F.A.Q.s
• How do I make an appointment?
Please call (401) 765-4100 and an appointment will be made during the call. Usually, you can be seen within 3 days if you are a new patient, or the same day if you are an established patient.
• How do I make the most out of my doctor's visit?
First, be specific about your symptoms and don't hold back as we never pass judgments. Second, don't play 20 questions. Tell your doctor your top 3 concerns. Don't wait until the doctor is leaving the exam room to reveal your worries. If you do that, the doctor has to repeat the exam with a different focus, doubling the visit time and making others wait longer.
• Why does the doctor interrupt me when I am talking?
The doctor being on a time constraint, may interrupt your interesting story to 'hone in on a diagnosis'
• Why do I have to wait for the doctor?
It's never our desire to make people wait. Several factors can make you wait. Maybe the patient before you was late or was squeezed in due to the seriousness of the symptoms. Maybe someone mentioned "chest pain" during a routine physical. This situation needs time, focus and attention, leading to holdup. Often, we cannot tell you what happened because of patient confidentiality.
• How can I contact the office?
You may call our main telephone number to reach our office 24 hours a day. We generally return all non-urgent calls within 24 hours. If your call is urgent, let our office staff know, and your call will be returned accordingly. In addition, you may set up a patient portal account. Through the patient portal, you may contact the provider’s office with non-urgent medical questions. We will return your message within 1 business day.
• What do I do if I need to cancel or change an appointment?
You may contact our office during regular business hours if you need to cancel or change an appointment. We generally require 24 hours advance notice.
• What do I do if I am sick?
Please contact our office if you are not feeling well prior to visiting any urgent care facilities. We allow room in our schedules for same day/sick appointments. If you believe you may need an antibiotic, an evaluation by your health care provider will be necessary to obtain a prescription.
• What do I do if I need my medications refilled?
The fastest way to obtain a prescription refill is to call your local pharmacy. The pharmacy will then submit a request to refill the prescription electronically. You can also call our office for a refill.
• Do you offer any vaccinations? If so, which vaccines do you offer?
Yes, our office does provide vaccinations to our patients who live in Rhode Island or are covered by a Rhode Island based health insurance plan. Our practice typically offers annual influenza, pneumonia, TDAP, and both Hepatitis A and B. Please contact the office for current availability.
• I need to see a specialist, how do I get a referral?
When you believe you may need to be referred to a new specialist, consult with your primary care provider. We require an appointment in order to assess the situation and provide you with the appropriate referral. For ongoing treatments, follow up referrals should be requested at least one week prior to your scheduled specialist visit.
• I had testing (labs, radiology, specialty) done, how do I get my results?
It is recommended to get routine tests done approximately one-two weeks before your scheduled visit. Your health care provider can then discuss the results with you during your appointment. For urgent lab tests, follow the directions of your physician.
• Which health insurances do you accept?
We accept most insurances including Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Tufts, Cigna, Aetna and Tricare.
