What should I bring when I come for a scheduled consultation appointment?

Apart from medicare and your insurance information

• A referral from your Primary Care Physician or family doctor
• All pertinent x-ray reports and test results from your primary care or referring physician (only if we are unable to acquire them beforehand.  Call our offices for further inquiry)
• A list of all medications that you are taking
• A list of any known drug allergies and the symptoms you may have from taking these medicines

Are my medical records kept private and confidential?

Your medical file is handled with the utmost respect for your privacy.  Our staff are bound by strict confidentiality requirements as a condition of employment regarding your medical records.  Ordinarily we will not release the contents of your medical file without your consent.

Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Patients are allowed to come to see me without being referred but if they have health insurance, they will need to liase with their health insurance providers regarding the need to be referred via their general practitioner (GP).

How can General Practitioner help me to obtain specialist medical care?

Before seeing any medical specialist, it is always preferable to talk to General Practitioner, who can discuss your condition with you and advise on whether any specialist care is appropriate.  If it is, he or she can help you to choose the specialist best suited to your needs.  General Practitioner can help the specialist to care for you better by providing relevant information about your health.  Communicating with the specialist will also enable your family doctor to care for you better during and after your specialist treatment.

What should I expect during my first visit?

During your initial visit, the doctor will explain the specific test or procedure you want, help you visualize the results and go over the risks.  He may do a physical examination and ask about your medical condition and history.  Once you go and have the test done then he will discuss your diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

If surgery is needed, what steps should I take prior to the operation?

There are a number of guidelines to follow in preparing for surgery:

• It is advisable to have a bath/shower before any procedures as subsequent bath/shower may be difficult depending on what procedures has been carried out.
• Please do not shave the surgical site!  It will be done for you if necessary.  Shaving yourself increases the risk of infection.
• If you are diabetic, please contact your primary physician for instructions regarding your insulin or oral medications.
• If you are currently taking aspirin, aspirin products, or non-steroidal medications, which includes Ascriptin, Aleve, Mortin or Advil; STOP taking these medications 5 days prior to your surgery.
• If you are currently taking Coumadin (Warfarin), Ticlid (Ticlopidine), or Plavix (Clopidogrel); STOP taking these medications 5 days prior to your surgery.
• For morning surgery: Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before surgery unless otherwise instructed.  This includes coffee, tea, water, and juice. 
• For afternoon surgery: A small breakfast BEFORE 7AM is OK, and nothing after that.  Your surgery may be cancelled if you do not follow these instructions.
• Do Not drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours prior to your surgery.
• Do Not bring valuables such as money, jewelry, etc.  Do Not wear makeup
• Bring toiletries and loose fitting, comfortable clothing to wear upon discharge.
• Notify us if there is a change in your condition prior to surgery (such as a cold, cough, fever or infection).  If severe, your surgery may need to be postponed for your safety.
• Stop all herbal medications 4 weeks before surgery unless discussed beforehand (especially Ginseng, Garlic, Gingko, or St. John’s Wort, which increases the risk of bleeding).

There are also a few important steps to take the day of your surgery:

• On the day of your surgery, report to hospital reception.
• If you have not already done so, you will meet your anesthesiologist.
• After the operation, you will go directly to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 1-2 days, then admitted to a hospital room for further recovery if necessary.
• After discharge, and as long as you are taking prescription pain medicine, you are not permitted to:

• Drive a Car nor operate power equipment
• Drink Alcoholic Beverages
• Sign important papers
• Instructions regarding safe resumption of the above activities will be provided by your surgeon.

• If you have questions, regarding any of the above instructions, please do not hesitate to contact our office.