MIDTOWN PRIMARY CARE FAQS

Appointments

Established patients may send in a request via our Online Office. New patients should call the office and ask for an appointment. Please describe your symptoms/reason for visit to the assistant when they ask so that the appropiate amount of time can be allocated for your visit.  If you are hesitant because your might be overheard, you should wait and call for your appointment when you have a little more privacy.

Reaching Us After-Hours

If you are ill and need medical advice, call and leave a message on our voicemail.  Dr. Coghill's voicemail is checked regularly when the office is not open.  Your call will be returned so that  Dr. Coghill can determine the best action to be taken.

You may also request a Virtual Office Visit (webVisit) for minor health concerns that do not require an office visit.

For all other issues, wait and call during office hours.

If you think that you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest hospital emergency room.

<<top>>

Travel Vaccinations

This depends on where you are going. You should schedule a Pre-Travel Health Consultation. During this visit, Dr. Coghill will review your vaccination status (i.e., what vaccines you have had)  and recommend vaccinations that you should have for your trip.  She will also review general health precautions specific to the country you are visiting.  Pre-Travel Health Consultations carry a fee of $95.  To learn more about our Pre-Travel Health Consultations and travel vaccinations, see our Travvel Vaccinations FAQS or our Travel Vaccinations page.

Yes she does. When you receive a yellow fever vaccination, you will also receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (or we can update your current one). You must receive a yellow fever booster every ten (10) years to remain immune. Your Certificate is only valid if you have had a yellow fever vaccination within the last 10 years. Learn more about yellow fever by visiting our yellow fever page.

Insurance

It is your responsibility to understand your insurance plan's policies concerning referrals and covered benefits.  If you receive services that are not covered, you assume financial responsibility for the service.  Similarly, if you  see a specialist without a referral, you assume responsibility for that service.

Health insurance does not your Pre-Travel Health Consultation and will not cover most vaccinations. We will provide you with information so that you may file a claim to obtain partial reimbursement.  This is considered part of you "vacation expense"  or that "your employer should pay for it" if you are traveling for work.

Referrals

To obtain a referral you must initially see Dr. Coghill for the condition.  If she has not seen you for the condition, we cannot give you a referral, even if you have a "PPO" plan.  

If you wish to be referred to a specialist of your own choosing, you must make that clear during your visit and you must provide us with the following information about the doctor:

• First the last name.
• Insurance ID number and NPI number.
• Telephone and Fax number.
• Medical specialty (e.g., gastroenterology, dermatology).

You should wait in the office for the referral to be processed and given to you.

If you need an update to a previous referral, you should contact us at least 2 business days before your appointment with the specialist.  Simply use the Online Office and send a "Request for Referral" message and include the name of the doctor in the message.  The processed referral will be sent to you.

We do NOT fax the referral to the specialists office since the specialist's staff usually  "misplaces" the referral and asks us to fax it a second or even a third time.  We will send you the referral through the Online Office so that you can take it with you to your appointment.

If you have Oxford, Aetna, or HIP insurance, the referrals are electronically processed on the insurer's website. The specialist's staff should print out the referral from the insurance website.  They can also call member services and use the company's Interactive Voice Response system to retreive referral information.

General Physical/Annual Exam

The general physical is a once-a-year visit to your physician for a general health check. It is often called a "preventive visit" since its purpose is not to treat illnesses, but rather to identify your risks of illness and to advise you on measures to take to prevent illnesses. Only the simplest of issues are actually addressed during one of these exams (e.g., a referral to a dermatologist or a prescription renewal). Some insurance plans require patients to pay a second co-pay when the doctor addresses an issue during the preventive visit, even for the simplest of issues. Dr. Coghill will address specific health problems during your follow-up visit which should be scheduled for  two (2) weeks after your physical.

The Annual Exam typically includes the following:

• General physical exam.
• EKG
• Review of  your family health history.
• Review of your personal health history.
• Review of your need for health screening tests (e.g., mammogram, colonoscopy).
• Blood and urine tests for general health.

If you are scheduling a general physical and have some other problems that you want to discuss (e.g., a persistant cough, cold symptoms, frequent headaches) you should schedule a separate appointment for the other specific problem.

A couple of insurance companies (i.e., Oxford, United HealthCare) have begun to refuse coverage of viral hepatitis screening.  Be sure to remind us if your insurance carrier is Oxford or United HealthCare so that we will not request this blood test.  To learn more about viral hepatitis, click here.

The full list is too long and complicated to explain.  Generally speaking, the tests are:

• General tests of liver and kidney function.
• Check for anemia.
• Test of thyroid function.
• Screening for symptoms of diabetes.
• Check of cholesterol levels.
• Screening for HIV infection.

In the past, we routinely screened for STDs. Unfortunately for patients, health insurance companies have begun to claim that screening for STDs is not appropriate for a preventive exam. Some policies cover them, and some don't. Different policies by the same insurance company may cover different tests for the  preventive exam. This has forced us to stop screening for STD infection on a routine basis (except for HIV).

If you wish STD screening, you should specifically request it.  Screening for sexually transmitted diseases including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, syphilis, and viral hepatitis. Please be aware that your insurance company may not cover the tests.

In general, we advise patients to ask their insurance carrier or a list of tests that are covered in their preventive exam, and to bring that to us.

Again, this is an abbreviated and simplified list.  Additional tests may be added based on your medical history.

While most insurance plans do cover the Preventive Exam, some do not.  It is important that you verify your insurance coverage prior to your visit.  Many Emblem Health/GHI plans do not cover preventive exams for adults beween the ages of 18 and  45.

Obtaining Test Results

Send a "Request for Lab Results" through our Online Office.  A copy of your lab results will be sent to you along with a brief explanation. You may also schedule a 2-week follow-up appointment for a lab review.

To sign up for our Online Office, simply go to RelayHealth.com and register.

Disclaimer: All material provided on this website is for informative purposes only.  If you need specific medical advice, please contact the office for an appointment.