UCLA Health held an open house for its new cutting-edge Malibu office on Thursday of last week, showcasing more than 4,000 square feet of space that includes 10 exam rooms, an X-ray suite, a laboratory and a balcony offering beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean.
The new office is located in a building neighboring Malibu City Hall at 23815 Stuart Ranch Road. Prior to the move, UCLA’s Malibu office was located upstairs in the Malibu Country Mart for 37 years.
“You’re giving up something where you lived for almost 37 years,” said Dr. Scott Bateman. “Emptying out my office was a challenge. But, it’s been an adventure.”
Dr. Bateman specializes in family medicine and is one of three physicians at the new office. Dr. Milica E. Simpson and Dr. Andrea V. Shaw both specialize
in internal medicine and pediatrics. All physicians are board-certified and UCLA Medical Group members accepts most insurances. The Malibu office serves more than 4,500 patients from infancy to geriatrics.
Local Malibuite Eloise Hoopes, 96, has been one of Dr. Bateman’s patients for more than 28 years. She needed a new doctor and remembers looking for a good one who would accept HMO at the time.
“He’s got me going for as long as I am,” Hoopes said. “If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be here today. He was there when I needed him. He was even there when I didn’t need him.”
Hoopes has lived in Malibu since 1947, when there were only three homes near Zuma Beach. She said there was one house on Point Dume, and her home was the second one being built. Dr. Bateman took care of Hoopes’ mother as well, who lived to be 106.
“I don’t care where he practices as long as I can find him,” Hoopes said. “He’s promised me to live past 100 and I have to hold him to that. He’s a good man and a great doctor. We all need him.”
One of the primary reasons for the move was to digitize everything. The office now offers electronic medical records and every room has a computer. Patients can directly access their health information on my.UCLAhealth.org.
“We moved up to the 21st century,” Dr. Bateman said. “The X-rays are immediately transmitted into UCLA’s radiology department in Westwood. I couldn’t believe it.”
Free one-on-one workshops are also available for patients who need help using myUCLA health. The new electronic system gives doctors instant access to health records in the exam rooms, meaning medical history, medications, allergies and treatment records are all in one place. Additionally, prescriptions, lab results and referrals will be provided faster, and patients are able to securely access and review their medical history, appointments and test results online.
Some of the services provided at the Malibu office include new-born care, well care for children and adults, well woman care, same-day sick appointments and care of hospitalized patients at UCLA Medical Center, among many other types of services.
Dr. Bateman also offers house calls and works with hospice. His daughter, Dr. Ashley Bateman, practices Family Medicine at the UCLA Health Thousand Oaks office.
“I’m still lucky enough to be one of those people that gets up and looks forward to my day,” Dr. Scott Bateman said. “The Malibu community is very well educated and engaged in their health. It makes it very rewarding for us.”
The Malibu office serves patients in Malibu and surrounding communities of Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Topanga, Pacific Palisades, San Fernando Valley and Ventura County. UCLA Health will soon be opening offices in Porter Ranch, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks and Calabasas.
For more information about UCLA Health Malibu, visit www.uclahealth.org/Malibu.