Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you need a referral?             Our practice does not require a referral; however, your insurance plan may. Please check with your insurance carrier if you want your insurance to cover the cost of our services.

2. Do you see asthma patients? Our practice does not take primary responsibility for the medical treatment of asthma; however, we are occasionally consulted to perform allergy evaluation and treatment for asthma patients.

3. Do you see patients with allergic skin reactions or rashes? Our allergy evaluation is limited to foods and inhalants.  We do not treat reactions, hives, or rashes due to something you may otherwise come into contact with such as chemicals or insects.

4. Do allergies cause asthma?             Yes, many asthma symptoms are caused by treatable allergies.  Allergy treatment may help to reduce other medications used for treatment of asthma.

5. How long will I need allergy shots?             Many allergy sufferers can stop shots after three to five years and still do well.  Often, patients with asthma or chronic sinusitis may need to continue allergy shots indefinitely, especially if treatment is effective.

6. How soon can I get an appointment?            In an emergency, we can usually see you the same day.  For a non-emergent appointment, we try to see you within 2-3 days.

7. How long will my appointment take?            Appointment times vary. For new patients we recommend arriving early to fill in paper work and process insurance information.  For new patients, appointments can last at least 30-40 minutes depending on medical necessity.  For follow-up patients, appointments usually last 10-20 minutes.

8. What type of insurance is accepted? We are part of most major health plans.  However, we recommend that you check with your insurance carrier's customer service department to verify that we are indeed on your particular plan.

9. What should I bring with me for the appointment?

--CAT scans, MRI films, PET scans and any other x-rays that pertain to your medical condition.  The actual films are more helpful than the reports in most cases.

--Any and all test results, lab reports and medical records that pertain to the medical condition for which you were referred.

--A list of all current medications with dosage amounts.

--A list of all of your medical doctors.

--Please bring all of your insurance cards and any referrals or copays as required by your insurance company.

10. I am a former patient but have not seen the doctor in over a year.  Will there be paperwork or anything else required?             If you are a former patient and you have not been seen within a year, you will need to update your information.  Any and all insurance changes need to be reported as well as any new address or telephone number changes and employment.

11. Where do I go for the appointment? We have 6 office locations.  When scheduling your appointment, be sure to state which office is most convenient for you.  You can find maps and directions on the location page of this site.

12. My doctor referred me.  Do I need to bring medical records with me from my referring doctor? We recommend that either your referring doctor fax us your pertinent medical records, or you can bring your medical records, including any x-ray films and scans with you at the time of your appointment.

13. If I need a procedure, will it be performed in the office?             Occasionally minor procedures, not requiring general anesthesia, may be performed in our office.  However, most surgeries are scheduled at Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven Ambulatory Surgical Center, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center, South Lake Hospital, or Lakeland Surgical and Diagnostic Center.

14. What should I expect to happen at my first appointment?             The first appointment is just a consultation to evaluate and treat the current medical condition. If a minor diagnostic procedure, such as a biopsy or an endoscopy, is needed, this will generally be done at the initial appointment if authorized by your insurance carrier.