Patient resources
Frequently asked questions.
The practical ones: appointments, insurance, imaging, records and paperwork. Questions about a specific condition are answered on that condition's page.
Appointments
- How do I make an appointment?
- Request one through the appointment form on this site and the office will be in touch to arrange a time, or call the office directly if you prefer. Say what is going on and which location is most convenient.
- Do I need a referral?
- It depends on your plan rather than on the practice. Some plans require a referral or prior authorisation for a specialist visit and some do not. Call the office with your insurer and plan name before your visit and you will get a definite answer.
- How soon can I be seen?
- That depends on the office and the week. Say so when you make contact if your situation is urgent, or if you already have a surgery date booked elsewhere. It changes how the appointment is scheduled.
- Can I be seen at any of the locations?
- Yes. Choose whichever is most practical for you. If you are not sure which is nearest, the areas we serve page maps communities to offices.
- What if I need to cancel or reschedule?
- Let the office know as early as you can. Appointment slots for new consultations are longer than routine ones, so an early cancellation genuinely helps someone else get seen.
Insurance and cost
- What insurance do you accept?
- All commercial insurance plans, Medicare, workers' compensation, and personal injury cases. Plans differ on referrals and authorisation, so confirm with the office using your specific plan name. The insurance page covers what to ask.
- Will you check my coverage for me?
- The office can confirm participation before your visit. What it cannot do is tell you your deductible, your copay or how much of your benefit you have used, which come from your insurer.
- Is a second opinion covered?
- Many plans cover second opinions, and some require one before authorising elective spine surgery. Ask your insurer specifically, because the answer sometimes works in your favour.
- What if I do not have insurance?
- Call the office and say so. Self-pay arrangements are a direct conversation rather than something a webpage can answer usefully.
Imaging and records
- Should I bring my MRI or just the report?
- Bring the images, on a disc or a share link. This is the most common thing patients get wrong and it matters more than anything else on this page. A radiologist's report describes what is present. A surgeon is asking whether what is present explains your symptoms, which can only be answered by looking at the films.
- How do I get a copy of my imaging?
- Request it from the facility that performed the scan. Most will provide a disc or a secure link, and it can take a few days, so start early. If you cannot get it before your appointment, come anyway and tell the office where it is held.
- Do I need a new scan?
- Often not. Recent imaging is usually sufficient, and repeating a study that already answers the question adds cost and, for CT, radiation. A new scan is ordered when the existing one does not answer what needs answering, or when enough has changed since.
- How do I request my records from this practice?
- Contact the office. There is a process for releasing records, including to another physician, an insurer or an attorney, and the office will tell you what is needed.
Work, notes and paperwork
- Can I get a note for work?
- Work restrictions are set based on the examination and the diagnosis, and they are documented with the reasoning behind them. They reflect what the clinical findings support, which sometimes means fewer restrictions than hoped and sometimes more.
- I was injured at work. Is the process different?
- The clinical assessment is the same. The administrative process around it is not, and it differs between Illinois and Indiana. The workers' compensation page covers the Illinois process, including your right to choose a treating physician.
- Do you complete disability or FMLA paperwork?
- Ask the office. Forms of this kind are completed based on the clinical record, and turnaround depends on what is being asked for.
- Can my case manager or attorney contact the office?
- Yes, subject to the appropriate authorisation being in place. There is a page written specifically for case managers and adjusters covering records, reporting and referrals.
The visit itself
- How long will the appointment take?
- A first consultation takes longer than a routine visit, because the history and examination carry most of the diagnostic weight and reviewing imaging properly takes time. Allow more time than you expect.
- Can I bring someone with me?
- Yes, and it helps, particularly if surgery might be discussed. Two people remember more of a conversation than one.
- Is telehealth available?
- Ask the office. Some visits suit a remote format and some do not, since the physical examination carries real diagnostic weight in spine care.
- Will I be told I need surgery?
- Most patients seen for neck or back pain do not need an operation, and are told so directly. That is answered more fully on the about page and on each condition page.