We like to share letters of thanks from our patients. If you would like to share your experience with our office and would like it posted to our website, please let us know. Below is an email Dr. Selznick just received this weekend.

Dr. Selznick ~ Thanks for calling in another Rx for me while I'm away from home. I wasn't getting anywhere with the Urgent Care Facility and knew if I didn't call you I'd end up in an emergency room as I was fading fast. Sorry I got you just as you were getting off the plane. You are an amazing Physician. Thanks for being my doctor. It is scary to go away so far and wonder what to do if I really get sick. You're the greatest. Tell your wife I said so.

Dr. Selznick has been named "2009 Compassionate Doctor" through the Patients Choice Vitals.com physician rating service.

Only a handful of physicians receive such complimentary reviews nationally. In fact, of the nation's 720,000 active physicians, less than 3% were accorded this honor by their patients in 2009.

The Compassionate Doctor notation will be prominently displayed in his profile on a broad collection of web sites, including Vitals, Right Health, Google, and a variety of Managed Care sites. These web sites are viewed by more than 250,000 people on a daily basis.

Please visit the website at www.vitals.com and rate your physician. We encourage you to review and leave your comments and rate your physician for this outstanding distinction.

Our recent collection is $655.00 which was donated to Wigs4Kids in honor of Haley Nathan. Please look at the information this service provides to children up to the age of 18 by clicking this link: Wigs4Kids Over the past several months we have made the following donations: Gleaners Community Food Bank in October 2008 $ 229.00, The Heat and Warmth Fund in February 2009 $ 471.00 and The Detroit Rescue Mission September 2009 $585.35. If you are interested in helping our cause, please feel free to donate towards our goal.

With the governments push toward information technology, our office is required, and has been, electronically prescribing medications for over a year. It has been an adjustment for both the office as well as the patients and continues to be a learning experience. Some items to help efficiency:

Please inform your provider if there is any change in your pharmacy location and also if you use mail order pharmacies.

We will no longer accept any prescription refill requests directly from your pharmacy.

After your provider sends your prescription electronically, there may be a delay before it is available at your pharmacy. We ask you to allow an hour or longer before checking with the pharmacy to see if it’s ready. With the different systems available with electronic prescribing, you may need to be persistant when calling your pharmacy to check on it.

Occasionally we get comments on our survey that we would like to respond to. Due to the survey being completely private and anonymous, our responses will be posted on our website.

Discuss billing matters behind closed doors, at the end of the appointment, not for everyone in the waiting room to hear.

When you sign in at our check in counter, our front desk staff is trained to review your demographic information with you, collect any co-pays and any past balances. If you are not prepared to pay these balances, you can request to speak to someone in private. We do not want you to feel uncomfortable when discussing balances, however, we need to collect these amounts before you come in.

Receptionists are rude, many times when I am signing in she is gossiping with co-workers about other patients and or staff. Prescriptions are often called in wrong or not at all. Phone calls are not returned. I called six times for test results and no one ever called back so I requested the results be mailed to me.

Our receptionists are extremely busy and should greet you with a smile. Due to office policy there are many duties that they must accomplish when preparing your chart for your visit. They, like most people, like to talk and have "fun" while they work as it makes the day more enjoyable. They do not talk about patients as this is a violation of HIPAA and is not allowed.

Prescriptions are no longer called in. They are electronically sent to your pharmacy by your provider. The medical assistants do not send these prescriptions, only the physicians and physician assistants.

When you call and leave a message for your test results, your chart is pulled and given to your provider. If your provider is not in the office, the staff will not give you a result until it is reviewed by your provider. If you are worried and have not received a call back, ask to speak to your providers medical assistant personally and she can then let you know why you have not had a call back. You can also send a message through our website "contact us" category and your message will be given to your provider.

Privacy! The soundproofing is shamefully inadequate. While I was waiting for my most recent examination, two patients were examined in the rooms on either side of me. It is IMPERATIVE that you improve the soundproofing at this location. This is a HIPAA violation, and it is so bad I am considering reporting it to the federal government. I will be looking for this the next time I am at the office.

Q: Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule require hospitals and doctors' offices to be retrofitted, to provide private rooms, and soundproof walls to avoid any possibility that a conversation is overheard?

A: No, the Privacy Rule does not require these types of structural changes be made to facilities. Covered entities must have in place appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect privacy of protected health information. This standard requires that covered entities make reasonable efforts to prevent uses and disclosures not permitted by the Rule. The Department does not consider facility restructuring to be a requirement under this standard.

Unless the practitioner in the next room was speaking unnecessarily loudly without legitimate reason (for example, poor hearing of a patient could be a legitimate reason), if a voice was heard from the next room, no HIPAA violation would have occurred.

Many local pharmacies offer generic medication for $4/month; $10-12/3 months supply. No insurance cards are needed; the cost is not applied to any insurance deductibles/limits. Blood pressure, cholesterol, birth control, antidepressants are just a few medications on their lists. Kroger's, Meijer, Walmart & Target offer these programs. Google the store name or go to pharmacy for generic lists.

To give our providers the recognition they deserve and help others benefit from our services, please visit one or more of these web sites below:

The Livonia Family Physicians, P.C. Scholarship was started approximately 4 years ago by Dr Selznick. Stuart Nathan, PA-C had won PA of the year award from the U of D Mercy PA Program. This was largely won due to his work in precepting students from the school. We give $5000 each year to a deserving student after they write an essay on why they want to work in Geriatric and/or Family Medicine. The winner is chosen by the faculty staff with Stuart eventually approving the winner.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

The Livonia Career Center has awarded our office with a Certificate of Appreciation for our involvement and dedication in the 2008-2009 Career Internship Program.

It is very important that you do not sign up with your pharmacy for automated prescription refills. Due to possible changes in your medication that could happen before your renewal, your pharmacy may request a refill of an old medication. It would be best to request your prescription through our website by creating an account and then requesting your refill online.

Livonia Family Physicians, P.C. has been selected as a Patient-Centered Medical Home designated practice by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. We are making improvements and updates to the office in regards to Information Technology. We have recently started with electronic prescriptions and soon will move on to electronic medical records. The concept of the Patient-Centered Medical Home has been in the works for years and we feel very strongly about participating in the program. Please click the following link to become familiar with this program. Alot of the program ideas are already in place but you may see changes in the future. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments.

Please read our letter of recognition from St. John Hospital regarding our designation in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Patient Centered Medical Home program.

We now have a Registered Dietician providing nutritional services for diabetics at our main office on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. You will need to speak to your provider if you wish to make an appointment to verify that your insurance will cover the service. Should you be interested in meeting with the nutritionist to discuss other issues, you will be asked to pay $45.00 cash consultation fee at the time of service. Please call our office and speak with one of our receptionists.

If you are a woman 40-64 years of age without health insurance, you may qualify for free breast and cervical screening. Each year you can receive:

We know how you love to fill out forms and that is why we give you so many when you come into the office. Seriously, we need forms to keep your personal information up to date for billing and medical reasons. We are always striving for new ways of getting information to you and our latest form is the "Patient-Doctor Partnership". We want to be open and honest with you and would like the same in return. Please review this form when you come into the office. You will sign it as well as your provider and it will be kept in your medical file. Please be patient with the receptionists as it is their responsibility to show you all the forms and get all the updates. Try to be at your appointment 10-15 minutes ahead of schedule so we can get all the information needed.

We have had numerous requests from patients after their insurance has been billed and submitted to change their office visit codes to a preventative visit. Alot of people have well exams or preventative services available once a year as a covered service on their policy. Please, discuss with your provider at the time of service - definately not after your insurance has been processed. Our billing service cannot change a code after processing in order to make it a "covered" service. If you are in the office for a physical - let your provider know immediately as they enter your exam room. Let them know that you are in for a well exam and would like it billed as such. If you are in the office for a problem focused visit, it will be billed that way as well. Please communicate with your provider so the billing is sent through correctly the first time and changes are not needed after the fact.

Since 1984 when Dr. Selznick first opened his practice, he has always felt a need to give back to the community. In doing so, he provided his services to the Stevenson High School hockey and football teams as their team physician. That expanded to the Redford Rangers football and other athletic teams. Since that time and before Livonia Family Physicians, P.C. was formed, we have always charged a minimal fee of $10.00 for our sports physicals. It is a basic exam for students who need to be cleared for the athletic programs at their school. This may include elementary, junior high, high school as well as college.

To date, our fee is still $10.00. Our office feels a need to give to our community and we know that families are feeling the costs for their children's education and extra curricular activities. Please feel free to call our office and schedule your student for the sport physical exam with one of our providers.

News and Events
HEALTH CARE REFORM INFORMATION click the links below to read the articles Doctors Say Obamacare Is No Remedy for U.S. Health Woes Taxed Enough Already? Just wait until Obamacare kicks in Trial Lawyers and Insurance Companies are True Beneficiaries of Medical System Group Rips Medicare Panel PATIENT SATISFACTION SURVEY Click Here to take the Patient Satisfaction Survey We like to share letters of thanks from our patients. If you would like to share your experience with our office and would like it posted to our website, please let us know. Below is an email Dr. Selznick just received this weekend. Dr. Selznick ~ Thanks for calling in another Rx for me while I'm away from home. I wasn't getting anywhere with the Urgent Care Facility and knew if I didn't call you I'd end up in an emergency room as I was fading fast. Sorry I got you just as you were getting off the plane. You are an amazing Physician. Thanks for being my doctor. It is scary to go away so far and wonder what to do if I really get sick. You're the greatest. Tell your wife I said so. 2009 COMPASSIONATE DOCTOR Dr. Selznick has been named "2009 Compassionate Doctor" through the Patients Choice Vitals.com physician rating service. Only a handful of physicians receive such complimentary reviews nationally. In fact, of the nation's 720,000 active physicians, less than 3% were accorded this honor by their patients in 2009. The Compassionate Doctor notation will be prominently displayed in his profile on a broad collection of web sites, including Vitals, Right Health, Google, and a variety of Managed Care sites. These web sites are viewed by more than 250,000 people on a daily basis. Please visit the website at www.vitals.com and rate your physician. We encourage you to review and leave your comments and rate your physician for this outstanding distinction. JEANS FOR CHARITY Our recent collection is $655.00 which was donated to Wigs4Kids in honor of Haley Nathan. Please look at the information this service provides to children up to the age of 18 by clicking this link: Wigs4Kids Over the past several months we have made the following donations: Gleaners Community Food Bank in October 2008 $ 229.00, The Heat and Warmth Fund in February 2009 $ 471.00 and The Detroit Rescue Mission September 2009 $585.35. If you are interested in helping our cause, please feel free to donate towards our goal. E-PRESCRIBING With the governments push toward information technology, our office is required, and has been, electronically prescribing medications for over a year. It has been an adjustment for both the office as well as the patients and continues to be a learning experience. Some items to help efficiency: Please inform your provider if there is any change in your pharmacy location and also if you use mail order pharmacies. We will no longer accept any prescription refill requests directly from your pharmacy. After your provider sends your prescription electronically, there may be a delay before it is available at your pharmacy. We ask you to allow an hour or longer before checking with the pharmacy to see if it’s ready. With the different systems available with electronic prescribing, you may need to be persistant when calling your pharmacy to check on it. SURVEY COMMENTS Occasionally we get comments on our survey that we would like to respond to. Due to the survey being completely private and anonymous, our responses will be posted on our website. Suggestion for Improvement: Discuss billing matters behind closed doors, at the end of the appointment, not for everyone in the waiting room to hear. When you sign in at our check in counter, our front desk staff is trained to review your demographic information with you, collect any co-pays and any past balances. If you are not prepared to pay these balances, you can request to speak to someone in private. We do not want you to feel uncomfortable when discussing balances, however, we need to collect these amounts before you come in. What do you like least about our office: Receptionists are rude, many times when I am signing in she is gossiping with co-workers about other patients and or staff. Prescriptions are often called in wrong or not at all. Phone calls are not returned. I called six times for test results and no one ever called back so I requested the results be mailed to me. Our receptionists are extremely busy and should greet you with a smile. Due to office policy there are many duties that they must accomplish when preparing your chart for your visit. They, like most people, like to talk and have "fun" while they work as it makes the day more enjoyable. They do not talk about patients as this is a violation of HIPAA and is not allowed. Prescriptions are no longer called in. They are electronically sent to your pharmacy by your provider. The medical assistants do not send these prescriptions, only the physicians and physician assistants. When you call and leave a message for your test results, your chart is pulled and given to your provider. If your provider is not in the office, the staff will not give you a result until it is reviewed by your provider. If you are worried and have not received a call back, ask to speak to your providers medical assistant personally and she can then let you know why you have not had a call back. You can also send a message through our website "contact us" category and your message will be given to your provider. The following comment was posted about our Five Mile office: Privacy! The soundproofing is shamefully inadequate. While I was waiting for my most recent examination, two patients were examined in the rooms on either side of me. It is IMPERATIVE that you improve the soundproofing at this location. This is a HIPAA violation, and it is so bad I am considering reporting it to the federal government. I will be looking for this the next time I am at the office. Response: Q: Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule require hospitals and doctors' offices to be retrofitted, to provide private rooms, and soundproof walls to avoid any possibility that a conversation is overheard? A: No, the Privacy Rule does not require these types of structural changes be made to facilities. Covered entities must have in place appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect privacy of protected health information. This standard requires that covered entities make reasonable efforts to prevent uses and disclosures not permitted by the Rule. The Department does not consider facility restructuring to be a requirement under this standard. Unless the practitioner in the next room was speaking unnecessarily loudly without legitimate reason (for example, poor hearing of a patient could be a legitimate reason), if a voice was heard from the next room, no HIPAA violation would have occurred. NEED HELP WITH YOUR PRESCRIPTION COSTS? Many local pharmacies offer generic medication for $4/month; $10-12/3 months supply. No insurance cards are needed; the cost is not applied to any insurance deductibles/limits. Blood pressure, cholesterol, birth control, antidepressants are just a few medications on their lists. Kroger's, Meijer, Walmart & Target offer these programs. Google the store name or go to pharmacy for generic lists. Click here to read additional information RATE YOUR HEALTHCARE PRACTITIONER To give our providers the recognition they deserve and help others benefit from our services, please visit one or more of these web sites below: www.vitals.com www.drscore.com www.healthgrades.com www.healthcarereviews.com PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SCHOLARSHIP FUND The Livonia Family Physicians, P.C. Scholarship was started approximately 4 years ago by Dr Selznick. Stuart Nathan, PA-C had won PA of the year award from the U of D Mercy PA Program. This was largely won due to his work in precepting students from the school. We give $5000 each year to a deserving student after they write an essay on why they want to work in Geriatric and/or Family Medicine. The winner is chosen by the faculty staff with Stuart eventually approving the winner. CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION The Livonia Career Center has awarded our office with a Certificate of Appreciation for our involvement and dedication in the 2008-2009 Career Internship Program. DR. FRIEDMAN AWARDED FOR "DOCTOR'S DAY" Click here to see article Prescription Refills It is very important that you do not sign up with your pharmacy for automated prescription refills. Due to possible changes in your medication that could happen before your renewal, your pharmacy may request a refill of an old medication. It would be best to request your prescription through our website by creating an account and then requesting your refill online. PATIENT-CENTERED MEDICAL HOME (PC-MH) Livonia Family Physicians, P.C. has been selected as a Patient-Centered Medical Home designated practice by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. We are making improvements and updates to the office in regards to Information Technology. We have recently started with electronic prescriptions and soon will move on to electronic medical records. The concept of the Patient-Centered Medical Home has been in the works for years and we feel very strongly about participating in the program. Please click the following link to become familiar with this program. Alot of the program ideas are already in place but you may see changes in the future. Please let us know if you have any questions or comments. http://www.medicalhomeinfo.org/joint%20Statement.pdf Please read our letter of recognition from St. John Hospital regarding our designation in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Patient Centered Medical Home program. St. John Hospital Letter NUTRITIONIST SERVICES We now have a Registered Dietician providing nutritional services for diabetics at our main office on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. You will need to speak to your provider if you wish to make an appointment to verify that your insurance will cover the service. Should you be interested in meeting with the nutritionist to discuss other issues, you will be asked to pay $45.00 cash consultation fee at the time of service. Please call our office and speak with one of our receptionists. BCCCP - Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Program If you are a woman 40-64 years of age without health insurance, you may qualify for free breast and cervical screening. Each year you can receive: BREAST CARE Clinical breast exam Mammogram Follow up tests If needed, cancer-related treatment CERVICAL CARE (PAP) Pap smear Pelvic exam Follow up tests If needed, any cancer-related treatment For more information, call toll-free: 888.242.2702 http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2940_2955-13487--,00.html FORMS !!! We know how you love to fill out forms and that is why we give you so many when you come into the office. Seriously, we need forms to keep your personal information up to date for billing and medical reasons. We are always striving for new ways of getting information to you and our latest form is the "Patient-Doctor Partnership". We want to be open and honest with you and would like the same in return. Please review this form when you come into the office. You will sign it as well as your provider and it will be kept in your medical file. Please be patient with the receptionists as it is their responsibility to show you all the forms and get all the updates. Try to be at your appointment 10-15 minutes ahead of schedule so we can get all the information needed. PREVENTIVE EXAM VS. OFFICE VISIT We have had numerous requests from patients after their insurance has been billed and submitted to change their office visit codes to a preventative visit. Alot of people have well exams or preventative services available once a year as a covered service on their policy. Please, discuss with your provider at the time of service - definately not after your insurance has been processed. Our billing service cannot change a code after processing in order to make it a "covered" service. If you are in the office for a physical - let your provider know immediately as they enter your exam room. Let them know that you are in for a well exam and would like it billed as such. If you are in the office for a problem focused visit, it will be billed that way as well. Please communicate with your provider so the billing is sent through correctly the first time and changes are not needed after the fact. SPORT PHYSICALS Since 1984 when Dr. Selznick first opened his practice, he has always felt a need to give back to the community. In doing so, he provided his services to the Stevenson High School hockey and football teams as their team physician. That expanded to the Redford Rangers football and other athletic teams. Since that time and before Livonia Family Physicians, P.C. was formed, we have always charged a minimal fee of $10.00 for our sports physicals. It is a basic exam for students who need to be cleared for the athletic programs at their school. This may include elementary, junior high, high school as well as college. To date, our fee is still $10.00. Our office feels a need to give to our community and we know that families are feeling the costs for their children's education and extra curricular activities. Please feel free to call our office and schedule your student for the sport physical exam with one of our providers.