Your Initial Visit:
The first visit is designed to obtain
a comprehensive understanding of your condition and includes
a detailed medical history, physical examination, and when
necessary, laboratory tests. If skin testing and or pulmonary
functions are necessary, the initial appointment may last
one and a half to two hours. We suggest you eat a good
meal before you come.
In some cases, when all of the appropriate
information has been obtained, a summary conference will
be needed. We will discuss with you in detail your medical
problem and outline a course of treatment. You are encouraged
to ask questions. For a child’s summary conference,
it is best if both parents can be present so that all involved
can understand what is necessary for the treatment program
to work. If at any time you feel that more discussion and
education is needed than is available during a routine
follow-up examination, you may ask for a conference visit.
We do, of course, strive to continually provide comprehensive
information and to answer questions during routine visits.
However, some problems understandably take more time to
address fully.
Appointments:
Our office is open for appointments
Monday through Friday. Appointments may be made by calling
(906) 225-4725 or 1-800-628-3333, extension 4725. We make
every effort to schedule your appointment in a timely
manner and at a convenient time. To avoid delays, we ask
that you arrive a few minutes before your appointment.
While we try to keep appointments on time, occasional unavoidable
delays can occur. We respect your time and regret any delays.
For
routine care, schedule your appointment several days in
advance. To cancel an appointment let us know at least
24 hours in advance so we can give that time to another
patient. On Fridays, Dr. Joseph is usually visiting a satellite
clinic in the U.P. but the Marquette office will be open
to answer any of your questions.
Allergy shots are given
from Monday through Thursday from 9:00 A.M. until 4:30
P.M.
Telephone Policy:
During regular office hours (8:30
A.M. – 5:00 P.M., Mon-Fri) our staff answers the
calls. If you have an emergency, please notify us so that
the call can be put directly through to the nurse or the
physician. Requests for routine medication refills and
appointments are to be made during regular office hours. Monday
mornings are our busiest time. If you call and get a busy
signal, and it isn’t an emergency, try again that
afternoon. You’re more likely to reach us then.
After
hours calls are answered by calling (906) 228-9440 and
relayed to Dr. Joseph, who will return the call. We request
that calls for normal needs and routine questions be made
during regular office hours.
Prescriptions and Refills:
Most prescriptions can be renewed by phone. At times
you will be asked to come in for an exam.
Insurance & Billing:
The cost of an
allergy evaluation and treatment will vary depending on
the specific problem. Because of the time and tests generally
needed for a proper evaluation, the initial cost of an
allergy evaluation is not inexpensive. Although it is impossible
to know the exact charge in advance, we can give you a
general idea of the cost before you are seen.
Payment is
due at each visit. We accept cash, checks, Visa and MasterCard.
We participate with Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, Preferred
One, Wausau and Medicare. We will bill some major
carriers directly. We request payment of your deductibles
and co-payment at the time of service. We also will assist
in filing other insurance claims for your reimbursement.
If full payment is not feasible at the time of the visit
we can make payment arrangements. We encourage all patients
to call the front office to discuss concerns regarding
fees, billing or payment. We want to work with you to ensure
that financial concerns do not impede proper care, but
we expect timely payment so that we can meet our expenses
for providing quality medical care.
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Disclaimer: The material provided on this website is for information purposes only. If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.
