Exciting things are happening at Old Farm Women’s Health Center. This change has lessened our impact on the environment, helped lab results get reported sooner and provided fluid continuity of care for all our patients. We love the new Electronic Health Records and all the positive new workflows that allow us to serve our patients more efficiently and timely.
Insurance
If you have medical insurance that covers the anticipated care, please provide us with that complete information in the space provided on the patient information sheet. Be sure to include the insurance company address and policy numbers. Please bring your insurance card with you as well. Failure to do so may result in your appointment being rescheduled. It is our goal to submit your claim in a timely and correct manner; however, inaccurate or incomplete information will make this impossible.
If you belong to a managed healthcare plan, which requires you to have a referral, please be sure to provide us with a valid referral from your primary care physician.
Many insurance plans also have specific requirements or restrictions with regards to which hospital, laboratory, etc. services may be rendered. Many require prior authorization for hospital admission or special procedures. Although we are familiar with most of these guidelines, we rely upon you to know your individual insurance policy. Please be prepared to make payment for your insurance required co-payment at the time of each visit, or payment in full if you are a self-paying patient. A $10.00 billing fee will be applied if you are unable to do so at the time of your visit. Payments can be made by check, cash, VISA, MasterCard, Discover Card, American Express or On-line payments.
How To Benefit Most From Your Visits To This Office
Make a list of all your symptoms. It is easy to remember the symptoms that hurt or limit your ability to function, but other signs that are not very bothersome, i.e. thirst, poor sleep, weight changes, etc., can be important to the doctor. Let him decide if a symptom is important or not. Write them down so they won’t be forgotten.
Be prepared to tell the physician other information that may be important. These might include medications you are taking, including those that do not require a prescription; any occupational hazards; if anyone in your family or workplace have the same symptoms; any allergic reactions to medication. What questions do you have? These can be too easily forgotten in the office. Write them down. Speak freely. No subject or part of your body is too personal to discuss with your physician. This includes bowel habits or sexual concerns; personal matters related to your marriage, children or finances; destructive behaviors such as physical abuse, alcohol, and drug misuse. Your physician can often provide considerable assistance.
Children
We would appreciate it if children requiring supervision were left at home. Their presence is not always appropriate to the private and personal nature of a gynecologic exam. Nursing infants are, of course, welcome.
Length of Visit
We will make every effort to keep your initial exam and consult time to within 90 minutes. On occasion, an emergency may prolong this.
Food
Please refrain from bringing food or beverages to the office except baby bottles.
How to reach us
Dr. Brown’s surgery day is Wednesday. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday every other week he is scheduled to see patients in the office. We have trained clinical staff available every day of the week to answer questions, emergency orders, prescriptions, etc. After hours, lunchtime, and on weekends a call schedule is arranged so Dr. Brown will be available for emergencies.
If an appointment has been set aside for you. If you are unable to keep this appointment, please let us know as soon as possible and we will reschedule it to a more convenient time. There is a $50 fee for missed or forgotten appointments that are not rescheduled 24 hours in advance.
Final thoughts
The physician and staff are dedicated to your wellbeing. Preserving and restoring your health are the reason we exist. If we sometimes appear rushed or pressured, it is because the practice of medicine is full of unexpected and serious dilemmas, such as a patient requiring emergency attention in the office or hospital, urgent phone consultations with other physician or patients, and the task of numerous test results. If you have any complaints about any behavior, please discuss it with your physician or the practice administrator. Most importantly, please be assured that if we ever seem preoccupied, it never indicates impatience with you. We wish to meet your needs to the full extent of medical and human capability.