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How do I set
up/change/cancel an appointment?
To
schedule an appointment, call our office at (614) 876-7330 during regular business
hours. If you need to change or cancel an appointment, please give our office
24 hours notice, when possible, so that other patients may be given the
opportunity to be seen in your place. In most cases, same day appointments are
available for your urgent medical problems.
Do I have to pay for my visit
at the time of my appointment?
If
our office contracts with your insurance company, any required co-payment must
be collected prior to service. Subsequently, you may be billed for charges that
are not covered by your third party payer. If we do not contract with your
insurance provider, or if you have no insurance, you will be asked for payment
in full at the time of service. For patients with financial difficulties,
payment plans can be arranged on an individual basis.
How much is my co-pay?
Your
insurance company sets your co-payment amount, and it may be printed on your
insurance card. For additional questions, contact the Member Services division
of your insurance company.
How do I select one of your
doctors as my primary care provider?
You are free to select any of our physicians as your
primary provider, and this can be done at the time of your first appointment.
Many insurance companies also require that you select a primary care provider
when you enroll in their managed care plan. We strongly encourage you to
receive most of your care from the same physician in order to ensure that there
is continuity in your medical treatment.
Can I leave a message for my
doctor, or obtain medication refills over the telephone?
When
you call, please leave us a detailed voice message with your concerns clearly
identified. Calls of a non-urgent
nature will be returned by the end of the business day. As a rule of thumb, if you are out of your
chronic medications, you are likely due for a follow-up visit with your
doctor. However, requests for
short-term refills will usually be honored.
When calling for refills, please be specific about the names of the
medications you need, the dosages, the number of times a day you take each
medication, and the pharmacy name and telephone number. Be certain to leave your full name, date of
birth, and home/work telephone number(s) so we can call you back. Allow 24 hours for refills to be called to
your pharmacy, and please check with the pharmacist before calling us to ask
about the status of your refill.
Can I have X-rays or blood
tests performed at your office?
We no longer perform X-rays in our
office. Patients who require radiology services can obtain them at nearby
radiology centers or local hospitals. For most blood tests, we will be able to
draw your specimen in our office and send it to our reference laboratory for
analysis. Results are usually available within a few days.
How can I find out the
results of my tests?
Depending
upon the type of test, results will be sent to you in the mail within 7-10
days. Should more immediate contact be necessary, our office will call you with
your test results. It is not necessary to call the office to inquire about test
or X-ray results unless you have not heard from us within 10 days.
What do I do in an emergency?
If
you believe you have a life-threatening or limb-threatening emergency, call 911
immediately.
Who should I contact if I get
sick after office hours or on weekends?
A
physician is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, either in the office
or on call. For after-hours questions of an urgent nature, please contact the
answering service at (614) 447-4442, and a physician will return your call.
How do I get referrals for
tests, procedures, or specialist visits?
Please
keep us informed of any tests or specialist appointments you may have. Often, your doctor will allow you to arrange
these appointments yourself, to minimize any conflicts with your own
schedule. Make sure to call our office
back with all of the appointment information once you have it scheduled. Many insurance companies require referrals
or preauthorizations from your Primary Care Physician (PCP) before certain
tests, procedures, or specialty services are covered. Please give us enough notice (usually one week when possible) to
be able to complete any insurance requirements you may need. Referrals can typically not be backdated
once the appointment is over, and many specialists will not see you if you do
not have your required referral at the time you arrive for your appointment. Finally, because a referral is actually a
request for a consultation from your PCP to a specialist, referrals are
typically not authorized for problems that our physicians have not evaluated.
What if I have a billing
question after my appointment?
Our
office has a billing representative to discuss questions regarding professional
charges and insurance coverage of your medical treatment. Many billing
inquiries can be resolved quickly with one phone call.
Does my insurance pay for all
of my medical care?
That
depends on your individual insurance policy. A small number of medical services that we
provide in our office, and all cosmetic services, are typically not covered by most insurance plans. You
will be notified by us, in advance, if a test, procedure, or examination is
thought to be at risk for non-coverage, and you will be asked to acknowledge in
writing your acceptance of financial responsibility for those services.
Does your office accept
Medicare assignment?
Our office does accept Medicare assignment for
services normally covered by Medicare. We will be required to bill you directly
for services you agree to, and which are not covered under your Medicare
policy.
Is your office easily
accessible for patients with physical impairments?
Our
office meets the requirements for accessibility as set up by the federal
government, and has handicapped parking available on premises.
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