The Internal Medicine Department of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. We are committed to providing high quality care for patients 18 and over. We look forward to working with you to maintain the best health possible and to treat your medical problems.

Palo Alto Center
795 El Camino Real
Levels 1 & 2, Lee Building
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Department phone: 650-853-2977
Main phone: 650-321-4121
Map | Directions | Floor Plan

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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Page Contents:

• Scheduling Appointments -- 650-853-2977
• Scheduled Appointment Times
• Telephone Advice -- 650-853-2977
• Urgent Care Visits -- 650-853-2958
• Emergency After Hours -- 650-321-4121
• Leaving Phone Messages
• Prescription Medication Refills
• PAMF Pharmacy (Refill Line) -- 650-853-6060
• Lab Results
• Forms
• Hospitalization
• Education and Health Information -- 650-853-2960
• Laboratory -- 650-853-2948
• Radiology -- 650-853-2955

Scheduling Appointments -- 650-853-2977

• All appointment requests should be discussed with the Patient Service Representative (PSR). They will do their best to schedule you an appointment that best fits your needs.
  
• When scheduling an appointment please let the PSR know the reason for your appointment, this helps the staff prepare for your visit.

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Scheduled Appointment Times

• Please check-in 15 minutes prior to your appointment. This allows time to complete the check-in process (verify name, address, date of birth, phone number, doctor and insurance).
  
• Your appointment time is when the doctor would like to see you in the exam room.
  
• If you arrive after your scheduled appointment time you may be asked by your physicians' Medical Assistant or Nurse to either re-schedule your appointment or wait until an appointment becomes available. This allows us to be on time for the next patient.
  
• Arrive on time for scheduled appointments or call us to reschedule when you cannot make it. Your doctor will appreciate your courtesy, as will other patients waiting to be seen.
  
• We will try our best to run on time, barring in mind any urgent matters that are unforeseen.

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Telephone Advice -- 650-853-2977

• Registered nurses (RNs) in the Internal Medicine Department are available for telephone advice between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
  
• Urgent matters should be discussed with an Advice Nurse.
  
• The Advice Nurse will consult with your physician regarding your concerns and get back to you the same day.
  
• If your physician is unavailable that day, your concerns will be handled by the covering physician.
  
• Our phones are busiest on Mondays and all mornings. If your need for medical advice is not urgent, calling during less busy times will make your telephone waiting time shorter. If it is determined that you need an appointment, the Advice Nurse will schedule you with your primary care physician, if available, or with a teammate in their absence.

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Urgent Care Visits -- 650-853-2958

After regular office hours and on the weekends you may be seen for urgent medical problems on a drop-in basis at the Urgent Care Center. The Urgent Care Center, located on Level 1, is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, including holidays and weekends. Your co-payment responsibility for Urgent Care Center visits will depend on your insurance.



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Emergency After Hours -- 650-321-4121

There is always an Internal Medicine physician on call after hours, but please reserve your calls for emergencies only. Clinic operators can reach the on-call physicians 24 hours a day by pager. Unless the problem is life threatening, please call before going to an emergency room or health care facility other than the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES -- Call 911



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Leaving Phone Messages

• The PSR will take a detailed message for your doctor. Please be prepared to provide your first and last name, date of birth, return telephone number and detailed information so that your doctor is able to address your concerns.
  
• Messages left after your doctors office hours will be returned on the next business day.

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Prescription Medication Refills

• Contact your pharmacy first, even if you have no refills left, the pharmacy will contact your doctor for a refill request.
  
• Prescription renewals are addressed usually within 2-3 business days.
  
• Prescriptions requiring triplicates, please call 3-5 days ahead.
  
• If you have a specific question about a refill that you cannot address directly through the pharmacy, please call our office. The PSR will take a detailed message for your doctor. Please be prepared to provide your first and last name, date of birth, return telephone number and detailed information so that your doctor is able to address your concerns.

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PAMF Pharmacy (Refill Line) -- 650-853-6060

• The pharmacy is located on Lower Level A. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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Lab Results

• Notification of lab results will be communicated via telephone or mail.
  
• PAMF On-Line patients may receive their results by secured e-mail with the exception of pathology results by California State Law.

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Forms

• If you are requesting to have a form (i.e., sports physical, disability, etc.) filled out please forward them via mail or you may drop off the form at the front Reception Desk. Allow one business week for completion. Please specify if you would like to pick-up the completed form at the front Reception Desk or have it mailed to you.
  
• There is a minimal fee of $11-$21 depending on length of form

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Hospitalization

If you require inpatient care, you will be hospitalized at Stanford Hospital. Not all the physicians in the department see patients in the hospital; therefore, during your stay you may be seen by an internist other than your primary care physician. The physician taking care of you in the hospital, however, will keep your regular physician informed of your medical condition.



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Education and Health Information -- 650-853-2960

The Education Division sponsors health-related classes, lectures, advance-directive counseling and support groups. You also can visit the Community Health Resource Center located on Level 2.



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Laboratory -- 650-853-2948

Our laboratory is located on Lower Level A. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. No appointment is necessary.

Laboratory hours for other locations:

Redwood Shores Health Center: Monday through Friday, 7:15 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 10:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Los Altos Center: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fremont Center: Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

No appointment is necessary.
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Radiology -- 650-853-2955

PAMF's Radiology Department (for x-rays, ultrasounds and other scans) is located on Lower Level A. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

Thank you for joining our Internal Medicine family. We look forward to working with you.



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