Appointments

Initial Appointments

New patients are accepted to our practice on a referral basis. We do this so that our practice is able to obtain the correct information regarding the diagnosis and to obtain records. When your doctor refers you to our practice, our office will schedule your appointment.

You will need to bring your insurance cards, as well as any forms that are necessary for our office to submit for processing and payment of charges for any services rendered to you. Patients who have HMO insurance plans must notify their primary care physicians so that a referral may be obtained.

Please bring a list of medications you are currently taking so that they can be recorded on your chart.

Report to the office 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time so that the receptionist can obtain any additional information that may be needed for your appointment and copy your insurance cards.

Initial office visits are usually scheduled for a period of up to 1 hour. During this time, the physician will ask you various questions regarding your present health problems, past medical history (including past surgeries), and your family medical history (parents, siblings). You will often have a physical exam.

After examination, the remainder of the visit is spent with the physician discussing diagnosis, evaluation and treatment plan. Please feel free to ask the physician any questions you may have.

Following this discussion, the physician will let you know when he or she would like to see you for a follow-up appointment or to begin treatment. The physician will also let you know what tests will be needed.

Our receptionist will schedule this follow-up appointment along with any needed test(s).

Follow-Up Appointments

These appointments are scheduled for fifteen minute time periods. You will be directed to an examination room and given a patient gown to wear if needed.

The physician will examine you and ask you questions regarding your health since your last visit. The physician will also discuss the results of any blood work or test you may have had performed recently.

Please advise our receptionist if any insurance information has changed. This may include a change in insurance companies or a change in your insurance plan. Always bring a current identification card with you.

Please arrive 5-10 minutes early so our receptionist may verify patient information if needed.

Please feel free to discuss with your physician any concerns or questions you may have.

Chemotherapy Appointments

Appointments are scheduled from 8:30am – 4:00pm depending on the length of time needed for treatment and the type of treatment you will receive. We will always attempt to accommodate your specific needs. If your treatment is needed through the weekend (example: Neupogen shots), a nurse and physician will be at the Wheeler Road office at 9:00am on Saturday and Sunday. This will be scheduled in advance.

The nurses are your liaison to the physicians. Please feel free to discuss any problems with them and they will consult a physician to help provide the best possible care.

There also may be times that you will receive office visit charges for care provided by the nurses.

You will be provided with written information on your type of chemotherapy treatment. Please write down any questions you have and present them to one of the nurses on duty. They are here to help you with your questions and concerns.

Medical Problems Unrelated to Hematology-Oncology

We encourage our patients to continue routine office visits to their own family physicians. If you should develop a medical problem not related to our treatment or our fields of specialty, please contact your family doctor or primary caregiver. Remember that he/she is receiving routine letters from our physicians regarding your progress with our treatment.