Scheduling Guidelines
1. Determining the specific type of appointment based on the patient's concern
Patient is typically aware of their condition or will advise of their symptoms and can therefore directly identify whether visit is for asthma, COPD or for follow-up sleep study. Scheduling "Consult" is for new patients, while "Follow Up" is for those who have already been seen in the office.
i.e. If a patient is returning after completing a sleep study - "Sleep Follow-up"
Confirm Voice or Confirm SMS should be selected when confirming patient appointments via phone or text.
2. Scheduling Guidelines
If daily patient load (excluding PFTs) reaches 22, no additional patients should be scheduled for that day.
If there are 20-21 patients and it's a 15-minute appointment slot - can fit one more patient but do not exceed 22 appointments for office visit. Avoid back-to-back appointments without gaps.
Last week of October (27th - 30th) are available slots
If a patient insist to be seen sooner, directly message Dr. Mashour via eCW
When scheduling same-day appointments, notify Julie or Dr. Mashour and make a "high-priority message" so can assess whether patient truly needs to be seen that same day.
3. Accepted Insurance Plans - accepting all insurances except the following:
Medicaid (check the small print on their cards e.g. Health Plan of Nevada)
SilverSummit and Ambetter
BCBS Pathway X - not contracted to this but do accept other BCBS Plan
Patients with HMO insurance must have a referral from their PCP.
4. How to send Medical Records
Julie will take care of sending records (medical records or sleep test results)
VFO should collect the referring doctor's name from the patient and note it in their file
5. Referrals
When scheduling new patients, confirm the referring doctor - specially with HMO Plans
Patients with HMO insurance must be referred by their PCP. If the referral comes from a specialist (e.g. cardiologist) it's not valid unless they have prior authorization/referral is sent from the PCP.
Any uncertainty on scheduling patients, inform the office so they can review it first.
This only applies to (first time) New patients, for established patients referral issues are not a concern.