwise, known as your annual physical. Not all insurance coverage is the same you can find out more about your particular coverage by contacting your insurance company.
In most cases, insurance companies cover a predetermined list of components that are considered part of your annual physical. For example, during your annual physical, you may expect that your provider will do the following:
- Gather and/or update your medical history
- Outline plans for reduction of your risk factors
- Provide interventions or counseling to improve overall health
- Order appropriate laboratory/diagnostic procedures based on your personal medical conditions
- Order and/or administer appropriate immunizations as required
- Manage minor health concerns
“Minor health concerns” may include the following and other similar concerns:
- Obtaining a refill for a prescription for chronic medications(allergy or birth control for example)
- Asking the provider to pay special attention to a skin lesion during your annual physical
More specific health concerns may not be covered by your insurance as part of your annual physical. These are concerns that would normally prompt you to schedule an appointment if you were not scheduled for your physical. If time permits, some of these concerns may be addressed at the time of your physical; however, it may be appropriate, according to your insurance guidelines, for the front office to generate a charge for an office visit, which would include a co-pay. If time does not permit, we can schedule a separate appointment.
Following are examples of specific health concerns that may not be covered as part of your physical:
- A sinus infection
- Sore throat ( and testing for strep)
- New cough
- New or changed headache pattern
- Abdominal pain
- Pelvic pain
- Depression or anxiety
- Joint pain, both specific and/or general
- General fatigue
- Sleeping problems
- Irregular periods
- Significant changes in status of a chronic health problem
Labs included:
- Complete blood count(CBC)
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP)
- Urinalysis (UA)
- Other lab test (thyroid function, cholesterol panel, etc.) MAY be covered if there is documented history of a chronic condition (like hypothyroidism, obesity, diabetes, etc.)