CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates – Harrison

Welcome to CHI Memorial Family Practice Associates - Harrison. Your health is important to us. You are a partner in your medical care. When you are well-informed, participate in your treatment, and communicate openly with the health care professionals who treat you, you make your care as effective as possible. This office encourages respect for your personal preferences and values each individual.

We have listed some helpful hints to benefit you as well as to help our practice operate as efficiently as possible.

• Updating Information - Please give any name, address, phone number, or insurance changes to the front desk as you sign in to see your doctor.
• Follow up Appointments - Please try to make all follow up appointments before you leave the office. This will guarantee you a time slot that will best fit your schedule.
• Canceling Appointments - If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please contact our office 24 hours prior to visit so that we may offer the appointment to someone who needs to see a physician as soon as possible.
• Questions for the doctor - Please make a list of questions or problems you are having and bring them to the office with you. This will help ensure your health questions are answered during your visit.
• Refills - If you need refills before your next appointment or before the weekend, please call your pharmacy to request a refill. Please do not wait until you are out of medicine. Prescriptions for narcotics will not be filled on weekends.
• Instructions - If you have placed a call to our clinical staff and are waiting for a reply, please have a pen and paper handy to write down any instructions that the clinical staff may give you regarding medication, diet, or any other items concerning your call.
• Lab work, X-rays, or special tests - If you have lab work or testing scheduled, the nurse will call you as soon as the results are received by the office and the doctor has seen them. It may take 2-3 days for our office to receive the results of outpatient testing. If you have not heard from us within a week, call our office. We may have missed you at home.
• Leave a message for the clinical staff - If it is necessary that you call for refills on medication, ask for the clinical staff voice mail, leave name (no nickname), phone number, date of birth, name of the medication, name of the pharmacy, and the pharmacy phone number if you have it. Please check with your pharmacy to see if the prescription has been filled. If the doctor cannot refill your medication, we will try to notify you at the number you leave. If you are ill and are requesting medication, please state your symptoms on the voice mail. Messages are answered continuously throughout the day. The last call will be taken off voicemail at 4:15. p.m. 
• Physician Exams - Our doctors recommend an annual physical:
  • Women: breast exam, pap smear, and mammogram
  • Men: prostate check
  • Everyone: 
    • Labs with your physical may vary from patient to patient. It is best to fast for you physical. If your appointment is in the morning, do not have anything to eat or drink after midnight other than water or black coffee. If your appointment is in the afternoon have a light breakfast and fast for six hours prior to your appointment. 
    • Some insurance's cover physicals. Please check your policy to confirm if your insurance does. This way we can submit the claim properly to your company.
• Appointment Time - Please plan to arrive 15-30 minutes prior to your appointment time. Our goal is to have you in the exam room at your appointment time.

While you receive treatment here, your rights include:

• The right to considerate and respectful care.
  
• The right to be well-informed about your illness, possible treatments, and likely outcome and to discuss this information with your doctor. You have the right to know the names and roles of the staff treating you.
• The right to consent to or refuse a treatment modality, as permitted by law. If you refuse a recommended treatment, you will be informed of alternative and available treatment. 
• The right to privacy. Your right to privacy will be protected as much as possible.
• The right to expect that your patient record information is confidential and not released except in accordance with legal guidelines, and or your expressed stipulation unless warranted for emergency care to you. When releases are done, such as to insurers, it is emphasized that the record is confidential.
• The right to review your record and to have the information explained, except when restricted by law. Office staff must have a minimum of a 24-hour notice so the record may be available.
• The right to know if your physician has relationships with outside parties that may influence your treatment and care. These relationships may be with educational institutions, or other health providers or insurers. 
• The right to know office rules that affect you and your treatment, charges, and payment methods.

Your responsibilities include:

• The responsibility as a patient to provide information about your health, including past illnesses, hospital stays, family and social history which may impact your treatment, and use of medicine.
  
• The responsibility to ask questions if you do not understand information or instructions and to tell your physician if you believe that you can not follow through with your treatment.
• The responsibility to be considerate of the needs of other patients and staff. 
• The responsibility to provide full and accurate information on insurance and for working with the office to arrange payment, if needed.
• The responsibility to recognize the effect of your life-style and daily habits on your personal health.
• In carrying out treatment services for you, this office works to provide efficient and fair care while preserving a respect for your values and dignity.