New Patient Information

How to schedule

The quickest way to schedule is to call our office. On that call, our team asks about your symptoms and goals so we can match you with the right specialist, whether that is a joint replacement surgeon, a sports medicine physician, a hand surgeon or our spine and pain physician. We also check your insurance eligibility and benefits on the same call, so you know before your visit whether your plan is accepted.

If you prefer, you can send a request through our online appointment form and a member of our team will call you back to finish scheduling.

Referrals

Many plans let you see an orthopedic specialist without a referral. If you have an HMO or other managed-care plan that requires one, the referral from your primary care physician must be in our office before your visit. If a required referral has not arrived by the time of your appointment, the visit will have to be rescheduled. Please ask your primary care physician's office to send it well ahead of time, and call us if you are not sure whether your plan needs one.

What to bring

Bringing the right items helps check-in go quickly and gives your physician a complete picture.

• Your insurance card and a photo ID.
• Any referral your plan requires, if it has not already been sent to us.
• A list of your current medications, including doses, and any allergies.
• Recent X-rays, MRI reports or other imaging and records related to the problem, if you had them done elsewhere.
• A short list of your questions, and notes on when your symptoms started and what makes them better or worse.
• Any completed forms from our Patient Forms page, and a way to pay your co-pay, co-insurance or deductible.

Arriving for your first visit

Plan to arrive a little early so there is time to check in, confirm your insurance and finish any paperwork. Our team can tell you when to arrive when you schedule. Our physicians spend unhurried time with each patient, so the office can occasionally run behind. It may help to bring something to read. When it is your turn, you will get the time you need.

What happens at your first visit

• History: your physician asks about your symptoms, past injuries, treatments you have tried, your health and your goals.
• Examination: a hands-on exam of the area that hurts, and often of the joints above and below it.
• Imaging if needed: X-rays can be taken in our office during the same visit. If you need an MRI or diagnostic ultrasound, those are also available on site.
• A plan: your physician explains what is going on and your options, starting with non-surgical care when it is appropriate. Some treatments, such as certain injections, can be done in our office.

You should leave knowing what the likely cause is, what the next step is and how to reach us with questions.

After your visit

If your plan includes physical therapy or hand therapy, you can usually schedule it before you leave, because our therapy team works in the same office and shares your chart with your physician. Ask our front desk for an invitation to the patient portal so you have a secure way to stay connected with our office between visits. If you need a follow-up visit, imaging or a procedure, our team will help you schedule it.

Changing or canceling an appointment

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please call our office as early as you can so we can offer the time to another patient. Our team can explain the office's current policy on cancellations and missed appointments.

Frequently Asked Questions