Ross Medical Associates

Ross Medical Associates
By Shelley T. Hudson

Ross Medical Associates’ long and storied history as a community healthcare resource in Southern California just added a few more chapters. With its most recently opened clinic in San Juan Capistrano going strong and approaching its three-year anniversary, executives at Ross have made plans to take an already-impressive philanthropic record a step further—and this time, it’s personal. A new program aptly named “Ross Medical’s Heroes” has been instituted to support South Orange County’s partnership with our military neighbors. The doctors at all four locations have treated veterans and their families for years and many members of the Ross team have close personal military connections as well—including founder Dr. T.A. Ross, who came to California as a naval physician. Dr. Monica Harms of Ross’s Rancho Santa Margarita office is a navy reserves veteran, and Dr. Jeff Globus of the Mission Viejo clinic was a naval officer. CEO Samantha Jefferies’s sister and brother-in-law are both active duty soldiers in Afghanistan and her father and brothers are retired from the Air Force. These ties and others provide Ross Medical’s staff with a keen awareness of the unique circumstances and specific needs of military families. This sense of appreciation has motivated the Ross group for its own call to action.

For all of 2013, Ross Medical Associates will hold a fundraiser for military-related charities and support groups. The staff will accept tax-deductible monetary donations on behalf of the military charity of the donor’s choice. In addition, Ross offices will donate a portion of patients’ copayments to military organizations as part of their “CoPay It Forward” initiative.

This type of community commitment is nothing new to Ross Medical. The foundation upon which the business model is built is Dr. Ross’s philosophy that high-quality, family-based healthcare should be accessible and convenient. Dr. Ross also believed strongly in reinvesting into the local area in which he served. Dozens of schools, sports leagues and booster clubs—including AYSO, J Serra, Niguel Hills, San Juan Hills, Saddleback Valley Christian, Capo Valley Christian, San Clemente High and Dana Hills, to name a few—have received the generous support of Ross Medical Associates. In fact, Jefferies encourages students to bring in their sponsorship forms for consideration. “We want to participate in everything,” she says, “We want to be a true community partner.” Ross Medical will also continue to provide no-charge sports physicals to student athletes in 2013.

Another important component of Ross’s community-minded approach to healthcare is the senior outreach program. Jefferies, who also is aGerontologist, states, “When a senior becomes established as a patient, we can provide them with so much information regarding diet, exercise and disease prevention.” As a special incentive, Ross is offering free tetanus boosters to seniors throughout the month of January.

With Ross Medical’s fully-integrated state-of-the-art electronic record sharing, clinicians can address treatment for each patient holistically. All locations are connected on the same system, so follow-up care and diagnostic testing are more streamlined and comprehensive. For example, a student athlete with a sprained ankle might come to urgent care for an x-ray and a splint and learn that she’s due for an immunization. A heart patient might visit the office for a check-up and receive a dose of nutritional counseling.

Now that a federal healthcare overhaul is afoot, it’s even more important than ever to know the facts. More people will become eligible for covered preventative care early this year and insurance exchanges will become effective later in 2013. Ross Medical accepts most forms of insurance as well as Tricare, Medicare and Medicare Senior Advantage. Samantha Jefferies encourages patients to call with questions. “We’ll guide you to resources and help you through the process,” she offers, “We are your medical home. We see patients from one to 100 years of age and we want to help.”

Ross Medical Associates has offices in San Juan Capistrano, Ladera Ranch, Rancho Santa Margarita and Mission Viejo—all of which are open 365 days a year. The combination of a personalized family practice and an easily accessible urgent care is the realization of Dr. Ross’s vision. Visit a Ross Medical location soon and get a jump start on YOU for 2013!

For more information please vist: RossMedicalAssociates.com

Take a behind the scenes look of the Ross Medical Associates photo shoot!