Primary Care

Healthier skin. Check. Better sleep. Check. Less bloating and fatigue. Check. When it comes to improving health, probiotics check all the boxes. Why? “Microbes in the lower intestinal tract help with digestion and immune system regulation. A disruption in bacteria levels can lead to gut inflammation and other problems. So, when the body experiences an … Read More

Summer is nearly here. Beach, sand, water, and… of course, sun. By now you should know well enough to use sunscreen and limit your exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays. But did you also know that it is also important to schedule an annual exam with your doctor to check for changes to your … Read More

With so many conflicting messages about mammograms, Dr. Lopez has some clear messaging about the importance of scheduling your annual mammogram. Dr. Lopez is a board certified, fellowship trained breast radiologist and the medical director of Breast Imaging at Hoag. “Mammograms save lives,” she said. “Schedule your annual mammogram. It is the most important screening … Read More

You remembered the grill tools. You remembered the beach chairs and Angel’s tickets. Heck, you even remembered the sunscreen. But did you remember to schedule your screenings for colon cancer, prostate cancer, vascular disease and diabetes? As men’s health month wraps up, the people in your life who make you macaroni necklaces and bought you … Read More

Hoag Hospital’s Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Program within its Digestive Health Institute has earned accreditation as a Comprehensive Center from the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). A joint program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the MBSAQIP sets national … Read More

As more care moves into the home setting, more hospitals and health systems are throwing their hats into the ring. Coupled with the entry of more payers into the space, the influx of health systems into home health, hospice and community-based palliative care stands to change the competitive dynamics in markets nationwide. This is the last of … Read More

If you’ve recently turned 40, happy birthday! Enjoy your cake and ice cream… and then schedule your mammogram. “Most women should get their first annual mammograms beginning at age 40, though high-risk women may be advised by their doctor to begin earlier,” said January Lopez, M.D., a fellowship trained breast imaging specialist, board-certified diagnostic radiologist … Read More

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, M.D., recently outlined a national framework to combat the loneliness epidemic in the United States. He noted four important facts about loneliness and social isolation: Being lonely is as bad for your long-term health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! People who are lonely are 26% more likely to die … Read More

Dear Neighbors, I am pleased to inform you that the California Department of Public Health has ended the mask mandate for health care settings effective April 3, 2023. Health care staff, patients/residents and visitors should consider wearing a mask based on personal level of risk, the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels and Hoag’s policies. The CDC strongly recommends … Read More

As he works to expand world-class health care in Irvine, Hoag President and CEO Robert Braithwaite is deploying a strategy inspired by Irvine’s Master Plan. “The Irvine framework really did help,” Braithwaite said in a recent interview to discuss Hoag’s $1 billion expansion on Sand Canyon Avenue. “We looked at how Irvine is configured and … Read More