A
dults need immunizations to reduce the burden
of illness, provide herd immunity and address
declining immune response in elders. Some
adults believe they do not need immunizations, but
many adults were never vaccinated as children, and newer
vaccines were not necessarily available at that time.
Adults are less likely to be seen routinely by their
PCP, so every office visit with your adult patients
is an opportunity to immunize. Since multiple
immunizations can be given at the same time, follow-up
visits and routine monitoring visits make excellent
opportunities. Members who come in for a single visit
for an illness or injury can be given immunizations
unless contraindicated, and flu clinics also make good
opportunities to bring immunizations up to date.
Family practice physicians who care for the whole
family can also bring up adult immunizations with
parents when they bring in their children.
Here are some websites that contain helpful material
on this subject:
includes specific CDC
guidelines for adult immunizations,
including a pocket guide.
has many resources for
educating patients about both adult
and childhood immunizations.
has wallet cards you can
provide your adult patients
with to track their
immunizations.
It Is Never Too Late for Adult Immunizations!
Staffing News
Please join us in welcoming new staff, transitions and growth at the Alliance
DECEMBER 2013
PAGE
7
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PROVIDER NEWS
Bob Woodard
Chief Information
Officer
Bob Woodard
joined the Alliance
in August 2013.
Bob has worked
in the Information Technology/
Information Systems (IT/IS) field
for over 20 years and has spent the
last 7 years in Medi-Cal managed
care at Kern Health Systems. At
Kern, Bob served in many roles.
He was the Chief Analytics and
Projects Officer, the Chief Health
Services Officer, and the Chief
Information Officer.
Before working at Kern,
Bob was a president of IT for
Washington Mutual Bank and held
other IT positions at GE Capital
and The Regence Group. He has
deep content knowledge in the
areas of IT, analysis and clinical
management and understands the
diverse needs of a Medi-Cal health
plan like the Alliance.
Barry Staton
Chief Financial
Officer
Barry Staton
joined the Alliance
in October 2013.
Barry served as
Director of Financial Analysis at
Cal Optima, where for the past
three years he was responsible for
health plan analytics, medical cost
and utilization trending, actuarial
services, State revenue rate analysis,
and other duties. Prior to Cal
Optima, Barry worked as Director
of Financial Planning and Decision
Support at Children’s Hospital
of Orange County, and he has
worked in fiscal, planning and
technology roles in other hospitals
and consulting firms in Southern
California. Barry holds an MBA
from University of Southern
California.
Julio Porro, MD
Medical Director
Dr. Porro has
served as Associate
Medical Director of
the Alliance since
2002. We are pleased to announce
Dr. Porro’s title has been changed to
Medical Director.
He has taken on significant
leadership responsibilities in
a number of areas including
utilization management,
Peer Review Credentialing
and Utilization Management
Committees, support of care
management, and advanced care
planning advocacy.
