Your Health, Our Priority
Working with us
How you can help:
1. Fill out your intake forms so I know your agenda for the visit and we can prioritize. Gather your thoughts about detail of your top two reasons to see me BEFORE you are meeting with me – our intake paperwork has guidelines. If there are more than 2, see item 3.
2. Work with my staff to prepare for the visit – DO NOT SKIP medication updates, blood pressure readings, tests done or visits elsewhere so the records can be ready for me etc.
3. If there are more than 2 issues to address, make another appointment. Timing of that appointment will depend on urgency of the issues involved and availability.
4. Expect annual exams to cover preventive care and only 1 other simple issue. Schedule a separate visit if there are other things you need to discuss than preventative care.
5. DO NOT try to talk faster to cover 4 topics in 20 minutes – the charting and review of past studies, etc. will still take just as long as a longer visit and I am more likely to miss an important detail.
6. The sources of stress in your life are relevant to your care but give me the thumbnail version.
7. Every insurer is demanding documentation of medical necessity for even minor tests. This requires a visit and a note. Do not ask over the portal for additional tests -schedule a visit
8. Schedule regular visits for monitoring chronic conditions like blood pressure and thyroid disease.
9. Help my staff be more efficient.
a. Do not chat - be businesslike! They are friendly and helpful but they are paid hourly.
b. Organize things like supplement purchases so you minimize the number of separate calls.
c. Be honest with if you do not want to follow through on something ordered. You are allowed to say no if that is your choice! That will save all of us time and hassle.
10. Use the portal when there is a straightforward medical issue or for follow-up on a recent visit if you are confused about the plan, but please DO NOT send me casual portal inquiries about articles in the news or minor health issues - schedule a visit! If it does not seem worth a visit, think twice about whether you need to reach out to me about it.
11. For emergencies or urgent issues, please call the office or our emergency line.