Frequently Asked Questions

Is smoking allowed on the premises?
We are a non-smoking office and with as many health problems that are related to cigarette smoke, we ask that you refrain from smoking while visiting our locations.

Who can/should come with me to my appointment?
Due to limited space in our waiting room, we request that patients come alone or with one family member if possible. Also, since we see many patients with acute and chronic illnesses it is best to leave children at home when possible.

Who are my medical records available to?
The doctor-patient relationship is confidential and privileged. For this reason information from your medical records will not be released to anyone without your written consent. Once the medical records release form is complete it can be faxed into our medical records department at 770-536-3203. Please allow 48 hours for your medical records to be available for pick-up or delivery.

Do you accept Medicare?
We accept all Medicare patients with or without a referral from another physician.

Where can I find out more about colon cancer and a colonoscopy?
Please download ASGE's 20 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Colon Cancer Answered document to learn more about colon cancer facts, prevention, and treatment.

Who do I call if I have a question about my condition, treatment, or related item?
Non-urgent calls can best be handled during office hours with your chart in front of us. Many questions can be answered by our secretary or nurse. If they are unable to answer your questions, a number will be taken and one of our physicians will call you as soon as possible, or a medical staff member will speak with one of our doctors about your problem and return your call. In consideration of the importance of the doctor-patient relationship our doctors will not interrupt their involvement with patients in the office for telephone calls except in unusual circumstances.

Please limit calls to office hours when possible. If it is necessary to contact one of our physicians after office hours you may call
770-219-9000.

Can I call the office for a prescription refill?
Yes, but authorization for prescription refills will be given only during regular office hours. When calling for medication refills please have the phone number of your pharmacy available. It is our policy to discuss your illness only with you, and calls from relatives, friends, and employers are discouraged and not attended. Please keep in mind if you are a current patient prescription refills can be requested through your patient portal, or your pharmacy directly. In the event additional information is needed the pharmacist will contact our office on your behalf.

Where will laboratory tests or x-rays be performed?
Some laboratory tests can be performed in our office. Other tests will be obtained in our office and sent to a reference laboratory. By referring some laboratory work to reference labs we can assure quality at the lowest possible cost. For X-rays, you will be referred to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC), The Imaging Center, or Open MRI of Gainesville. Charges for these procedures will be handled by these facilities.

When are appointments available?
Our office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You may call during these hours for an appointment or to obtain information. If it is afterhours and you wish to make an appointment with our practice, please complete our appointment request form online. Once this form is submitted, our scheduling department will contact you by the end of the following business day to confirm an appointment date and time. Patients are seen by appointment only. This allows us to allocate adequate time for the evaluation of each patient. In addition, the appointment system is intended to lessen your waiting time. As you are aware, emergencies do arise during office hours. We will do everything possible to minimize your inconvenience when such emergencies arise.

When making an appointment, please furnish our appointment schedulers with the reason for the appointment. The appointment scheduler may ask questions which seem unnecessary, but the information is necessary in order to provide you with the very best care with the least inconvenience to you. In order to minimize waiting time for you and other patients we ask that you be on time for your appointment. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please do so at the earliest possible time. We request at least 24 hour notice for cancellations so that we may contact other patients who may be awaiting appointments. We encourage patients to make themselves aware of their insurance benefits prior to being seen in the office.

How long should my appointment take?
In most cases your first encounter with our office will include a complete history, physical examination and blood tests, if appropriate. This takes approximately one hour. Follow-up visits will be scheduled at appropriate intervals. These visits usually require anywhere from 15-30 minutes, depending upon the complexity of your problem.