FAQ

Internal Medicine is the specialty dealing with the medical problems of adults. We serve as the primary care physician-the one to contact first for any medical concerns.

In addition to caring for routine problems such as ear infections, colds, rashes, headaches, etc. in the office, we also have the expertise to deal with complicated illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes, and diabetes. Simply stated, we provide comprehensive care of adults, in the office and in the hospital.

Yes. Please allow 48 to 72 hours for referrals to specialists to be processed.

All referrals must be authorized by the physician, and you may be required to come in for an appointment before a referral is issued.

If you are seen by a specialist without a referral, your insurance company may not cover the cost of the visit and you may be responsible for the entire cost. Referrals may not be done retroactively. It is your responsibility to call several days ahead to obtain the referral and NOT on the day of the visit.

We request that patients bring in a list of all their medications at the initial office visit. This enables us to be sure medications are correct, helps with dosage adjustments, and allows us to provide refills when needed. If you do run out of medication between visits, please call your pharmacy to have refill requests electronically sent to our office. Please allow up to 48 hours for refills to be approved. Refills are done during normal business hours Monday to Friday.

No controlled medications will be filled over the phone. You must schedule an office visit to have these medicines refilled.

If you are having chest pain, difficulty breathing, or are just feeling very ill, please call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

For other urgent matters, please call 714-965-2500 to reach the physician on call (we have 24 hour, 7 days a week physician coverage) or click here for instructions on how to access our after-hours urgent care services provided by MemorialCare. These alternatives should not be used for routine medication refills or for general health questions that can wait until the next business day.

We have staff available eight hours a day during normal business hours to answer your questions regarding our utilization management process or the criteria we use when making our decision, or any question you may have regarding a referral. Just call our Navigation Center at 800.553.6537. We will accept collect calls when the call relates specifically to a utilization management issue. Members with hearing or speech impairments, please dial 711 for California Relay TTD/TTY assistance. Our multilingual representatives are available to help you Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm.

Edinger Medical Group’s physicians and health care professionals make utilization management decisions based on the appropriateness of care and services for patients’ medical needs and existence of coverage.  Edinger Medical Group’s compensation system is designed to reward physicians for their personal hard work and the quality of services they provide.  We do not reward any individual for denying coverage or service, nor do we use financial incentives to encourage inappropriate utilization.