FAQs about your care:

​

Medication Refills:

​

1. How do I get a refill on my medications?

There are several ways. These are listed below in the order of most preferable to least. First make sure that it is not a medicine for which you need an office visit or one which was never prescribed to you by us. In these cases, schedule a visit. 

​

a) Get all your refills at the time of visit and make sure these will last till your next anticipated visit. 

b) Fill out med refill request on www.smarthwc.com .

c) Text/Email the contact which was provided to you at the time of your visit. 

d) Call the office or call pharmacy. 

​

2. I need a new medicine which does not exist in my chart and we did not talk about any reason for prescribing this medicine during my visit. Can I still call to get a prescription for this?

If you were never prescribed this medicine by our office and/or we never discussed prescribing this medicine during your visit, please schedule an appointment. 

3. I started a new medicine and have started to experience side effects. What should I do?

In this case, stop taking the medicine and contact me. You should have received my personal phone number and email at your visit. 

4. My medication was denied by my insurance. What should I do?

Although we can try obtaining an authorization but often it gets denied. It is best to check with insurance to see what alternate options they are providing and go by those. Most insurance companies have an online drug formulary which can provide this information as well. 

5. I am already feeling better. Should I stop my medicine?

Continue taking the medicine as directed to avoid any relapse or complications. 

6. Why do I need to schedule a visit so often? Why can't I just get automatic refills?

For most medications, at least some type of monitoring is required. In order to prescribe safely, most health care practitioners require periodic visits. Please see the information below to see how frequently you'll need an office visit for various medicines. This is a rough guideline and based upon your individual situation, this frequency may be different.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

​

 

 

 

 

Referral, Procedures and Tests Done Outside Office:

​

1. We talked about doing a test (to be done at an outside location) or seeing a specialist for which I was going to receive a phone call but no one has called me. What should I do?

After a referral/procedure/test request is placed which will take place outside office, our referral team sends an authorization request to the insurance and checks for available appointments for the requested service within your insurance network. After this is done, typically a staff member from outside of our office on behalf of the specified service provider (specialist's staff, imaging center staff etc) contacts you for your availability. Due to multiple steps involved in this process, it may take longer than expected. Typically, a routine procedure is scheduled within 1-2 weeks and we can expedite the process based upon urgency. Most likely reasons for unusual delay are lack of insurance benefits/authorization, or lack of availability of services within your network. If you do not hear from a staff member within one week of your visit, please contact us.

2. I have a new problem. Can the doctor order a test (lab, X Ray, MRI, referral) without an appointment?

It is entirely possible that your assessment of what type of test you need is correct. However, for proper evaluation and documentation, it is best to schedule a visit for a new problem. This is to ensure safe practices and to avoid diagnosis errors. In addition, if your condition warrants a specialist visit or a diagnostic test, your insurance will most likely deny authorization due to lack of a visit documentation. So please call to schedule a visit.

3. What is the best way to have an outside facility send you my records?

Please sign a release of information form at the outside facility and provide our office information including fax number. This may take a long time. In order to expedite the process, please have the outside facility provide you with your records specially lab/test results and either bring these to us or email these to us so we scan them in your chart. 

​

Paperwork - FMLA, Work Notes/Accommodations etc:

​

1. I need paperwork filled out for my work. What is the quickest way to get it done?

For a simple work excuse such as a day off from work for being sick, needing to take medicine at work, simple accommodations, a note can be provided without a visit as long as something to that effect was discussed during or after your visit. For more involved notes / paperwork such as FMLA, short term disability, long term work accommodation etc, an office visit is required. This is to make sure that proper evaluation and documentation exists in the chart. As a general rule, if more than a page need to be filled out, an office visit is required. 

​

DME such as scooters, breathing machines, supplies etc.

​

1. I need a medical supply (such as scooter, chair etc.) How can I get it?

Again, refer to the answer to the question about paperwork. If you we discussed it in detail during the visit, such paperwork can be filled out using the most recent office note (documented within the last 30 days) but for anything outside of that, an office visit is needed because for most of these items, a face to face encounter is required. 

​

General Questions:

 

1. What is the best way to get in touch with my doctor?

You should have received my phone number as well as email address at your visit. Please feel free to use this information to contact me. I am usually not able to pick up the phone so please text me. 

I provide my personal contact information because I believe that my patients should not have to go through multiple hoops to get answers to their (sometimes very simple) questions. It is my hope that I provide you with the best possible care to and this can be achieved only if my care is centered around your needs. 

2. What type of screening tests do I need at my age?

It is greatly important to stay up to date on your routine health screening tests. This can prevent several common medical conditions. Please review the information below to see what you may need at your age. Please note that this information may change based upon latest guidelines. 

​

​

​

​