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Office Info
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Introduction
Our specialty is the practice of internal medicine. This is the large
branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis and
treatment (non-surgical) of disordered body organs and function
(Heart, lungs, glands, joints,etc.). The preparation of an internist
involves three years of training beyond that required for a general
medical license. It enables us to manage complex medical
problems, whether you are an out-patient or hospitalized and to
deliver comprehensive medical care. Our subspecialty interest
include cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, thyroid,
asthma, and hypertension.
General Policy
Our practice is restricted to adult patients (age greater than
16 years). All new patients are required to have an initial complete
medical history and physical examination. This is necessary in order
to properly evaluate your health status, to manage current medical
problems and to plan for future care. If we are seeing you at the
request of another physician, he/she will receive a full report.
Appointments are made in advance. If you are unable to keep your
appointment, please notify the office as soon as possible. This will
allow us to change another patient to your time and permit your
rapid re-scheduling. The staff will do our very best to honor your
appointment time. If you miss an appointment without notifying
the office, a letter will follow with instructions of how to prevent
a future no show charge of $40.00.
For privately insured patients, our office will prepare your bill and
send it to your insurance company.
Office Hours
The Office is opened Monday through Friday. We are opened
from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Telephone
Appointments and telephone calls are most conveniently made
during the morning hours. During lunch break, after hours, and on
weekends, the calls will be forwarded to the physician's beeper
who is on call. To leave a message, call the office number and
leave a voice mail message or punch in your telephone number to
explain your needs and problems as well as you can. Your message
will be relayed and attended to as promptly as possible.
Prescription refills will be handled during office hours. Please be
prepared to give the receptionist the name and dosage of the
medication as well as the telephone number of the pharmacy of
your choice. All new patients need to bring in all prescription
bottles in order to correctly document all medications. There is a
$6.00 prescription fee for refills if not done at the time of visit
visit or within 30 days of last visit.
Testing
Our secretaries will be pleased to assist you in scheduling any
required tests (x-ray, laboratory tests, etc.). The office will notify
you of your results only if the doctor feels it is necessary. You may
call our office if you have any concerns, however.
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency, call the office number. If you can
not immediately reach one of the physicians, go to the emergency
room of either St. Rita's or Lima Memorial Hospital. The doctor on
duty will see you and will notify one of the physicians on call of your
arrival.
Parking
Parking is provided adjacent to the 920 building. Access is
available via Market street.
Fees
All fees for service are standardized for equality and payment is
expected AT THE TIME THE SERVICE IS RENDERED for
patient without insurance. All co-pays are also due at the time the
service is rendered. This will reduce billing cost and overhead and
thus enable us to keep fees as reasonable as possible. If your
account becomes past due, the office will send monthly statements
before any accounts are turned over to our collection agency.
There is a 40% collection fee added to your account at the time it
is turned over. Please feel free to call on our secretaries to help
you arrange a convenient schedule of payments.
Insurance
MEDICAID medical card patients must present their approved
monthly paper to the secretary before being seen by the physician.
Please have this with you at all times or you will be unable to see
the physician and have to reschedule your appointment for a later
day.
Patients insured by MEDICARE should know that we do accept
assignment. Payment of the remainder of the bill is your
responsibility and may be done through a secondary insurance,
personal funds, etc. If you contact the Social Security office and
inform them of your secondary insurance they can arrange it so that
your insurance will cross-over automatically to your secondary
insurance. Not all insurance companies do this. If you fail to make
arrangements with the Social Security office to have your insurance
cross-over to your secondary insurance, it is policy of our office
to bill secondary insurance. If the patient has no secondary
insurance, it will be their responsibility to pay the 20% in full
at time of service. You should be well informed as to your benefits
under the Medicare system. It is suggested that you review your
Medicare handbook and carefully examine your Explanation of
Medical Benefits (EOMB) when sent to you. Errors in payment are
sometimes made and these can be appealed by following the appropriate
directions.
Please note that the private primary insurance companies will be
processed free of charge. As a courtesy, we will bill your
secondary insurance. There is a charge for filling out
special insurance forms, disability forms, or letters to companies
Attorney fees may be higher.
Please keep in mind that your insurance coverage is a contract
between you and your insurance company. Your medical bill is a
direct contract between you and your physician.
Conclusion
Please be assured that any information from your file will be
released from this office only with your written consent.
In the practice of internal medicine, mutual understanding, respect,
and confidence are required. We will try to offer you the best and
highest standard of medical care. If you have doubts, comments,
or suggestions, please let us know. We are at your service.
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