Office Visits
Your First Office Visit
At the first office visit our usual procedure includes a complete history
and physical examination by a physician and a variety of laboratory tests.
The first visit therefore involves more time and expense than the usual
follow-up visits. After the first visit we frequently assume responsibility
for continued medical care. In the situation of consultation with another
physician, we report our findings and recommendation to the referring
physician, who continues the primary care and treatment.
On The Day Of Your Appointment
Forms: If forms have been mailed to you prior to your first office visit,
please fill them out and mail them to us prior to your
appointment.. Arrival We recommend
that patients arrive about 30 minutes before the first appointment in
order to complete registration forms, to arrange for payment, and to identify
their insurance carriers.
Information: Please bring all pertinent medical
records, medications you have been taking, information about allergies,
and health insurance information at the first visit. The insurance information
should include names and addresses of insurance companies, policy numbers,
and your insurance identification card.
Schedule: Up to an hour of your doctor's time and the time of
his staff has been reserved for you visit. If you cannot make this
appointment, please let us know a few days in advance so that another
patient can be seen.
Dietary: Unless you have been
given specific instructions by a member of our staff, eat your usual meals
and take your usual medications before your first office visit. Adequate
facilities for snacks and meals are available in the Medical Plaza. Smoking
is not permitted in our office, in the elevators, or in the hospital.
Routine Office Visits
You can help the health care team provide you with better care by preparing
for each office visit. Make notes about any questions or problems you
want to discuss. If you have been keeping records such as blood glucose
or blood pressure measurements, remember to bring them. Bring all your
medications, including those prescribed by other physicians, so that potential
medication errors and drug interactions can be prevented. Prescriptions
should be renewed at the time of office visits, avoiding the need for
a pharmacist to telephone the office. Please tell the medical assistant
which prescriptions need to be rewritten.
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