WHAT TO EXPECT
- On your first visit
- Making appointments
- Patient calls
- Medication and Filling your prescription
- Test results
- Radiation Oncology
- Chemotherapy
- Metastasis
- With Medicare
- With Managed Care Coverage
On Your First Visit
From the very beginning you’ll see a difference in how we treat patients. Your first visit is our chance to get to know you and introduce you to our environment. In this initial consultation, you will begin the registration process.
You will then be assigned a patient services representative who will review your insurance coverage and walk you through your financial obligations. The financial aspects of your oncology care are necessary, but we want you to remain focused on your treatment. This dedicated consultant will help you do that by providing all the information you need regarding billing and reimbursement.
Making Appointments
Appointments help to keep your care structured. We will work with you to develop and maintain a set schedule. To provide the best care, your doctor will see you by appointment only and we ask that you make future appointments at every visit when possible.
Sometimes you’ll need to schedule an appointment by phone. In that case, please ask for the appointment desk and always let the person scheduling the appointment know if you need additional tests before your next visit.
Patient Calls
Your care doesn’t stop when you leave the office because we’re always just a phone call away. When you call, you will speak to your physician’s nurse who can answer most questions concerning your case. However, if you have an emergency and need to speak directly to your doctor please tell your nurse. Your doctor will call you back in a timely manner.
Medication and Filling
Your Prescription
Medication is a key component of treatment. It’s crucial that you follow your medication regiment to the letter. Filling your prescriptions is sometimes as easy as calling your pharmacist for a refill. However, some controlled medications require a special written prescription and you will need to come to the office to pick up this prescription.
Please monitor your supply closely, especially prior to holidays or weekends because prescriptions can only be written during office hours. You must request this type of prescription with two to three days supply left and all narcotic prescriptions must be filled within seven days or they will be void.
Test
Results
Test results help provide answers to your case. We understand patients are anxious to get these details. Your nurse can tell you when and how you will be notified about lab and x-ray results. Please remember, some lab and x-ray tests may take two or more days for results to come back.
Radiation Oncology
If you are referred for radiation therapy, a consultation will be scheduled with a radiation oncologist. He or she will review x-rays, MRI’s and PET scans and discuss treatment. We will then schedule a simulation. Based on CAT scans and measurements taken during this treatment, your radiologist, physician and dosimetrist will work together to determine the most effective treatment using different radiation energies, angles and beam shaping devices.
You will have access to radiation therapy Monday through Friday and a registered radiation therapist will deliver the treatments. Your therapist, oncology nurse and doctor will coordinate weekly checkups and assessments.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is probably the most known cancer treatment. These anti-cancer drugs are used to combat many types of cancerous cells, control their growth or relieve pain. They are most times successful because they interfere with the ability of a cancer cell to divide and reproduce.
Chemotherapy may be used alone to treat some types of cancer. Sometimes it can be used together with other types of treatment such as surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, immunotherapy, or a combination of these.
Most chemotherapy is given by infusion through an IV. However, new applications are introduced daily. Some include injection and oral medicine when applicable. Your doctor will work with you to find the best solution for your needs.
Metastasis
Most tumors are malignant and are extremely dangerous because they deprive healthy cells of the nutrients, oxygen and space they need, causing the destruction of healthy tissue around them.
Tumors can also spread to the lymph nodes and through the bloodstream to other parts of the body. This is known as metastasis. When cancer metastasizes, the initial tumor is known as the primary tumor and tumors elsewhere in the body are secondary.
With Medicare
Patients covered by Medicare are responsible for the 20% of the cost while Medicare covers 80%. Please inform us if you have secondary insurance coverage, which covers 20% not paid by Medicare. Also, we ask that you present proof of coverage at the initial visit and on a monthly basis after that.
With
Managed Care Coverage
In order to care for you in the best manner, it’s important we know upfront if you’re covered by a health maintenance organization (HMO), preferred provider organization (PPO) or any other managed care plan.
If your health insurance requires pre-certification for hospitalization, referrals and various tests and procedures please inform your patient service representative so we can coordinate this in a timely manner and proceed with treatment.
All co-payments or unmet deductibles your health insurance plan requires you to make will be collected on the day of your visit.