NEW PATIENTS
NEW PATIENTS: WHAT TO BRING
We are currently accepting new patients. To start, please contact our office to schedule an initial appointment.
As a new patient, we ask that you to arrive at least thirty (30) minutes before your appointment time. This allows us to process your paperwork and collect any co-payment, deductible, cash deposit, or other payment.
Please be sure to follow these steps:
PATIENT'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
We respect our patients' dignity and pride. Our commitment to you requires a respectful, constant and open communication between you, the patient, and our providers. This interaction is important and will help to comply with these statutes.
PER THE PATIENT’S BILL OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES, SECTION 381.026, FLORIDA STATUTES; A PATIENT HAS THE RIGHT TO:
- Be treated with courtesy and respect, with appreciation of his or her dignity, and with protection of privacy.
- Receive a prompt and reasonable response to questions and requests.
- Know who is providing medical services and is responsible for his or her care.
- Know what patient support services are available, including if an interpreter is available if the patient does not speak English.
- Know what rules and regulations apply to his or her conduct.
- Be given by the health care provider information such as diagnosis, planned course of treatment, alternatives, risks, and prognosis.
- Refuse any treatment, except as otherwise provided by law.
- Be given full information and necessary counseling on the availability of known financial resources for care.
- Know whether the health care provider or facility accepts the Medicare assignment rate, if the patient is covered by Medicare.
- Receive prior to treatment, a reasonable estimate of charges for medical care.
- Receive a copy of an understandable itemized bill and, if requested, to have the charges explained. Receive medical treatment or accommodations, regardless of race, national origin, religion, handicap, or source of payment.
- Receive treatment for any emergency medical condition that will deteriorate from failure to provide treatment.
- Know if medical treatment is for purposes of experimental research and to give his or her consent or refusal to participate in such research.
- Express complaints regarding any violation of his or her rights.
A PATIENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:
- Giving the health care provider accurate information about present complaints, past illnesses, hospitalizations, medications, and any other information about his or her health.
- Reporting unexpected changes in his or her condition to the health care provider.
- Reporting to the health care provider whether he or she understands a planned course of action and what is expected of him or her.
- Following the treatment plan recommended by the health care provider.
- Keeping appointments and, when unable to do so, notifying the health care provider or facility.
- His or her actions if treatment is refused or if the patient does not follow the health care provider’s instructions.
- Making sure financial responsibilities are carried out.
- Following health care facility conduct rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.
INSURANCES ACCEPTED
Examples of some of the insurance we accept:
Please call our office for additional information regarding coverage of your plan. We accept a majority of the health insurances. As participating providers for your insurance plan, we will gladly file a claim on your behalf. To submit your claims efficiently, make sure to provide our staff with your most current insurance information and notify us of any changes. We suggest contacting your insurance company for specific questions about what your plan covers.
OFFICE POLICIES
MEDICATION REFILLS: During a scheduled office visit, our policy is to refill any medication you may need. Our recommendation is to review your medications before the appointment and request a refill at that time. If you require a refill before your appointment, please call our office at (954) 717-4066 during business hours to make refill requests. Allow us twenty-four (24) to forty-eight (48) hours to review your medication request.
If you have not visited the office in the last six (6) months and need refills, you will need to schedule an appointment. Our providers will discuss any changes or additional information with you regarding your ongoing care.
ELECTRONIC PRESCRIPTIONS: Our providers will send the prescription electronically to your pharmacy. We must know the name of your pharmacy to keep in our records. If there is any change or you require a written prescription, please let us know on the day of your visit.
EMERGENCIES AND HOSPITAL CARE: If you experience a severe, life-threatening situation, please call 911 or go to the closest hospital emergency room. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warning signs of a medical emergency:
MENTAL HEALTH: Our primary care providers can provide mental health screenings, medication management, and referrals to licensed counselors and other specialists as needed.
SICK VISITS FOR ESTABLISHED PATIENTS/URGENT VISITS: For our practice, an established patient is the one who has visited the office at least three (3) times in a year. Established patients who are sick and experiencing non-emergency symptoms can be scheduled the same or next business day with one of our providers.
If your matter is urgent, please inform the team member when you call and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We have a convenient WALK-IN appointment available for our established patients. This service is available Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Our goal is to provide dedicated care within a reasonable time.
MEDICAL SERVICES AFTER HOURS: During the evenings, weekends, and holidays, one of our providers is on-call and available to handle emergencies for our established patients.
If you call after office hours (5:30 pm), the answering service will receive your call. They will take your name, phone number, and nature of your call. The answering service will contact the on-call provider who will call you back.
When you receive the call back, the on-call provider will instruct you as to whether you need to go to an emergency room, urgent care clinic or if the problem can wait for an appointment the next day. Have your medications information available during this call.
VISITS TO THE OFFICE:
APPOINTMENT REMINDERS: As a courtesy, our office will send reminders via phone and voicemail the day before the visit. We recommend you keep your routine appointments. Our providers will be capable of (1) monitoring your medical condition, (2) prevent any possible complications, (3) order or review any necessary laboratory, and (4) refill your prescriptions.
APPOINTMENT ONLY: Most of our visits are scheduled appointments set for for your routine visits and laboratory appointments. We ask you to be on time for your appointments.
Our practice does not treat new patients without an appointment nor will call-in prescriptions or offer medical advice for those patients before the initial visit.
APPOINTMENTS AND LABORATORIES FOR ESTABLISHED PATIENTS: Please arrange your routine laboratory testing (which requires fasting) at least seven (7) days before your next scheduled appointment. These can be performed at our on-site laboratory or a drawing station of your choice.
If you are a “NO SHOW” for your laboratory draw, your follow-up visit will be canceled, and you will need to re-schedule both appointments.
WHAT HAPPEN DURING YOUR VISIT: During your office visit, the provider will discuss the latest results of your laboratory tests, any radiology result, or tests done before the appointment. We suggest you bring a list of questions or concerns you can discuss with the provider during the visit. If you have visited any specialist during our visits, please inform the provider about it.
FOLLOW-UP VISITS: If you are prescribed medications during your routine/sick visit, and your condition has not improved before your next visit, please call us to schedule an appointment. We will schedule an appointment with one of the providers for further examination.
TELEMEDICINE CONSULTATIONS FOR URGENT AND ROUTINE CARE: A telemedicine consultation allows you to schedule a visit with your provider from the comfort of your home via a phone or video. Moreover, if you are unable or do not feel comfortable coming to the office due to COVID-19, you can use this service. Please notify our team if you are interested.
OUTSIDE FORMS AND MEDICAL LETTERS: Our practice will be happy to complete forms and write medical letters as necessary upon your request. Should you require a form completed by your provider, please drop-off the document with the front desk or your provider’s Medical Assistant. Allow seven (7) business days to complete the form. A member of our team will contact you when the form is ready to pick-up.
MEDICAL RECORDS: Per HIPAA guidelines, copies of your medical records should be requested in writting. To ensure your privacy, a form for the release of medical information must be completed before receipt of these materials. Copies of medical records will NOT be released to patients or authorized individuals on the same day requested. Requests are processed within five (5) business days after submission.
The service hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. You have the right to request an amendment to your medical record if you believe the information is incomplete or inaccurate.
TAKING CARE OF YOU: Please keep us informed of any care you receive outside our office. If you see another health provider, let them know we are your Primary Care Provider. Request they to send us a summary of care, test results, or clinical notes.
If the health provider has made any change, discontinued, or added a medication, please let us know. We will update the information on your chart.
If you have visited an emergency room (ER), urgent care, had an outpatient procedure, or been admitted to a hospital, let us know as soon as it happens. We will set an appointment to address any discharge instructions provided and to help coordinate any medical service or assistance you may need.
INSURANCE AND REFERRAL INFORMATION
HEALTH INSURANCE: The health insurance contract is ultimately between you and your insurance company. You need to provide our team with correct and complete insurance information. It is the patient's responsibility to inform our office of any changes in insurance coverage. Failure to do so could cause delay or denial of insurance payment.
Before receiving services, you must verify with your insurance that we are participating providers (In-Network Provider) for your health insurance company.
Please check to see that our provider is identified as your primary care provider under your insurance and familiarize yourself with your plan's co-pays, immunization policies, and referral procedures.
If you have any questions regarding your coverage, you should contact your insurance company's Customer/Member Services for specific benefit information before your visit. The phone number to contact Customer/Member Services must appear on your insurance card.
As our patient, you are responsible for co-pays at the time of service. If applicable, you will be billed for services not covered by your insurance (as stated in your insurance contract) by our billing department.
REFERRAL REQUEST: If the request is for a new referral, please make an appointment with us so one of our providers can assess your request.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REFERRALS: Please allow our office and the insurance plan five (5) to eight (8) business days to process the request for a referral. We do give priority to urgent referrals. Some referrals require a pre-authorization and cannot be processed immediately.
Once the office refers you to a specialist, facility, or service, we advise you to contact them, make an appointment and let us know if we have to make any changes.
You have the option to come to our office to pick up a copy of your referral or authorization. We will fax the referral or authorization to your specialist or health facility before your appointment. We will appreciate it if you notify us of all your follow-up appointments, as new referrals or authorizations must be required.
FORMS
New Patient Package
Authorization to Release Medical Information
Patient's Information Update Form
HIPPA
Medical Records Request
Patient Request for Medical Records Amendment
Hospice Care Information
Membership Form
WELCOME TO MEDICARE
The Medicare health plan offers a “Welcome to Medicare” preventive healthcare visit to all new enrollees. During this visit, our provider will review your current state of health and medical history. They will also offer healthcare information and the information collected by our provider will help as baseline measurements for monitoring your health.
When you enroll in Medicare Part B, you have the option of scheduling a “Welcome to Medicare” physical checkup. This health check is optional and can take place at any time during the initial twelve (12) months of joining Medicare.
The “Welcome to Medicare” physical is not the same as a detailed annual physical exam. Medicare parts A and B do not cover this kind of health service.
The “Welcome to Medicare” physical allows you to meet with your primary care provider and discuss any health concerns. Our providers will perform a health test and, if necessary, create a plan of care. The goal of this visit is to promote wellness and prevent possible future illness by highlighting risk factors.
Medicare Part B completely covers the cost of the “Welcome to Medicare” visit if done with a provider that accepts Medicare. We are a Medicare provider.
Medicare may cover routine vaccinations, certain screening tests, and other preventive measures.
Medicare does not cover additional laboratory tests or any necessary treatments.
The initial measurements gathered during the “Welcome to Medicare” visit will be used for comparison in subsequent Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) or other visits to assess someone’s ongoing health status
During the visit, our provider will take a range of measurements, including:
Our provider will assess your mental health and ability to function safely in the home and wider community.
In addition to this basic examination, our providers will ask questions regarding your family and personal medical history. This information allows our provider to determine any risk factors for future illnesses or conditions. Also will help him/her to recommend any appropriate screening measures or further tests.
During the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, our providers can schedule appointments for routine preventive care, and may provide education and counseling for specific health conditions or referrals to other healthcare professionals.
Advance Directives: this is a topic to be covered during the visit. An advance directive is a legal document that contains information about the healthcare you want to receive if your illness or condition prevented you from speaking or making your own medical decisions. Also, you will name someone who could make medical decisions on your behalf. Creating an advance directive helps make sure that healthcare professionals involved in your care understand your future healthcare wishes.
ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT (AWV)
The intention of this visit is to develop or update a Personalized Prevention Plan (PPP) done between you and our provider and perform a Health Risk Assessment (HRA). This health check is covered every twelve (12) months.
The “Annual Wellness Visit” focuses on prevention planning and reviewing the medical history.
Instead of being guided by hands-on measurements, the “Annual Wellness Visit” is driven by the Health Risk Assessment (HRA). The HRA is a questionnaire and screening tool that provides our provider an assessment about your health status and provides him/her feedback about actions that can be taken to reduce risks and promote health. Patient communication when performing the health risk assessment is key.
Our providers will works with you to develop a personalized prevention plan, and may assess you for cognitive impairment or look for signs of Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Medicare Part B completely covers the cost of the “Annual Wellness Visit” if done with a provider that accepts Medicare. We are a Medicare provider.
ROUTINE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION (NOT COVERED)
This is an exam performed without relationship to treatment or diagnosis and done for a specific illness, symptom, complaint, or injury. Medicare do not cover this service. If you are covered by Medicare and want this type of routine physical examination, you will be responsible to pay 100% out-of-pocket.
COVID-19
COVID-19 PATIENT SAFETY
Patient safety is our main priority. We have taken many precautions since the outbreak of COVID-19 to ensure patient and employee confidence upon entering our offices. Therefore, we request your cooperation to comply with the rules established once you enter our office. Be aware our practice goal is to comply with the highest safety standards mandated by CDC and replicated to the best of our ability.
FOR THE PATIENT
We are receiving patients (established and new) in our location. Telemedicine consultations are available to all our patients who are unable or feel compelled to remain at home to minimize the risk of possible exposure. We strongly encourage patients to use this tool for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cases for their convenience. Please notify our team if you are interested in receiving this service.
FACE MASK PROTECTION
We request our patients, team members, providers, and visitors wear a face-covering to protect themselves and others. Examples of face-coverings include (1) surgical mask, (2) cloth mask, (3) bandanna, (4) scarf, (5) neck gaiter, or (6) clothing without holes.
If needed, a face-covering will be provided by our team as our supply allows. Face-coverings should cover both nostrils and mouth.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
To keep all patients and our staff safe, we have adhered to social distancing by spacing our waiting room chairs. This way, we maintain a safe distance among fellow patients. Please help us minimize over-crowding. If you have someone accompany you who is not necessary to your care, we ask that they wait in the car or somewhere outside of our waiting room. We are requesting you not to bring children to our office during the COVID-19 outbreak.
SANITATION
We ask our patients to practice the appropriate hand-washing techniques and utilize sanitizers before and after their appointment. Our practice is equipped with hand sanitizing stations to minimize contamination and viral transmission.