How long is my appointment going to take?
Single complaints are generally 10-15 minutes; and multiple complaints or
complex problems are 20-30 minutes. Physicals generally take 30-45 minutes.
However, some seemingly simple appointments turn out to be more complex.
We will do our best to have you in & out of your appointment and make sure
all your needs are met! To help keep the medical providers on track, please be up
front with our schedulers about your need for an appointment so we can
allot an appropriate amount of time. Don’t be embarrassed! We need to know
how to best help you!
Back to FAQ Menu
What kind of an appointment do I need?
Patients sometimes feel like a physical is the best way for a medical provider
to examine all the concerns that they are experiencing; however, physicals
help to identify new concerns and follow up visits usually will directly address
the issues. Patients with urgent non-life threatening medical need should
contact us first to determine whether we are equipped and available to help
in the time frame needed or a visit to the emergency room might be required.
We have weekday evening hours and Saturday morning urgent care hours to
help meet our patients’ needs.
Back to FAQ Menu
What is a P.A. (Physician Assistant) and what can he/she do for me?
Our Physician Assistants are a valuable resource for our patients. Please go to
our Physician Assistant page for more information about them.
Back to FAQ Menu
Why do I have to update my information and show my insurance card
every time I come in?
We find that patients’ personal and insurance information is changing all
the time. We do our best to ensure that we have current contact and
billing information so we can reach you and make every attempt to bill
your insurance. Insurance companies often change addresses and policy
numbers so we must check often for those changes. Paperwork should
only be required at the first visit and at yearly intervals.
Back to FAQ Menu
Can I bring my children in with me to my appointment?
If you feel like it would be inappropriate for your children to stay in the room
while you are being examined, please find childcare for them. Our office
personnel are not available to watch children and their safety could be
compromised without proper supervision.
Back to FAQ Menu
What if I’m late for my appointment?
We will attempt to see patients in many circumstances, but our general office policy is that patients who are late for their scheduled appointments may need to reschedule or wait until the next available appointment time. Your medical provider’s medical assistant can assess your urgency to be sure your medical needs are not delayed.
Back to FAQ Menu
Will I get in for my appointment on time?
We do our best to allot the appropriate amount of time for each patient’s
appointment; however, some appointments are more complex than
anticipated or some new problems are brought up at the time of the
appointment. Sometimes the new problem must be addressed at that time.
This may cause the provider to run behind, but we make every attempt to stay
as close to our schedules as possible. If at all possible we prefer that you wait
in our office for your appointment because the provider may catch up very
quickly if someone does not show for their appointment or something is more simple
that expected. To help keep the medical providers on track, please be up
front with our schedulers about your need for an appointment so we can
allot an appropriate amount of time. If your schedule is very time restricted,
an appointment at the beginning of the day or immediately following a break
might work best to stay on time.
Back to FAQ Menu
Can I see another doctor besides my Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
Yes, you may see other physicians in our office under most circumstances.
The physicians prefer to see only their own primary care patients or for their
patients to see our physician assistants, for continuity of care purposes, for
wellness exams. Rarely insurance issues may dictate that a provider might not
be appropriate for you to see.
Back to FAQ Menu
Can I get my lab work prior to my appointment?
Some medical providers will order lab work prior to appointments; however,
you might want to wait until the visit in case the medical provider feels like
another test is appropriate after examining you.
Back to FAQ Menu
Can my older child come for an appointment without an adult?
Patients under 18 years of age may come to the office for treatment without
a parent/guardian with a form consenting treatment. If you intend to do this, please download this form and send it with your child.
Back to FAQ Menu
Can I just get a referral without a visit at my primary doctor?
Some types of appointment can be done via self-referral or we may give
a referral without a visit. Women may self-refer to an Obgyn. For established patients, you may leave a message with us to get a referral for an
ophthalmologist for an annual eye exam or an urologist for a vasectomy.
If specific concerns are involved, though, a visit to one of our medical providers will be required. Please see our Insurance Information page for more information
about referrals.
Back to FAQ Menu
What is a Flexible Sigmoidoscopy?
Please view our Flexible Sigmoidoscopy information sheet for more information.
Back to FAQ Menu
How often should my family and I get physicals?
Children have a set schedule of physicals recommended by the American
Academy of Pediatrics. You can view this at AAP Preventative Healthcare
Schedule.
Adults should have regular wellness exams as well. Your physician will be able to guide you in the frequency of these periodic health exams. For more information about preventative health services, you may visit the American Academy of Family Physicians page at AAFP Preventative Healthcare.
Back to FAQ Menu
What immunizations do my family and I need?
The bulk of immunizations that you need will be given to you as a child at your
wellness exams. To see a list of immunizations recommended by the American
Academy of Pediatrics and other immunization resources, you can go to AAP Pediatric Immunization Schedules.
Adults need some booster immunizations or may have missed some childhood
immunizations. Our office recommends tetnus shots done at 10-year intervals
throughout life. You as an adult may need other immunizations such as Hepatitis
A or B, Boostrix, influenza shots, or HPV injections as well. Please check with your provider to see what might be needed for you depending on your history and age group.
Travel immunizations are sometimes required for travel abroad. These are rarely
covered by insurance. Please check with your insurance to see what they will
cover. To check to see what travel immunizations might be needed for your area of travel, you may contact our office for a recommendation to a travel clinic.
Back to FAQ Menu
|
