FAQ
Below you will find a number of our most frequently asked questions, broken down into the following categories, which you can click on to take you directly to that part of the page:
Medical Records - Billing and Insurance - Appointments
If you have any questions which are not answered below, please contact our office directly.
General
What are your hours?
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We see patients 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00 Monday through Thursday. Our office staff is available to assist you 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday.
How do I get in contact with someone in an emergency?
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If you are having an emergency, please call 911 or present to your emergency room. We are a specialty office and see patients on an appointment basis only.
What is a physiatrist?
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Physiatrists are physicians with a focus on physical medicine and rehabilitation. In the United States, physiatrists are required to complete four years of medical school, one year of an internship and three years of a residency. Rehabilitation physicians are experts in the neurological and musculoskeletal fields including: nerves, muscle and bones. Our office, therefore, diagnoses and treats injuries, disabling conditions and illnesses that affect how you move, at any period throughout your lifetime. Our goals are to reduce pain and restore function without surgery and to help you stay as active as possible at any age.
What kinds of pain and injuries do your doctors usually treat?
- Neck or back pain
- Sciatica or radicular pain
- Sports-related injuries
- Non-surgical joint or muscle pain
- Musculoskeletal overuse injuries
- Numbness or paresthesias
What is an EMG/NCV?
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Electromyography (EMG) & nerve conduction velocity (NCV) are tests to determine how your muscles and nerves work and if they are functioning correctly and if not, why. If the muscle is not working correctly, it must be decided whether there is a problem with the nerve or the muscle. EMG/NCV testing helps the doctor decide this. Unlike X-rays and MRI’s which are static images, an EMG is one of the few tests we have to show the actual function of the nerves and muscles. If this has been recommended for you, please visit our instruction sheet under special procedures found on the patient resources page.
What is an Epidural Steroid Injection?
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An epidural steroid injection is a procedure that can be performed in the office for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. It involves placing local anesthetic and steroid around a irritated nerve or into the epidural space. If this has been recommended for you, please visit our instruction sheet under special procedures found on the patient resources page.
What is Radiofrequency Denervation/Ablation?
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This procedure deactivates minor sensory nerves around the spine. This is done using radiofrequency energy to heat the surrounding tissue and deactivate the nerve fibers that register pain. The doctor will access the affected nerve using fluoroscopy for guidance. Once properly positioned, a special probe then allows for the delivery of radiofrequency energy to the targeted area. The results of this procedure can last from months to years. If this has been recommended for you, please visit our instruction sheet under special procedures found on the patient resources page.
Prescriptions
What do I do if I need a refill on a medication?
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Please contact your pharmacy for all medications, except for narcotic pain medications. The pharmacy will then notify us through an electronic system and we will call you when these are available. Our prescription policy is that it takes 24-48 hours to refill a medication, and we do not refill medications on Fridays or the weekends. Please plan accordingly.
How long will it take to get my prescription?
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Please allow 24-48 hours on prescriptions requests received Monday through Thursday. We do not do refills on Fridays or over the weekend.
Medical Records
How can I be sure of total patient confidentiality?
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We take patient confidentiality very seriously. All of our employees are required to sign a patient confidentiality agreement regarding the care of your personal medical information. We have a form that you sign at your first visit that states how we are allowed to disclose, or give out, your protected health information. Please feel free to call the office if you have any questions.
How can I get my medical records?
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Any medical records we have on file for you can be obtained by calling or stopping by our front desk. A document must be signed before we can release medical records to you or to other providers based on the HIPPA guidelines.
Can I walk in and get copies of my medical records?
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We would prefer that you call ahead simply because it allows us time to get them together and so you don’t have to wait. In most cases, we can have them ready for you the following day. However, if you do walk in and request copies of your records, we will do our best to get them printed for you as quickly as possible.
Billing and Insurance
Who do I call if I have a question about my bill?
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The billing office can be reached at 303-494-7773 x 111.
Can I walk in and pay my bill?
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Yes, you most certainly can. Just come to the front desk and let them know what you need to do. You can also pay your bill over the phone by using your credit card. Just call 303-494-7773 and ask for the billing office.
What health insurances do you accept?
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We accept most commercial and governmental health insurance plans and will bill them directly for you but we may or may not be in network with your specific plan. Please contact your insurance provider for details on your coverage.
Do you bill my insurance?
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We will gladly bill any insurance. However, we may not be considered a "preferred provider" on your particular plan, which means your insurance may not pay the full amount. You can contact your insurance company (the number should be on the back of your card) to inquire about your specific benefits.
Why do you verify insurance coverage at every visit?
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We verify your coverage at every visit because it helps to eliminate billing problems later on. Many times, we may not have seen you in some time, and your insurance company may have changed. We do this with your best interest in mind, because if we did not verify your coverage, you would be responsible for the bill if there were to be a problem with your insurance.
Do I need a referral from another physician?
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This depends on your health insurance plan. Most HMO’s do require a referral, whereas most PPO’s do not. Check with your individual health plan.
Appointments
What are your hours?
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We see patients 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00 Monday through Thursday. Our office staff is available to assist you 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday.
How do I schedule an appointment?
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Please call 303-494-7773 Monday through Friday 8:00 to 5:00
How do I cancel my appointment?
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Please call 303-494-7773 Monday through Friday 8:00 to 5:00. You must notify Spine West no later than 12 noon the business day prior to your appointment to change or cancel your appointment. If notification comes in less time your account will be assessed a $50 cancellation fee. No notification of cancelling or rescheduling your appointment will cause a $50 no-show fee to be added to your account.
LAST MINUTE CANCELLATIONS AND NO-SHOWS PREVENT OTHERS FROM GETTING TIMELY SERVICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.
How long does it take for me to get in to see a provider?
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We make every effort to get our emergent patients in to see a provider as soon as possible. For all routine visits, we are able to offer you the next available office visit. We do have a cancellation list and please let our schedulers know if you would like to be called to possibly come in sooner.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
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Please bring your completed patient forms with you for your visit time. These can be mailed to you or found on our website. Also, please bring a copy of your valid insurance card. In addition, if you have any diagnostic imaging studies, such as x-rays, MRI’s or CT scans, these are helpful for your initial appointment.
Do I need to bring my diagnostic images with me when I come to my first appointment?
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Yes if possible. The doctors like to see the latest images taken, whether it is x-rays, MRI’s or CT scans. We do not have the ability to connect to most imaging facilities software and therefore it is helpful for you to pick up copies and bring them with you to your first appointment.
If I come earlier than my scheduled appointment time, can I get in to see the doctor earlier?
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We cannot guarantee you will get in any earlier simply because we see all scheduled patients first. However, we may occasionally have a cancellation or a no-show, which may allow the provider to work you in earlier than your scheduled time.
If I walk in, can I be seen?
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No. We do not have walk in hours. Please call our office number to schedule an appointment.
How long will I have to wait to see the doctor after checking in?
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We do our absolute best to make sure you get in to see your provider at the time of your scheduled appointment. Occasionally, however, there are circumstances that may arise, that may cause your Doctor to be running behind schedule. We will, however, make every effort to get you in as quickly as possible and to alert you to any changes in schedule as they happen. If you feel you have waited longer than necessary, please feel free to check with the front desk.
How long will my appointment last?
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Please note these are estimated times from time of arrival to the end of your visit.
- Follow up appointments
- Injection procedures
- Reviews of Imaging Studies
- Consultation and New Patient Visits
- EMG/Nerve conduction Studies
- Impairment Ratings
- Radiofrequency Procedures
- Independent and Division Independent Medical Examinations
- 30 Minutes
- 1 Hour
- 1.5 Hours