Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I make an appointment?
A: Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment in Flint, call (810) 733-1200; in Lapeer, call (810) 667-6110; or in Fenton, call (810) 593-0023. We will always attempt to make appointments as convenient as possible for patients.
Q: How will I know how much treatment is going to cost?
A: When requested, we will provide an estimate of fees for any surgical procedure. Estimates typically include the usual follow-up care, but not X-rays, casts or bandages. Fees for your initial office visit or for new problems are often higher than fees for follow-up visits.
Q: Can I pay with insurance?
A: We will be happy to submit the necessary forms to your insurance carrier. As you probably know, most insurance contracts involve copayments, deductibles and/or percentage allowances that must be covered by the patient. Because the bill is seldom covered in full, responsibility for payment rests with the patient being treated or the parent/guardian. Feel free to address any billing questions or concerns to our billing office by calling (810) 733-3990.
Q: Do I get to choose my doctor?
A: Yes, you may select your treating physician from among the doctors in our group, all of whom are board- certified/eligible physicians. The majority of your care will be managed by that physician, however, should a problem arise that requires immediate attention while your doctor is not available, one of our other doctors will be available to assist you.
Q: How are worker’s compensation claims handled?
A: If you have a worker’s compensation claim, you will need to bring an authorized, written acceptance form of financial responsibility from your employer or insurance company. In liability or contested worker’s compensation claims, the responsibility for payment rests with the person being treated, not necessarily the person being sued. We expect prompt payment, at which time we will fulfill our responsibilities by providing your attorney(s) with the necessary medical information.
Q: How do I get prescriptions and refills?
A: Many prescriptions and refills require an office visit. Therefore, follow-up appointments should be made and kept as necessary, according to your physician's recommendations and/or your needs.
Prescription refills are issued only during office hours by calling our Flint location at (810) 733-1200, our Lapeer location at (810) 667-6110 or our Fenton location at (810) 593-0023. On weekends and evenings, your medical record is not readily available, which makes the appropriateness of ordering medication difficult to determine. Anticipating your refill needs and calling several days in advance should help to minimize any disruption of a medication schedule. Should you experience any type of side effects to your medication, stop taking it and promptly call our office.
Q: What if there is an emergency?
A: If needed, at least one of our doctors can be reached 24 hours a day by calling (810) 733-1200 or (810) 667-6110. If you are taken to a local emergency facility, you may request that we be called to care for your orthopedic needs. However, we ask that you please make non-emergency calls to us during regularly scheduled office hours.
Q: What payment methods do you accept?
A: We accept cash, checks or credit cards (Visa/MasterCard). Payment is required at the time service is rendered in order to minimize billing expenses and delays.
Q: Will I have to wait before seeing the doctor?
A: We make every effort to keep our appointment schedule on time, but emergencies and other unforeseen events sometimes cause unavoidable delays. We will do our best to keep you informed about schedule changes. If you are unable to keep an appointment, please contact the office as soon as possible so that we may try to utilize that time for the care of other patients.