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There can be many alternatives to surgery. Depending on
your needs, our doctors will provide you with options: from controlling inflammation,
to therapy, to pain relief, to surgery, to improved exercise and diet.
Some of these options may result in significant
improvements for particular patients. When considering options, some
approaches may provide immediate relief, others may take months before you
notice improvements. Talk to your physician about YOUR options.
We have instructed our assistants to handle all incoming
phone calls. This allows the physician to attend to his office patients
with a minimum of interruptions. Should your call concern an emergency,
the assistant will contact the physician for instructions. The physician
will return non-emergency calls as the schedule permits, but certainly by
the end of the work day.
When you arrive at Coastal Orthopedics, you will check
in with one of our assistants at the front desk. At this time, we will ask
to see your insurance card to be sure we handle your billing correctly. We
will also collect any co-payment or deductible required by your insurer at
this time.
During your office visit, the doctor will ask you about
your medical history and your current injury. He will examine you and may
decide to take X-rays to help him diagnose your condition. For your
convenience, X-rays facilities and EMG testing are located on site. After
your condition is diagnosed, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan.
Depending on your injury, treatment may include medications, surgery*,
physical therapy, and devices such as splints or casts to protect injured
bones and soft tissue. Some injuries require the use of special orthotic
devices. Treatment goals for orthopedic injuries include reducing pain,
swelling and muscle spasms, as well as restoring function to the affected
part of the body.
After your visit, you will check out with one of our
assistants at the front desk. The assistant will also schedule a follow-up
visit and assist you in accessing other services, if necessary.
* Surgical procedures are performed by our physicians in
state-of-the-art operating suites located at Beverly Hospital, the Beverly
Hospital Hunt Center or Addison Gilbert Hospital.
Please calculate in advance when you may need a refill
on medications prescribed by us. Please call our office Monday to Friday
from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Please have the prescription number on the label
and pharmacy telephone numbers available when you call. NOTE:
Prescriptions will NOT be written or refilled on evenings or weekends.
Physicians of Coastal Orthopedic Associates share your
concern about the increasing cost of providing quality medical care. We
believe our fees are reasonable and competitive and would be happy to
discuss them with you. We have provider contracts with several major HMOs,
Medicare and Medicaid. We ask you to provide us with your insurance card
verification and request that you obtain all necessary Primary Care
Physician Referrals to our office PRIOR to your visit.
Please be prepared to pay all Co-Payments and
Co-Insurance / deductibles at the time your service is provided. We accept
cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express for your
convenience.
Office and surgery charges are the responsibility of
each patient within the limits of your specific insurance coverage.
Although we will file claims on your behalf, we cannot collect on
disputed claim and ask for you to be involved in resolution. If you
anticipate financial difficulty in payment of your account, we will be
happy to make installment arrangements for payments. This office uses an
outside Collection Agency for delinquent accounts greater then 90 days old
with no attempt at partial payments.
All medical records are the property of this office. We
will not release any information to another physician without your express
authorization. A signed Authorization to Release Medical Records form will
be kept on file; we will send information to another physician rendering
your care at no charge. X-ray films are a permanent part of your medical
record. Copies are available with your authorization and with advance
notice.
Orthopedic surgery corrects problems
that arise in the skeleton and its attachments, joints, ligaments and
tendons. It may also deal with some problems of the nervous system, such
as those that arise from injury of the spine. These problems can occur at
birth, through injury, or as the result of aging. They may be acute, as in
injury, or chronic, as in many aging-related problems. Orthopedic
comes from two Greek words, ortho, meaning straight and pais,
meaning child. Originally orthopedic surgeons dealt with bone
abnormalities in children, using braces to straighten the child's bones.
(source: chclibrary.org). Some people still spell the word orthopaedics
(particularly the British).
