974 Bethel Rd. Columbus, Ohio 43214
Tel: 614.538.2424 | Fax: 614.538.2418
Introduction
Upon visiting a doctor for the first
time, patients often experience some apprehension.
In addition to the concern regarding
their health, there can be some anxiety related to the impending experience.
Our web site designed to help put you at ease by explaining our office
routine.
Otolaryngology
Our Physicians are specialists in
Otolaryngology. An Otolaryngologist is a Doctor of Medicine specially
trained in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the ear, nose
and throat. The field of otolaryngology also includes:
Office Hours
Regular hours are 8:00 A.M. to 5:00
P.M. Monday through Friday. The office is closed on Saturdays, Sundays
and the following holidays: the half day before New Year’s Day, Memorial
Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, the day before
or after Christmas Day, and Christmas Day.
After Hours
Should you need to reach one of
the physicians after hours, dial our office number and the answering service
will direct your call. That number is 538-2424. In the case
of after hours emergency, you should proceed to the emergency room where
the physicians there will contact your doctor.
Appointments
The physicians in this office work
by appointment. However, since emergencies do occur, a delay in the
schedule may result. Every attempt is made to adhere to the appointment
schedule.
Cancellations
If you cannot keep an appointment,
please notify our office at least 24 hours in advance. If we do not
receive any notice, it frequently means that an ill patient is deprived
of an opportunity to visit us.
Telephone Calls
Telephone calls are answered by
receptionists. The office staff has been trained to answer most questions.
If you desire the doctor’s opinion, a message will be taken and your call
will be returned. If you have reason to suspect that medication may
be needed, it is important to have the phone number of your pharmacy available.
In general, it will be a nurse who returns you call after consulting with
the doctor. It would be unfair to delay appointed patient visits
while the doctor answers frequent phone calls. If the doctor needs
to speak to you, he will call you back as soon as possible.
Many diseases have similar symptoms,
therefore most requests for evaluation and treatment will require an office
examination. Medications cannot be prescribed for a problem which
has not been previously evaluated. Please call only during office
hours for prescription refills so that your chart can be reviewed.
The Office Visit
Why all the questions? On
your arrival, the receptionist will ask you to fill out a family medical
record. We use this information for emergencies, patient inquiries,
insurance matters and billing. Having this data readily available
means less waiting time for you during future contacts. This information,
as well as your medical information, is kept confidential.
The Waiting Room
Our Waiting Room has been designed
for your comfort and we will endeavor to make any wait as short as possible.
You might be disturbed to see other patients called in ahead of you although
you arrived ahead of them. There are frequently 3 or 4 doctors in
the office, as well as audiologists and hearing aid consultants.
Each of these professionals maintains their own schedules. Occasionally,
an emergency or seriously ill patient will be seen as soon as they arrive
at the office. This necessitates an interruption in the appointment
schedule. Should this occur, you will be advised of any change in
the status of your appointment. We have found that patients understand
this inconvenience and are reassured to know that if they were in a similar
situation, they too would receive prompt medical attention.
No Smoking Please
Since exposure to tobacco smoke
is determined to everyone’s health, you are asked to refrain from smoking
while in our office.
The Young Patient
Children are excellent patients
and we derive much pleasure from treating them. Parents can be a
great aid in establishing a good patient-doctor relationship by preparing
their children for the forthcoming visit. Children have remarkable
ability to adapt to new situations if they are prepared. The visit
should be treated in a matter-of-fact manner and as part of his or her
health routine.
Every precaution is taken to avoid causing young patients discomfort. Bringing other children along may be convenient for you, but this should be avoided if possible. Having a gallery of other children observe the proceedings may increase the patient’s apprehension and interfere with the examination.
Fees
The fees charged in our office are
comparable to those charged by other Board Certified Otolaryngologists.
Hearing tests and special procedures require an additional charge.
We appreciate your being prepared to pay your bill at the time of each
visit. We do accept Visa and Mastercard. An estimate of any
surgery charges will be given to you upon request. It may not be
possible to quote an exact figure because the extent of any surgery cannot
always be determined preoperatively. A specified period of post-operative
care will be included in the charge for most operations. This includes
routine post-operative treatment directly related to the surgery, but not
unexpected complications or unrelated conditions which might arise and
require additional treatment and care.
Insurance
In an effort to simplify the paperwork
involved with your medical care, our office will submit you insurance form
for you. It is very important that you have your insurance information
with you at the time of your visit, so that we can accurately file this
information for you. If your bill is paid at the time of service,
we will submit your insurance form indicating you have paid. Your
insurance company will then reimburse you directly.
Billing
You will receive a monthly statement
from us if you have an outstanding balance. Payment of this balance
is expected within 28 days following receipt of your statement. You
may choose to pay your bill by telephone using your Visa or Mastercard.
If you have any questions about your bill, please call our Patient Accounts
Department at 538-2434.
Hearing Aids
Many patients with a hearing impairment
cannot benefit from medical or surgical treatment. In order to provide
another option for these individuals, we formed Riverside Hearing Services,
Inc. Since 1983, RHS has been providing and servicing the latest
in hearing aids and assistive listening devices.
The professionals responsible for fitting and servicing these devices are certified audiologists and licensed hearing aid dispensers. Their office is conveniently located in our suite. Yu may call them directly at 538-2422 for an evaluation.
Location
We are located at
974 Bethel Rd.
In Conclusion
We have created our office environment
with you in mind. Our skilled professionals utilizing state of the
art technology and equipment offer you the best in medical care.
Much time has been spent in training each member of our staff to participate
actively in your health care so that you receive a full understanding of
your problem and its treatment. We sincerely hope that your visit
provides you with the care and information that you desire.