Many questions about my practice are answered here. Please review these pages before your first visit. Please contact me with any questions.  

I will provide walk-in visits, same day appointments, and appointments scheduled in advance. You will have access to me through cell phone almost all the time.

If for some reason I am unavailable, my web site and my phone message will direct you to another doctor. A doctor will always be available.

For non-urgent matters you may contact me by email or voice mail.

If you are admitted to the hospital you will be cared for by me, by a specialist, or by a Hospitalist (a doctor who specializes in caring for patients who are in the hospital).

Home visits may be available to patients who can not come my office.

I care for my patients who are admitted to local nursing homes.

I will provide the vaccinations that are supplied by the health department and flu shots.

Blood work, EKGs, X-rays, ultrasounds, CAT scans, MRIs and most other tests will be scheduled at the hospital in Bennington. I will not be drawing blood at the office.

If you have what you feel is a medical emergency or urgent problem that needs to be cared for in the Emergency Room, then you should go to the Emergency Room. Please call 911 if needed. We can take care of referrals later.

If you have an urgent concern that can't wait until the office is open again, then please contact me. You may call the office at (888) 421-6801. The phone message will give you instructions for reaching me. You will also find emergency contact information on my web site on the Contact Me,My Hours page.

If you do not hear back from me within 30 minutes, please try again. You may also try my home phone (802) 753-7288 or my husband's cell phone (802) 733-8013.

Please remember, you are welcome to email me or leave messages after hours, but I may not get them until the office opens again.

The fastest way for you to schedule an appointment will be through my web site on the Scheduling page. If you are unable to find an appointment that works for you, please call or email me. If your need is urgent, then please call my cell phone. If you are unable to schedule through the Internet, then you may call and leave me a message and I will set an appointment up for you. You do not need to notify me before coming to walk-in-time.

Medication refills are best done during an appointment. Please bring all your pill bottles to appointments, including over-the-counter medicines. Before you leave your visit, we need to make sure you have enough of all of your medicines to last at least until your next visit. The pharmacy will hold prescription refills until you need them. If you are running out of a medicine, it should mean that you are due for a visit and/or blood work.

If you do run out of a medicine before your next visit, I prefer that you email me a request for a refill. By email I can easily let you know if you need a visit or a test along with the refill. You also can leave me a voice message.  When requesting a refill, please be sure to tell me the name of the medicine, the dose, how you take it, and your pharmacy. Please give me at least 2 business days to fill your prescription.

Please do not sign up for automatic refills at your pharmacy.  This system is unreliable and wastes my time tracking down unneeded prescriptions.

A referral to a specialist is also best done at the time of your visit. If a referral is needed between appointments, then I prefer that you send me an email. If you are already seeing the specialist and he or she has been helpful to you, I will probably be able to do the referral without a visit. If you are requesting a referral for a new problem, I may ask you to come in for a visit.

I would like to communicate with you by email. I will check my email during the day and before the end of each day the office is open. On weekends and holidays, I may not receive your email as promptly. If you have a concern that needs to be addressed urgently, it is best to call the office if it is during office hours or to call my cell phone.  Email is a great way to give me follow-up after a visit or to ask a question related to a visit. I would especially like you to use email to request prescription refills and referrals. If you have a new concern or a complicated question, we should get together for a visit.

Privacy is a big concern for email communications. I  do not regulate how patients or health care providers choose to send information to me, however, email from me is sent with the security of SSL encryption. I can not protect your information once it is on your computer. If you are receiving email on a friend's or your family's computer then they may gain access to your private health information. If you use your email at work, your boss may actually own your emails. Hackers have also been able to access individuals' private email. 

I can provide you with secure email access through an on line patient portal that you access from my web site. If you are interested, I will set up an account for you and send you a password. Through the portal you will be able to send and receive email as well as look at your test results.

You are welcome to use your personal account and most people choose to do so; however, I can not be responsible for any loss of privacy that may happen. Please think about who may be able to read your email.

Please note that an email will be sent to you after you schedule an appointment on-line.  This email will contain no medical information. Please let me know if you do not want this to happen.

If you do not have Internet access at home you have several options: You can consider using a friend or a family member's computer. You can use the library's computer. In the future, I hope to have a computer in my waiting room for you to use anytime my office is open. If you are looking for an inexpensive computer, ask around. Many businesses get rid of computers as they up-grade. The ERC Community Warehouse in Hoosick Falls often has very affordable computers. They can be reached at (518) 686-7540.

If you really can't or truly don't want to use the Internet, then you may reach me for all needs by mail or phone.

Please cancel your appointment if you are not going to come in. Even if you let me know a short while before your visit, the time can often be used. Your appointment is for you. If you do not cancel, then the time can not be given to some one else. If you repeatedly miss appointments, then I may ask you to agree to limit your visits to walk-in time or find another doctor.

I will provide a copy of your medical record on CD to any one that you request after you sign a release. Paper copies of records will be provided with a charge per page.

Please bring any forms you need completed to your visit. Any form submitted outside of your visit time may take three business days to complete. I will charge $10 for completion of a form outside of a visit if it requires more than a signature or if you need it in less than three business days.

I ask that you come to see me for consideration of antibiotic treatment of a new illness like sinusitis, a urinary tract infection, dental abscess, or tick bite.

Narcotic medications are difficult to regulate and can be addictive. I avoid their use whenever possible. Patients who require narcotics for more than a month will be asked to sign a narcotic contract with me. A sample of this contract will be available under the Forms section of my website.

I do not receive visits, gifts, or samples from pharmaceutical representatives.

Children over the age of thirteen have the right to privacy in their health care. Please expect your teen to spend part of their visits without their parent (or guardian). I encourage teens to share their concerns with their parents. I do not disclose information without a teen's permission unless he or she is in danger.

Federal law regulates how medical information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review the Notice of Privacy Practice for Protected Health Information for further information.

It is your responsibility to understand your insurance coverage. Please contact your insurance company for questions about your coverage and how fees are paid. Please be sure that I am listed as your primary care physician with your insurer and please bring your insurance card with you to each visit.

I will accept the following insurances from my established patients: MVP, Cigna, CDPHP, Catamount Health, VHAP, Dr. Dinosaur, Medicaid, and Medicare.  Also the following BlueCross and Blueshield plans: BCBSVT,  BlueCard  (PPO), CBA Blue, New England Health Plan and New England Health Plan HMO and The Vermont Health Plan (TVHP). 

If you have any other insurance, or no insurance, your payment is due at the time of your visit.  I can give you a completed HICFA form that you can submit to request payment from your insurer. You will receive a 25% discount on full payments made at the time of service for any charges that will not be submitted to an insurance.

Please be aware that some services may not be covered by your insurance. You are responsible for your bill if your insurance does not cover your care, or if you lose your insurance.

Co pays are due at the time of your visit. If I need to bill you for a copay, there will be a $15 billing fee added.

You may pay your bill with cash or a check.  If your account is over 45 days late in being paid there will be a $15 late fee. If your account is over 90 days late in being paid, you will be sent a letter stating that you have 15 days to pay in full.
 
Please call me if you are having trouble, so we can set up a payment plan or make other arrangements.  If you have not paid in those 15 days and have not contacted me, I may be unable to continue as your doctor. I will remain available to you for emergencies for 30 more days so that you can make other arrangements.

Fees:
There will be a $15 fee for any bounced checks.
There will be a $15 fee for any co pays not paid at the time of the visit.
There will be a $15 fee for any bill not paid after 45 days without contacting me.