Making appointments

We see patients only by appointment at all of our offices, Monday through Friday. Office visits are scheduled as quickly as possible and every attempt is made to accommodate your needs. If you cannot make your appointment we expect the courtesy of a phone call to cancel, if possible 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. Our offices are accessible to physically challenged individuals.

Your first appointment

On your first visit we will begin a permanent record. You will have received medical history forms prior to your visit. They should be completed at home where you will have access to your medications and medical records. Please make sure you bring these completed forms with you. We will be contacting your primary care physician to request any pertinent X-ray reports, laboratory studies or other information. We will also request any information from prior Gastroenterology office visits.

A registration form is also completed prior to your visit. Please bring this form as well as your insurance card at the time of your visit. If you are a member of an HMO which uses referral forms, you must bring the referral form with you. If there is a co-pay with your insurance, it is expected at the time of your visit.

We know that you want to be seen at the time of your appointment, and we try to avoid delays. However, emergencies do arise. If we are delayed, we will make every effort to notify you. We ask for your understanding.

Doctor/patient relations

The relationship between a physician and a patient works best when based on mutual understanding and trust. Your Doctor is your advocate and will help you deal with the medical system. We make a special effort to explain everything to you regarding your condition, medicines, treatment options, etc. If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Referrals

If another doctor has sent you to us, please let us know his/her name, address and phone number when you make your appointment. We want to ensure that a report of your visit is forwarded to their office.

Prescription refills

Prescription refills, including pain medicine, will be handled Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm when the Doctor is in the office and has access to your medical records. Refills should be requested before your supplies are exhausted.

Laboratory and x-ray results

After your procedure, lab studies or x-rays are completed; our office usually receives the results in approximately five working days. We ask that you call and inquire about your results after one week. Because of our work routines, normal results may be given to you by one of our staff members. A copy of your results will be sent to your primary care physician. You may always ask to speak with your Doctor about the results of your tests.

Endoscopic examinations

We schedule our Endoscopic procedures at the Naugatuck Valley Surgical Center, Waterbury Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital. Flexible sigmoidoscopies are done at our Grandview Avenue Office. We offer a full range of treatment options for hemorrhoids, including banding and infrared photocoagulation.

Patient education and support

NVGC offers a wide range of educational material including newsletters, pamphlets and books as well as educational videos to be viewed in our media room. We can also put you in touch with the following Support Groups:

• American Liver Foundation
• Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
• Celiac Support Group
• Hemochromatosis Society
• Pseudoobstruction Society

Financial policy

Your medical insurance is a contract between you and your insurance company. The policy spells out the responsibilities of each party. As a courtesy to you, it is our policy to bill your insurance company. If you are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid or an HMO, we request that you make arrangements for payment on the day that you are seen in the office. If you do not have medical insurance, payment in full must be made at the time of treatment unless other arrangements have been made in advance. For your convenience, payment may be made by cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card or American Express. If payment of your balance causes a financial hardship, please feel free to speak to one of our patient account representatives regarding alternate payment arrangements. Our billing office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. The phone number is 419 - 0645. Please feel free to call us regarding any questions about your bill.

Insurance

We participate with most major insurance plans. Please call our billing office at 419-1645 with any specific questions about your insurance coverage or co-pay requirements.

Confidentiality

Your medical record is private and absolutely confidential. We will not give out information regarding your condition to your employer, friends, relatives, or insurance company without your written permission.

Problems or complaints

We go to great lengths to help alleviate the stress, discomfort and anxiety of your illness and your endoscopic procedures. If we are not doing that for you, please tell the Doctor or our Office Manager, Linda. Do not hesitate to let us know if we are not meeting your needs; this includes our Doctors as well as the entire office staff.

If you have any questions

Please call our office if you have any questions regarding your condition, medication, or treatment. If you need to speak with the Doctor personally, tell the office personnel and the Doctor will return your call. Unless it is an emergency, your call may be returned at the end of the day.

After regular business hours one of the Doctors will be available through our answering service for urgent problems.

Night call and the answering service

One of the Doctors is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is an extension of the medical service we provide in our offices and is part of our commitment to your care. Sometimes, questions come up when the office is not open. If you believe that a call is necessary and cannot wait until the following day, please be aware of the following:

NVGC is a group of three doctors. Nights, holidays and weekends are busy with hospital emergencies and phone calls. If you believe you have an urgent situation, please inform the service and they will transmit that information to the Doctor. All phone calls will be returned. If you have not heard from the Doctor in approximately 20 minutes, please call again to make sure he received the message. We would expect that prescription refills would be filled during our regular workweek.

If you believe that the situation is a true emergency, a call to 911 and/or a visit to the emergency room may be appropriate.