Checklist - Preparing for your first visit

These are the things that you must take care of prior to coming in for your first visit.

 

Keeping up with this list will help to expedite the visit and to get the most out of your time.

 

Do not assume that someone else will do this for you.

 

Not having received information about your case is the single most common cause of delay in treatments.

   Complete the Questionnaire / Form, prior to coming in to the office. Don’t forget to complete the pain drawing diagram.

   Bring in a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all of your Doctors. Specially any Doctors that you have seen for your current condition.

   Bring in a list of all of your current medications, the doses, and how you take them. Include the prescribing Doctor, next to each medicine.

   Bring in a list of all of the pain medicines that you have used in the past, for this condition. Indicate next to each, if they have, have not helped, or if you had any problems with them.

   If you had had any MRIs or CT scans done recently (less than a year), to evaluate your condition, please personally pick them up and bring them to your first visit.

   Bring in a list of your allergies. Next to each item, specify what happens when you take it. (Example: Aspirin - swell up and can’t breathe).

 

 

On the average, we will not do any type of nerve block procedure on your first visit. Your initial visit is an evaluation only.

Make sure that you are given enough medication by your physician to last until the next time that you see him/her, and not just until you see us.

 

We will not prescribe any medications on your first visit, in fact, being seen in the clinics does not automatically guarantee that you will be taken as a patient. We will accept your case only if we believe that we can help you.

 

1)     Be on time. Always try to be in the office, at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment.

2)     Read all the information provided to you.

3)     Write down all of your questions, including all of the points that you want to address with your physician.

4)     Carefully and truthfully answer the pain questionnaires. Add as many details as you feel are pertinent.

5)     Bring all of your medications. Bring the original pharmacy bottles.

6)     Bring a list of all of your current medications, doses, schedule, and the names of the prescribing physicians.

7)     Make sure your referring physician has sent all of your pertinent information to us.

8)     Bring the reports on any MRI, CT, or Nerve Conduction Tests you have had done in the past.

9)     Bring the most recent MRI or CT films. Your doctor will want to see them personally.

10)  Bring a list of all of the medications that you have tried in the past. Also list any side effects or complications that you have had to those medicines.

11)  Bring a list of all physicians that have been involved in your care. Include their address and telephone numbers.

12)  If your insurance requires appointment pre-approval, make sure that you have it before coming in.

13)  Bring your insurance card to every visit. If you have more than one insurance, bring them all.

14)  Always bring your co-pay.

15)  Bring your driver’s license.

16)  Bring the following insurance information:

                                i.     Subscribers name and date of birth.

                               ii.     ID and Group number

                              iii.     The complete insurance billing address

                             iv.     The insurance company’s telephone number and contact person

                               v.     The subscriber’s employer

                             vi.     The patient’s relationship to the subscriber

 

17)  If you are a Worker’s Compensation / Auto liability, please bring the following information:

                                i.     Date of the accident

                               ii.     Date that you were last able to work. (If applicable)

                              iii.     What is the working diagnosis for the claim?

                             iv.     Patient’s claim number

                               v.     Name and telephone number of the claim adjuster

                             vi.     Is the claim pending litigation? If litigation is pending, we will need the name, address, and telephone number of your lawyer.