OFFICE POLICY

Appointments

We see patients by appointment only. We strive to make same-day appointments available for urgent or sudden illnesses; however, we cannot guarantee that you will be seen on the same day.

After Hours

For life-threatening emergencies, please call 911. If you call after normal business hours, you will reach our answering service. Please leave a detailed message, and we will return your call as soon as possible.

Cancellations

If you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment, please call us to cancel at least 24 hours in advance. This allows us to offer your time slot to another patient. Patients will be charged $35 for no-shows or same-day cancellations and may be dismissed from the practice for frequent no-shows.

Appointment Time

We aim to see every patient promptly to ensure optimum satisfaction. We understand that your schedule is busy and your time is valuable. If you are waiting more than 15 minutes after your scheduled appointment time, please inform us so we can ensure you have been properly checked in. If you anticipate being late, please call us as soon as possible. Depending on how late you are, we may need to reschedule or cancel your appointment.

Complete Physical Exams

We believe that routine annual physical examinations, often accompanied by screening lab tests, are crucial for maintaining good health. We strongly encourage all our patients to undergo a comprehensive assessment every year.

Medical Team

During your visit, you will meet various members of the medical team, including your healthcare provider, who may be a physician (MD), nurse practitioner (NP), or physician assistant (PA). You will also interact with a Medical Assistant, who plays a crucial role in your care. The Medical Assistant typically escorts you from the waiting room to an examination room. They will measure your vital signs, gather a brief history of your current health concerns, and prepare you for any procedures during your visit. In addition to these tasks, Medical Assistants may administer necessary injections, perform ear lavages, remove sutures, and return patient calls, all under the supervision of the healthcare providers.

Records Request

Before releasing medical records of any kind, our office will need to have a Medical Records Release Form filled out entirely for each request.

Test Results

If the provider orders any kind of testing, please ensure that you schedule a follow-up appointment 7 to 10 days after your visit to review the results. Please note that most results will not be given over the phone, and while we make every effort to inform you that the results are available, it is ultimately the patient’s responsibility to call the office to ensure that the test results are in the office before the follow-up appointment.

Prescriptions and Refills

The best time to obtain a prescription refill is during your appointment. Please bring a current list of all your medications with you to your office visit so we can review and update our records, ensuring that refill requests are not overlooked. Be sure to check with your pharmacy to see if you have refills available. If you need to request refills, do not wait until you have run out of medication. Most refills require the doctor’s approval, so please allow 72 hours for your request to be processed. Some medications have potential side effects that must be monitored, which is why we require regular checkups for these prescriptions. Note that some prescriptions cannot be called in; they will be submitted electronically to the pharmacy on file. Please remember that prescriptions for controlled substances, as well as refills on controlled substances, always require an appointment.

Prescription Renewals

Prescription renewals are processed during normal office hours and generally take 48 hours. In some instances, we may require that the patient be seen in our office before renewing medication.

Narcotics

We do not prescribe narcotics for long-term use, nor do we call in narcotics to pharmacies. If you need narcotics for chronic pain, we will refer you to a pain management specialist. We allow a 3-day supply for acute pain management.

Referrals

Referrals are managed by our referral department. Typically, referrals will be processed the same day as your appointment, but it may take 2 to 3 days depending on your insurance and the urgency of your situation. Someone will contact you as soon as the referral authorization is obtained. As a patient, it is your responsibility to ensure that the specialist accepts your insurance plan. Please understand that obtaining an appointment with a specialist may sometimes take a few weeks.

Dismissal

If you are dismissed from the practice, you will no longer be able to schedule appointments, request medication refills, or consider us your primary care physicians. You will be responsible for finding a new provider.

Common reasons for dismissal include:

Failure to keep appointments or frequent no-shows
Noncompliance with the physician's health instructions
Abusive behavior towards staff
Failure to pay your bill

If dismissal becomes necessary, we will provide you with a letter notifying you of the decision. If you have a medical emergency within 30 days following the date of this letter, we are obligated to see you if an appointment is available. After 30 days, you must seek care from another practice for your ongoing health needs. Your medical records will be released to your new provider once you sign and return the enclosed release of medical records form included with your letter of dismissal.

How to Schedule

Appointments can be made by calling our office during normal business hours at 407-704-1771.