Winter 2013The semi-annual newsletter of

Plus: Charting the Future of Children’s Health and Wellness

A Ground’s Eye View of Health ReformEncounters

VENICE FAMILY CLINICBOARD OF DIRECTORSWilliam Flumenbaum, ChairBrian D. Kan, MD,Immediate Past ChairAshley Johnson, SecretaryJeffrey E. Sinaiko, TreasurerMayer B. Davidson, MDPaula DavisAime EspinosaLuis GalvezLoEtte LoshakRich MarkeyWendy Smith Meyer, PhD,LCSWNeil H. Parker, MDBill Resnick, MDPaul SabenFlora M. SantacruzStewart SeradskyLourdes ServinCarmen Thomas-ParisLeisa Wu

VENICE FAMILY CLINICFOUNDATIONBOARD OF TRUSTEESSusan AdelmanCarol L. Archie, MDNeal Baer, MDRick BradleyLowell C. Brown, Esq.David M. Carlisle, MD, PhDMayer B. Davidson, MDSusan Fleischman, MDWilliam FlumenbaumJohn R. GeresiChester F. Griffiths, MD, FACSJimmy H. Hara, MDJoan E. HermanAshley JohnsonBrian D. Kan, MDDeborah LaubConstance LawtonLou LazatinHarley Liker, MD, MBATracey LoebGail Margolis, Esq.Melissa R. MartinezFrank Matricardi, Dr PHViren MehtaWendy Smith Meyer, PhD,LCSWJeff NathansonWilliam D. ParenteHutch ParkerNeil H. Parker, MDBill Resnick, MDPaul SabenMike SarianFern SeizerAlan SierotyJeffrey E. SinaikoRussel Tyner, AIAMichael S. Wilkes, MD, PhDLeisa Wu

VENICE FAMILY CLINICBOARD EMERITUSRuth BloomDaniel Hillman, MDJoanne Jubelier, PhDKarl A. Keener, Esq.Ruth MossMarsha Temple, Esq.

VENICE FAMILY CLINICPHILANTHROPY BOARDKathleen AikenheadLou ColenMarjorie FasmanRuth Flinkman-MarandyHilary & Robert NelsonJacobsGlorya KaufmanSusanne & Paul KesterShawn & Larry KingDeborah LaubSusan Adelman & ClaudioLlanosChuck LorreLaurie MacDonaldAnita May RosensteinVictoria & Ronald SimmsHarriet & Richard SquireEva VollmerBillie Milam WeismanSylvia WeiszRuth ZieglerMarilyn ZieringDiane & Michael ZieringJanet & Jerry Zucker

VENICE FAMILY CLINICADVISORY BOARDMartin Anderson, MD, MPHBernard BriskinStan ChiuHenry G. CisnerosLou ColenNoah Craft, MD, PhDAllison Diamant, MDLucia DiazLaddie John DillRaymond EdenLeah Ellenberg, PhDLila GarrettAllan GordonDaniel HelbergRoseann Herman, Esq.Lee H. Hilborne, MD, MPHDouglas I. JeffeDiedre Kelly-GordonMary D. LaneBarbara A. Levey, MD, FACPJulie LikerConnie LinnAl Markovitz, MD, FACPDr. Lisa M. MassonMichael McClainKelly Chapman MeyerRobert MoverleyCharlotte Neumann, MD, MPHChris O’BrienRegina Pally, MDKenneth RambergJoyce ReyBrian K. RosensteinTodd StellaMillie Sterz, RN, MPHArthur StickgoldCarissa TedescoJill E. ThomasDavid TillipmanMatthew A. ToledoCarl Weissburg, Esq.

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Providing quality primary health care to people in need

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We are pleased to welcome Bill Flumenbaum as Chair of the Board of Directors ofVenice Family Clinic. Elected by the Board, Mr. Flumenbaum began his term as Chair-Elect in 2012 and recently began serving as Chair.

Mr. Flumenbaum is a Senior Vice President and investment counselor for CapitalGuardian Trust Company’s Personal Investment Management division and a Vice President of Capital Guardian Trust Company, a Nevada Corporation.

Prior to joining Capital Guardian TrustCompany in 1998, he spent eight yearswith the University of California, LosAngeles (UCLA), as the ExecutiveDirector of the Jonsson Cancer CenterFoundation, and subsequently as Directorof Principal Gifts across the campus.

Prior to that, he spent two years as theExecutive Director of the Children’sHealth Fund in New York City and fouryears as the Director of Programs forHelen Keller International. Bill also spentten years in international public healthwith a Swiss foundation.

Mr. Flumenbaum earned an MA ineducational psychology from theCalifornia State University, Hayward anda B.A. in psychology from the Universityof California, Berkeley. In addition to serving on our Board of Directors he also serves onUCLA’s Board of Governors and the Health Advisory Board for the Bloomberg/JohnsHopkins School of Public Health. He is also a member of the Board of Public Counsel.

In addition to a volunteer Board of Directors, Venice Family Clinicrelies on volunteers to deliver the quality care and services weprovide every day. With more than 2,000 volunteers engaged,including 500 physicians, their time is valued at $2 million annually.

Our Volunteer Services department offers a variety of opportunities toget involved in nearly every aspect of the clinic’s operations. We matchthe interest and experience of our volunteers with the clinic’s needs andpriorities in administration, fundraising, medical, and social services.

Regardless of how you choose to get involved, your effort helpsprovide quality care and services to those who need it the most.

To learn about ways you can help please visit our website atwww.venicefamilyclinic.org or call 310.664.7532.

IntroducingVenice FamilyClinic Board ChairWilliam (Bill) Flumenbaum

Sign Up for our Mailing List:www.venicefamilyclinic.org

Photos: Lauren Frick; Courtney Gero;Ben Gibbs; James Greiger; Jonathan Leibson; Margaret Molloy;John Salangsang; Elena Zhukova

Get Involved Today

“I’m excited to work with Venice Family Clinic CEO LizForer and her talented leadershipteam to help guide the clinic atthis critical moment in history. It’s not only a time of changeand challenge, but also one oftremendous opportunity – andwe believe the clinic will emergestronger and better equipped tomeet the needs of its patients.”

— William (Bill) FlumenbaumVenice Family Clinic Board Chair

Leonard M. Lipman DiabetesManagement ProgramA small percentage of Venice Family Clinic’spatients with diabetes are living withdangerously high blood glucose levels. Agenerous grant from the Leonard M. LipmanCharitable Fund aims to change that forgood. The Fund supports the work of twohalf-time nurse practitioners as they deliverpersonalized, one-on-one care throughfrequent visits, phone calls and emails toclosely monitor the patient’s health andsupport adjustments to their daily routines.The grant will also support our work toeducate newly diagnosed diabetic patientsand help them take control of their illnessearly. These program aspects, takentogether, will equip patients with the tools,knowledge, and support to lead healthy lives.

MedtronicVenice Family Clinic has long offeredpatient education to newly-diagnoseddiabetics and those at-risk. In the comingyears, thanks to the long-term vision of theMedtronic Foundation, this program will be overhauled to do more for our patients.

The Medtronic Foundation will fund acollaboration between Venice Family Clinicand UCLA’s Division of Endocrinology torevise our diabetes self-management classcurriculum so it meets the updated NationalStandards for Diabetes Self-ManagementEducation and Support. This revision willnot only increase the effectiveness of ourdiabetes education program, but willsupport the program’s sustainability byallowing us to bill Medicare for patientattendance. The grant also funds one part-time health educator, allowing us toincrease the frequency and availability ofthe classes in additional locations for bothpatients and community members.

Virtual Dental HomeUsing a portable dental chair, a laptopcomputer, a digital camera and a handheldX-ray machine, a dental hygienist fromVenice Family Clinic provides oral healthscreenings to underserved children atschools and community centers.Information about the child's oral health isuploaded and reviewed by a dentist basedat the clinic who makes a diagnosis anddevelops a treatment plan.

To date more than 450 dental screeningshave been provided to low-income andspecial needs children in Los AngelesCounty's Early Head Start and Head Startprograms associated with SantaMonica/Malibu Unified School District,Volunteers of America and WestsideChildren's Center. This innovative oralhealth care delivery system was created bythe University of the Pacific’s, Arthur A.Dugoni School of Dentistry and is fundedby First 5 LA. Learn more at:http://www.first5la.org/articles/service-with-a-smile

Meeting the needs of our communityoften means leaving the clinic andmeeting our patients where they are –whether it is in their homes, schools oron the street. This year, dedication andcollaboration with staff, donors andpartners has given rise to programsthat will help us continue to be agileand effective in the way we deliver care.

Venice Family Clinic MergesWith Common GroundFor more than two decades, Venice FamilyClinic has partnered with a local organizationcalled Common Ground to connect peopleliving with HIV/AIDS to life-saving medical care,mental health and case management services.When we learned last year that federal fundingchanges might close Common Ground’s doors,we had to act. This month, Venice Family Clinicwill finalize its merger with Common Ground,ensuring a healthy future for our community’sonly program supporting low-income andhomeless people living with HIV/AIDS.

Making House, School and Street Calls

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With the October 1 opening of CoveredCalifornia, California’s health exchangecreated to implement the Affordable CareAct (ACA), Venice Family Clinic iscommitted to helping enroll as manyindividuals as we can in health insuranceprograms. Among our patients we willfind early adopters, healthy skeptics andthose whose health coverage won’t beimpacted, or improved at all.

For Venice Family Clinic health insuranceenrollment specialists it has meantmonths of preparation, a willingness tolearn and grow professionally and a keenunderstanding that there will bechallenges, confusion and, as we’vealready experienced, some technicalissues to be addressed along the way.

Over the summer our enrollmentspecialists began an intensive trainingand testing period, and ultimatelycertification to be able to physicallyenroll patients. In order to provide thebest guidance, they have quickly rampedup their knowledge about differentpolicies to determine which may be thebest choice for different constituencies.During this learning period, they havealso spent time considering innovativeideas and options for reaching ourcommunity. At the end of the day, theytogether agreed that it wasn’t just ourpatients who would benefit from theirknowledge, but rather the entire LosAngeles Westside community.

Outreach plans began internally, withpresentations to our providers and staffabout ACA. They then shifted to external

audiences of our communitycollaborators. Finally, once the exchangeopened in early October they beganscheduling one-one-one appointmentsand holding open registration hours atmultiple Venice Family Clinic sites. Inaddition to Venice Family Clinic’s staff of15, we have deployed a group of morethan 20 volunteers who, armed with

A Ground’s Eye View of

We asked our staff of 15 healthinsurance enrollment specialists thequestion, “What has been themost pleasant surprise abouthelping to implement healthreform?” Here is what a few of ourteam members had to say:

“I didn’t have health insuranceuntil now. There have been

times when I have been sick andneeded to go to the doctor – butit was too expensive. I didn’thave the means to pay thereforepreferred not to go. I have beengrateful to Venice Family Clinicbecause they treat me and my

family well”

— Bacilia TrujilloVenice Family Clinic patient

Health Reform

“I think the most pleasantsurprise about the ACAand Covered CA is howmany different ways itcan (and will!) help somany different people.“

Yael Sherne

“I like the experience ofbeing able to help people. Ienjoy taking the stress thatthey are feeling and turningit into something positive.“

Pattie Lopez

“How easy it is forpatients to comparechoices,“

Lorena Mendez

“I’m surprised at how easyand simple it is to get healthinsurance, there are so manyoptions to choose from“

Jose Tapia

“The most pleasant surpriseabout Covered CA is that itis a one stop system whereyou can apply for bothMedicaid and Exchangeplans. This makes acquiringhealth insurance muchsimpler for everyone.“

Jonathan Vargas

electronic tablets, will be providinginformation on insurance options to patientswhile they wait to be seen at the clinic.

In the past month our enrollment specialisthave found patients dubious, confused and largely misinformed about ACA andCovered California and what it will meanfor them and their families. Venice FamilyClinic’s enrollment specialist Pattie Lopezspeaks to patients about how oneEmergency Room visit would cost far morethan a year of premiums. “I have had anumber of people open up about how theyhave already experienced a trip to the ERwhile uninsured. It is a devastating andstressful experience. Most are relieved thatpaying a monthly fee will not only providesecurity and peace of mind but also accessto preventive care.”

Longtime clinic patient Bacilia Trujillo findsherself in a position she never imagined —she now has the ability to provideinsurance for her family. In the weeksleading up to the opening of the CoveredCalifornia, Venice Family Clinic worked witha Los Angeles Spanish-language televisionstation, Telemundo, to help them producea 30-minute segment to provide LosAngeles’ Spanish-language community withinformation on how to enroll. Baciliavolunteered to be a part of the program and

shared, “I didn’t have health insurance untilnow. There have been times when I havebeen sick and needed to go to the doctor— but it was too expensive. I didn’t havethe means to pay therefore preferred not to go. I have been grateful to Venice Family Clinic because they treat me and my family well.”

There will be countless success stories as many of the 5.6 million uninsuredCalifornians under the age of 65 find theirway to insurance plans. However it isestimated that 3.1 million Californians will

remain uninsured. The reasons vary –undocumented residents are not eligible to enroll, and there will be others who fall into vulnerable populations who havehistorically had difficulty accessing healthservices. At Venice Family Clinic we will do our best to help those eligible getenrolled in an insurance program that bestmeets their needs. For the rest, we willcontinue to provide quality medical, dental,mental health, vision and specialty care tothe men, women and children in ourcommunity with nowhere else to turn.

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What will happen to California’s 5.6 Million uninsured under health reform in 2015?2.6 Million will be newly insured but 3.1 Million will be uninsured

A sampling of services to be offered:• Integrated medical, dental, vision,mental health and wellness servicedelivery

• All patients will remain in the sameroom – our providers come to them

• Speech therapy and developmentalassessments

• Health education ranging fromcooking and nutrition to familyplanning and disease prevention

• Weight management and exerciseclasses for all ages

• Parent training and support groups

• Homework assistance, education andcareer information

• Extended clinical hours toaccommodate busy working families

• Patient communication andeducation regarding wait times andfuture appointments

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If you were given an opportunity to rethinkapproaches to children and family health caredelivery from the ground up, where would youstart? What would it look like? How would youcreate an environment that would truly changehealth outcomes for children in our community?We had that opportunity and our vision willbe realized when we open our new Children’sHealth and Wellness Center next fall.

Healthy children, strong families and thrivingcommunities – these are several themes thatconsistently resonate at Venice Family Clinic as welook for ways to improve our services and helpmore people on Los Angeles’ Westside.

We know that children benefit and thrive notonly when they are cared for but also when theirparents, family members and entire communitieshave access to health care and preventiveservices. All of these factors entered into theplanning and development of a new children’shealth and wellness center to be located in arenovated commercial space next to our IrmaColen Health Center.

Through innovative design features andcutting-edge integration of pediatric services,the new center will emphasize prevention andwell-being in a way that we envision will changethe face of pediatric care in Los Angeles.

Research, evaluating and planning – VeniceFamily Clinic staff, board members and ourhealth care and pediatric leaders spent severalmonths completing a unique design andbrainstorming process, thanks to a partnershipwith Innovationship, LLC, a leading designthinking firm. We spoke with patients and

providers to evaluate new design features thatwill improve care. Core to the process, welearned about efficiency and the use oftechnology by interviewing staff at Google andby visiting community clinics, public parks,social service organizations and museums. Thisdesign thinking process has resulted in plans foran innovative, technologically advanced andcomprehensive integrated pediatric clinic built toserve children and families for decades to come.

Programs and Services – Design thinking alsoenhanced our plans for the center’s programsand services. As a training clinic for medicalresidents, Venice Family Clinic is consistently atthe forefront of innovation. The design thinkingprocess allowed our doctors and nurses to dreamup the pediatric clinic of tomorrow.

The new center will be a pediatric medicalhome – for the first time in our history we willhave a dedicated clinic for infants, children andteens from birth to age 19. Families will accessquality care in their neighborhood, with thesame doctor each visit, to quickly and efficientlymeet their health and wellness needs.

In order for additional programs to be implementedin future years, the center’s flexible design willallow us to adapt exam rooms, waiting spaceand other areas as needed to continue toinnovate and succeed in providing outstandingcare in new ways. At full capacity, the centerwill bring health and well-being services to3,000 pediatric patients and countless familyand community members. Please plan to joinus for a community celebration when we openthe new center’s doors next fall.

Stay tuned for more information as we break ground and create a new pediatric medical home to open in Mar Vista in fall 2014

Innovative design features:• Mobile electronic health records systemsincluding tablets/iphones to replace fixeddesks and computer stations

• Medical team cluster space to facilitatecommunication across our clinical teamsincluding social workers, doctors, dentists, etc.

• Activity areas in the waiting room to engagechildren and parents during their time with us

• Teaching kitchen to take our healthy eatingand nutrition classes to the next level

Charting the Future of Children’s Health and Wellness

United Talent Agency Day of ServiceUnited Talent Agency team membersshowed their commitment to thecommunity with a day of service at VeniceFamily Clinic! UTA volunteers worked theirmagic at our Simms/Mann Health andWellness Center, getting the word out aboutNational Health Center Week, creating anew succulent garden in front of the clinic and giving new life to our children’s playarea with new furniture, decorations, toys and more!

Encouraging a New Generationof Supporters It’s never too early to learn aboutphilanthropy! This year, two of ourFoundation Board of Trustees members(and Silver Circle honorees) worked withtheir children to make support of VeniceFamily Clinic a family affair. Christine & Chester Griffiths’ long-time involvementinspired Chester Henry Griffiths to raise funds through art projects with children.Chester Henry presented a check to CEO Liz Forer at Venice Art Walk. AbigailNathanson made Venice Family Clinic the beneficiary of her Bat Mitzvah, bringing her parents, Audra & Jeff Nathanson, and friends together to give our children’swaiting room on Rose Avenue a wonderful makeover.

Dr. Myles Spar HonoredCongratulations to Dr. Myles Spar, Director of Integrative Medicineat Venice Family Clinic's Simms/Mann Health and WellnessCenter, who was presented with the Bravewell Collaborative’sLeadership Award for his work in the field of integrative medicine.

Venice Family Clinic Recieves Critical Support

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: Tremendous thanks to Cedars-Sinai Medical Centerfor investing in Venice Family Clinic’s future through a gift of $375,000 to fund criticalinfrastructure support. Their donation will make critical systems and facilities upgradespossible, from the update of telephone and IT systems that patients rely on forappointments, to the repair of the elevator and air conditioning systems at our largestclinic, the Simms/Mann Health & Wellness Center.

Weingart Foundation: The Weingart Foundation has long been a visionary investor inVenice Family Clinic’s work, enhancing pediatric care and ensuring access to much-neededdental services for our patients. Thanks to the Foundation’s most recent gift of $250,000,our electronic health record system is now live at all Venice Family Clinic healthcenters, bringing seamless, real-time coordinated care to patients across the Westside.

Venice Art Walk Surf & Skate AuctionVenice Family Clinic’s 3rd annual Surf &Skate Auction raised more than $40,000thanks to the custom creations ofprofessional surfers, skateboarders, artistsand architects! Hosted by the RobertBerman Gallery, the event celebrated the50th anniversary of the legendary surf film “The Endless Summer” and the film posterdesigned by iconic graphic artist and Venice Art Walk Signature Artist John VanHamersveld! Many thanks to our host committee: Robert Berman, Bruce Brown, Kristy Campbell, Laddie John Dill, Mark X Farina, John Van Hamersveld, Robb Havassy,David Hertz, Jeff Ho, Jason Lewis, Andy Moses, Pat Ngoho and Jennifer Wolf.

People, Places, and ThingsMarch 30, 2013 – October 31, 2013

$100,000 +Anonymous (2)Cedars-Sinai Medical CenterLouis ColenDream FundDr. Michele HamiltonLeonard M. Lipman CharitableFundWilliam R. Payden Living Trust

Joan PaydenThe Resnick FamilyFoundationLynda & Stewart Resnick

Ring FoundationCynthia Miscikowski

Sisters of Charity ofLeavenworth Health SystemMission FundSaint John's Health Center

UCLA Health System/ DavidGeffen School of Medicine at UCLAFirst 5 LA

University of the PacificDental School

Wilbur May FoundationAnita May Rosenstein &Arnold RosensteinAmanda May StefanBrian Rosenstein

$50,000 to $99,999Anonymous The Dharma Grace Foundation

Chuck LorreThe Eisner FoundationGeorge Hoag Family FoundationL.A. Care Health PlanMedtronic FoundationThe Barry and Wendy MeyerFoundationJohn Wesley Community HealthInstitute, Inc.Ruth Ziegler

$25,000 to $49,000Patricia & WilliamFlumenbaumThe Karl KirchgessnerFoundationThe Harold McAlisterCharitable FoundationFrederick R. WeismanPhilanthropic & ArtFoundationBillie Milam Weisman

$10,000 to $24,999AnonymousGerrie Smith & Dr. Neal BaerBlue Shield of CaliforniaFoundationJudy & Bernard BriskinCalifornia CommunityFoundationVarian S & Gwendolyn LGreen Fund

Dr. Mayer B. Davidson &Roseann Herman, Esq.Carrie Estelle DohenyFoundationThe Harold EdelsteinFoundationEsther & Steven FederFriends of the Culver CityYouth Health Center

The Mark Hughes FoundationKaiser Permanente ofSouthern CaliforniaThe Gary Saltz FoundationSunair Children's FoundationUnited World of the UniverseFoundationFred Segal

J.B. and Emily Van NuysCharities

Permanent EndowmentsJudy & Bernard BriskinWomen’s Health EndowmentIrma and Lou Colen PhysicianEndowmentMose and Sylvia FirestoneSocial Work EndowmentKarsten Family DomesticViolence EndowmentSadie and Norman Lee TeenClinic Physician EndowmentMilken Family PhysicianEndowmentResnick Family Mental HealthProgram EndowmentJack H. Skirball MedicalDirector EndowmentGail and Irv WeintraubEndowmentFrederick R. WeismanPsychosocial ServicesEndowmentZiegler Family Trust

Legacy SocietyAnonymous (3)Robert C. AronoffKatherine BardIrma & Louis ColenMayer B. Davidson, MD &Roseann Herman, Esq.Sylivia & Mose Firestone, PhDPatricia & William FlumenbaumElizabeth Benson Forer &Daniel ForerCharlotte Robertson HamiltonElaine HoffmanJames H. & Ruth JacobsonJoanne Jubelier, PhDDr. Satish KadabaMarilyn H. KarstenAmita & Viren MehtaLeah & William Molle – MolleLiving TrustCarol MortierJacquie NemorWilliam Payden Charlotte Neumann, MD &Alfred Neumann, MDJennifer O'Brian & Ryan KohJanet PapkinMaida RichardsStanley RichardsErich and Marha SchweigerFern & Robert SeizerJeffrey E. SinaikoShirley & Leonard StoneIna TillmanBeatrice Zeiger

Please call 310.664.7932 for corrections.

Major Gifts

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Venice Family Clinic’s Silver Circle brings our most dedicated supporters together to raise more than $1 million annually to help the clinic provide quality, affordable health care to people in need.

Donate to win a Trip to LONDON!

2013Children’s Holiday Movie

Please contact Kaylie Alexander atKDAlexander@mednet.ucla.edu or 310.664.7921to support Venice Family Clinic’s Pediatric Programs.

Please contact Erin Harnisch at 310.664.7911or eharnisch@mednet.ucla.edu

at The Beverly Hilton Hotel

ThankYou Dr.SolomonDr. Solomonpassionatelydevoted his life’s work to the health ofour community. As executive chair of theUCLA Department of Medicine and anearly champion of Venice Family Clinic,Dr. Solomon’s legacy will live on in thelives of those he mentored and thosefor whom he cared. We are grateful forthe generous gifts Venice Family Clinichas received in his memory.

In Memory of VeniceFamily Clinic’s RecentlyDeparted SupportersLuke Benjamin, Mark Benjamin, NaomiRuth Childs, Fabiola Cordoba, StanleyDashew, Shari Horowitz Epstein, Ruth Weiss Hertz, Ruth Jacobson, AllanB. Lasher, Millie Margolis, Katherine K.McTaggart, William R. Payden, Ted Post,Rosalyn Sinaiko, Shirley Schnackenberg,Paul Shaikh, Jack Shea, Dr. David H.Solomon, M.D., Harriet Squire

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