Local Physicians Form Choice Health Associates

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - March 6, 2014 - PRLog -- Private practice physicians in the Conejo and Simi valleys have formed Choice Health Associates (CHA), designed to give patients a centralized resource to review and select doctors in the area. More than 100 doctors including general practitioners and board certified specialists are part of the organization.

         “Through the CHA website, patients have the ability to select the right doctor for their needs and make same-day appointments,” says Dr. Susan Mayo, who practices internal medicine and is one of CHA’s board members. “With over 100 members, our doctors offer a diversity and quality of care that is impressive. Patients do not need to travel long distances to receive the latest innovative technology and medical care. It’s right here.”

         CHA members are concerned about what they see as a growing reduction in patient medical care options. “CHA was created to give physicians the continued freedom to provide individualized patient care,” says Dr. Gilbert Simoni, board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology and a CHA board member. “Large medical institutions are acquiring local independent physician practices and their patients. When patients receive institutionalized care, it’s based on the guidelines of the institution, not necessarily on what’s best for the individual. We felt it was important to retain physician sovereignty so we could continue to make decisions centered on each patient’s specific needs.”

         Simoni believes that a strong network of private practice physicians such as CHA is a way of keeping healthcare costs down. “A doctor’s consultation that would be billed to an insurance company at $100 at a private physician’s office would typically be billed at $300 or more by large institutional practices. If the patient pays 20 percent of the cost as a copay, that means an additional $40 per visit,” says Simoni. “It adds up.”

         Individualized, collaborative patient care was another reason CHA was formed. “CHA members treat each patient as a person, not a number,” says Dr. Ramin Mehdian, CHA board member and a critical care doctor, internist and pulmonary specialist. “We believe that personalized, compassionate care using the latest evidence based-medicine is essential with every patient encounter."

         To find a CHA member physician, go to http://choicehealthassociates.com/.

About Choice Health Associates

Choice Health Associates (CHA) is an organization of general practitioners and specialist physicians who provide exceptional medical care in the Conejo Valley, Simi Valley, Agoura Hills and Calabasas. It is a network of over 100 doctors committed to providing personalized, quality healthcare using state-of-the-art, evidence-based medicine that is individually tailored for each patient’s needs. Collaboration and communication between CHA members ensures that treatment is provided with input from each doctor responsible for the patient’s wellbeing. http://choicehealthassociates.com/