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How to Reach Us
Our office hours are from 7:45
a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Telephone calls are handled by
trained members of our staff who can assist you with any
questions. The physicians are
also always available and will be glad to speak with you in
reference to any questions you may have.
If you have
an emergency after regular office hours, please call
864-233-5722 within the Greenville Area or 800-530-0788 toll
free. You will be directed to our answering service who will put
you in contact with the physician "on-call".
What to
Expect on Your First Visit
Most of our patients are referred
from their primary eye care provider for a thorough examination
by one of our retina
specialists. However, we do not require a referral for a retinal
evaluation.
You will be asked to provide a
complete health history questionnaire either before your first
visit or upon arrival. This questionnaire is a vital part of
your examination, and we ask that you take care in completing it
accurately. If you need assistance, please feel free to ask any
one of our staff members.
In addition to the health history
questionnaire, you will also complete a form with your insurance
information. As with
the health history questionnaire, please take care to complete
this form accurately. We are happy to file your insurance for
you, but your assistance in providing the correct information is
necessary.
Please bring the following with you on the day of your visit:
-
Completed New Patient Forms
-
Any medication that you are
taking (including eye drops)
-
The name and address of your eye
care provider
-
The name and address of your
medical doctor
-
Your insurance cards (including
Medicare card)
-
A referral from your primary
physician, if required by your insurance carrier
-
Someone to drive you home
Your
Evaluation
Once your forms are complete,
you will be taken to a screening room by one of our ophthalmic
technicians. Your vision will be evaluated, and the pressure in
your eyes will be checked. The technician will also check your
blood pressure. Other tests may be performed on the basis of
your chief complaint at the time of your visit and your past
medical history.
The ophthalmic technician will use
eye drops to dilate your pupils. Dilation is necessary to
completely examine your eyes, especially the retina. When your
pupils are fully dilated, you will be examined by the doctor.
This examination will include a complete review of your medical
history and a thorough examination of your eyes. Depending on
the nature of your problem,
we may perform additional tests on the day of your initial
evaluation, and in some cases, treatment may be initiated.
Various photographic techniques are
utilized by our physicians to aid in making or confirming a
diagnosis. These include Fundus photos, Fluorescein angiography
or Indocyanine green angiography, and B-Scan Ultrasonography.
One or more of these techniques may be performed at the time of
your initial evaluation.
Time
Allowance for the Appointment
Since your appointment may include
various tests and procedures, we ask that you allow up to two
hours for this visit.
We are committed to making your visit as pleasant and efficient
as possible. Because you will have temporary blurred vision
after dilation, we recommend that someone accompany you to our
office to drive for you after the examination.
Payment Arrangements
Being an informed patient is
one of the most important contributions you can make to your
treatment and your personal well being. In an effort to keep you
well-informed, we would like for you to be familiar with the
financial arrangements available at Retina Consultants of
Carolina.
When your examination is complete,
your last stop is at our business office where you may pay with
cash, check, or credit card. Payment for treatment is expected
at the end of your visit unless prior arrangements have been
made. We accept Medicare assignment and will be happy to file
the necessary forms for you. In the absence of secondary
coverage, Medicare patients will be responsible for paying their
deductible and 20% co-insurance at the conclusion of their
visit. For patients with other types of insurance, we will
happily assist you in filling out the forms for the carriers
which are in our network. Please remember that you, the patient
are financially responsible for the treatments you receive.
Insurance co-payments are expected at the time of your visit.
Again, please feel free to ask our staff if you have additional
questions.
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