Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring with me to my appointment?
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We ask that you please bring the following to your first appointment with you: Your photo ID, your insurance card, a list of all medications including supplements or over the counter medications, blood pressure and blood sugar readings and a list of medications preferred by your insurance carrier.
What insurances do you accept?
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We accept most insurance plans. Please call our office to find out if your insurance plan is accepted.
Who will take care of me if I need to be admitted into the hospital?
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We have chosen to partner with the Roper St. Francis Hospitalist service. Hospitalists are physicians who are board certified in Internal or Family Medicine and specialize in caring for patients in the hospital. Because they work exclusively in the hospital setting, the hospitalists are never far away should an emergency arise. Our office works closely with the hospitalist service to provide them with all of your pertinent medical information and in turn, the practice will receive a full summary of the care provided to you while you were hospitalized.
What do the designations PA, MD and DO mean?
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A PA or Physician Assistant, is a healthcare professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PA's conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive healthcare, assist in surgery and in virtually all states can write prescriptions. With the physician-PA relationship, a physician assistant exercises autonomy in medical decision making and provides a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's role may also include education, research and administrative services.
An MD or Doctor of Medicine, is one of the physician designations (like DO) that identifies a physician who has completed medical school and appropriate advanced training. MD's usually complete four years of medical school and additional years of residency training and then may become certified as specialists in such fields as family practice, emergency medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics, etc.
A DO or Doctor of Osteopathy, is fully trained in all aspects of medicine, just like an MD. DO's receive additional training in structural medicine and are certified as well to do manipulations. They take a holistic approach to medicine, looking at the whole patient to determine the best treatment plan. DO's like MD's obtain certification in family practice, orthopedics, surgery, obstetrics, neurosurgery and so forth.