When
you’re sick or in pain or need to see the doc, time is of the essence!
Now you may not be able to control the pace of the workers at the
doctor’s office, but there is plenty of ways to prepare yourself to
ensure that you’ll get what you need as soon as possible (continue
reading for info specifically regarding Pain Consultants of Washington).
Prepare Yourself!You shouldn’t think of touching that phone without being properly equipped!
- Pen and paper.
Why?
Perhaps over the phone you’ll be told about a drug, procedure or
another doctor’s office worth researching. You just never know when it
will become essential and its a great relief to have it before your call
rather than rummaging around in panic looking for a pen that actually
works and then trying to find something to write on–save yourself the
stress.
- Calendar/Schedule/Planner/etc.Especially
when calling to make an appointment, you should get whatever mechanism
you use to plan dates and appointments–whether it be your iPhone, Hello
Kitty calendar, or your jumbo OfficeMax desk calendar. If you’re using
an electronic calendar, make sure to set an alarm/reminder for at least a
day before your appointment.
- Know Your Stuff.If
you’re calling a new doctor’s office, there will be a few things that
you will probably be asked. Make sure you know the name of the provider
(doctor, nurse practitioner, etc.) that referred you to the doctor’s
office your calling, your reason for being seen, and your insurance
type. It couldn’t hurt to have these three things already written down
on that piece of paper in front of you before calling
Every
doctor’s office varies to some degree in what they require for things
like scheduling, first appointments, payment methods, and the like.
There are a few important things to know about
- When
you call to schedule an appointment, you should call 1-(XXX)-899-XXXX
option 2 to reach a scheduler. You will then be asked if you are a new
patient or a returning patient. If you are a new patient, we will ask
you for the name of the provider that referred you, your reason for
being seen, and for your insurance type. We’re dedicated to getting your
pain taken care of as soon as physically possible! Our patients are our
priority. We believe that people matter and that the elimination of
pain makes a difference–we don’t take our job lightly!
- We
are an interventional pain management clinic–what that means is we
don’t believe in a ‘one-size-fits-all’ kind of treatment. Every person’s
pain is unique and may require a different kind of treatment. That is
why, with the help of our experienced team of providers, we offer an
array of different treatments to help eliminate your pain. We will work
together with you to discover the root of your pain and formulate a pain
to eliminate it the best we can.
- That
being said, your initial consult will last 1-2 hours. The majority of
that time will be with one of the nurse practitioners who will
thoroughly analyze and investigate the root cause of your pain.
- Paperwork
will need to be completed prior to the appointment. This paperwork can
be downloaded or can be mailed to you. Please bring in completed.
- Along with your paperwork, make sure to bring any imaging you have (MRI’s, etc.), insurance card(s), and your photo ID.
FIRST APPOINTMENT
Where are you located/how do I get to your office?
We are located at 12345 444st Way NE SXXXXX, WA, just north of General Hospital in suite D.
What do I need for my first appointment?
You
will need to complete and bring with you the paperwork you received
from Pain Consultants of Washington (either via mail or through download
at the bottom of this page as
well as your driver’s license, insurance card and any pertinent films.
The staff at the Pain Consultants of Washington will have already
obtained your previous physicians notes.
What can I expect at my first appointment?
Your
first appointment at the Pain Consultants of Washington is a
consultation. You will see one of our experienced and highly-trained
advanced registered nurse practitioners for the majority of the
appointment. They will review your history, perform an exam, review
your films and will then consult with Dr. Nelson about what steps are
appropriate for you to take. Together with the nurse practitioner you
will then decide what next steps to take.
How long will my first appointment take?
The
length of your first appointment will depend upon the complexity of
your case. Typically patients spend anywhere from one to two hours at
their first appointment. We advise all of our new patients to allot two
hours for their initial appointment.
Can I have an injection on the same day as my consult?
A
patient’s first appointment is meant solely as a consult and does not
typically involve an injection. However, should the circumstances call
for it and there is room on the schedule this is a possibility.
Will you prescribe pain medications for me?
We
are primarily an interventional pain clinic and, while we do sometimes
utilize medications in conjunction with injections as a way of
controlling pain, we do not typically prescribe medication as a sole
means of treatment. However, we look at everyone’s case individually.
We can address your questions at the time of your first visit.
Why do I see a nurse practitioner?
Nurse
practitioners are nurses with clinical expertise and carry a master’s
degree in nursing. At our clinic, all providers work as a team and
under the direction of Dr. Nelson. Our goal is to provide you with
excellent care in a timely fashion.
CHECKING IN
Why am I asked to fill out paperwork at every visit?
The
providers at the Pain Consultants of Washington ask that you make them
aware, via questionnaires, how you’re feeling at every visit so that
they can better assess your progress and treatment. For injections, you
will also be asked to read and sign a consent form and agreement that
you will not operate a motor vehicle (if you are receiving conscious
sedation). Filling out this paperwork is an important part of your
visit with our providers.
Will there be a significant wait time?
The
Pain Consultants of Washington is constantly at work to improve our
systems to better serve you, our patient. However, at times delays are
unavoidable. The staff at the Pain Consultants of Washington will do
our absolute best to keep our patients informed of any delay they can
expect in the start of their appointment time.
I am having a SYMPATHETIC NERVE BLOCK IN
2 DAYS, 16 HOURS AND ABOUT 4 MINUTES; BUT WHO'S COUNTING?
INJECTIONS/PROCEDURES
What are the effects of conscious sedation?
The
effects of IV sedation can be felt for up to 24 hours and include:
loss of memory, drowsiness, reduced motor control and impaired
judgment.
Do I have to bring a driver with me to my appointment?
For patients planning on getting conscious sedation, it is very important
that you bring a driver with you to your appointment. Receiving
conscious sedation will leave a patient unable and illegal to operate a
motor vehicle. While you may have your driver pick you up after your
appointment, we ask that they also check in with you to sign our driver
verification form
Can I eat or drink anything before an injection?
For
patients planning on having conscious sedation, you MAY NOT eat or
drink anything within four hours of your scheduled appointment. This is
required to lessen the possibility of aspiration during your procedure.
What should I do with my post-procedure diary?
Some
injections are diagnostic in nature. This means that Dr. Nelson is
using the injection to determine exactly what nerves are causing your
pain. The post-procedure diary is designed to help patients monitor
the effectiveness of the injection which will tell Dr. Nelson if he’s
located the correct nerves.
How much will my out-of-pocket be for this injection and how much do you charge for an injection?
Variations
in insurance contracts make the answer different for every procedure
and patient. Patients may contact our billing office at 425.899.6030,
option 4 where they can receive CPT codes for their upcoming
procedures. Patients will then need to contact their insurance
companies to learn what their out-of-pocket expenses will be.
Didn't find the answer to your question? Many important questions may be answered on our blog.
HMMMM, THIS WAS ON YOUR BLOG!!!!! www.painconsultantswa.com/blog/
