Information For New Patients
Thank you for choosing our office for your orthopaedic care. We will try to give you the best service possible. We strive to stay on time and keep to our appointment schedule as much as possible. This will be helped if you go to the link for the New Patient Information Form and print it, and fill it out before you come to the office. This is basic medical and insurance information that we need for all patients. Having the form filled out before your appointment will save you time in the office and will help us stay on schedule. Please be honest about any medical problems you might have, and be complete. You may think it is a pain to write so much or that the information is unimportant, but it is for your own protection. Serious medical problems might occur to you if medicine is prescribed here or if surgery is performed and we do not know about other medications or medical problems that might conflict. It will also slow down your visit and the entire schedule if the doctor or nurse has to ask for this information during your appointment.
Please also read the link about HIPPA compliance. This is very important information concerning the privacy of your medical information. No information can be given, even to immediate family members, unless you have specified them by name. PLEASE do not ask about any other patients who are being treated here. It will embarrass us both when we refuse, but we must refuse. Just like your information is private, theirs is private too and they probably have not specifically consented for you to get such information. Sorry, but it’s the law.
If you are not able to keep an appointment, please have the courtesy to call and let us know. Knowing that your slot will be open allows us to schedule other patients with urgent problems in your place and helps them as well as us. In return, we will extend every courtesy to you if the doctor is considerably behind schedule. Real emergencies do arise, especially in orthopaedics, and if this occurs, you will be given the option of rescheduling rather than wait a long time. Unfortunately, on some occasions we may be forced to reschedule you even if you would rather wait. You understanding is appreciated.
Insurance forms must be left with the secretaries to be completed when we do not have office hours. The staff simply does not have the time to fill them out while we are seeing patients. Please be aware that there is a charge for filling out these forms.
Payment for treatment is required at the time of your appointment. Sending you a bill takes much time for our staff and adds to the cost of medical care. This office is a business like any other, with expenses and bills. We must collect what is due to us because the people we owe money to will not wait for our payment no matter what excuse we use. If you have a co-pay, or a deductible that has not been met, it is your obligation under your insurance contract to pay, and we are required by law to collect this payment. Failure to pay this might void your health insurance because it is a violation of your contract.
We welcome your phone calls. In fact, it is often better to call first if you have a problem. Your calls will be handled by one of the office staff. They are specially trained and have many years of experience. All medical problems will be handled in consultation with the physician or per his protocols. After hours, please restrict calls to true urgent medical problems. Do not use the answering service for prescription refills or calls about appointments.
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