Red White & Blue Drive- Thru

While I am not at liberty to discuss details of a particular patient's visit, given privacy laws, I can respond with the following general statements.--a patient in my office is never seen only by a nurse I have a nurse practitioner (NP), who has advanced training and is licensed to see patients, who works in my office When a patient is scheduled for an appointment, they are told at the time of scheduling who they will be seeing: either me or the NP My NP is incredibly thorough, always comes to me if she has questionsShe is also a kind person, who takes time to listen to people and get to know themMy patients, without exception, love ***, my NP.--if a patient raises a concern or question about an evaluation that my NP has done at the time of the visit, my NP would never hesitate to come and talk to me and get my input to make sure that I agree with her assessment or treatment plan.--I review the chart of every patient that has been seen by my NP, and sign off on them, as I have done with this patient.--Patients often come in to the office expecting an antibiotic, but are found to have a viral infection, for which an antibiotic would not be appropriate or helpful In these situations, we provide education regarding different types of infection (viral vs bacteria), and we provide a treatment plan that is appropriate for the condition our evaluation reveals The vast majority of patients appreciate the time we take in doing this education, and do not want to be put on an antibiotic if it will not be effective --When a patient is seen in this office, we offer them our expertise Time and resources are invested into providing the service to evaluate the patient, diagnose the problem, and recommend treatment When this professional service has been rendered, a bill is appropriately generated If patients have insurance, the insurance is billed Patients may be required by their insurance company to pay a copay at the time of the visit Billing is done for the professional service that was rendered, and is not subject to the whether a patient agrees with our diagnosis or our management plan Patients, with no medical training or background, do not always agree with our expert assessment and management If a patient raises a question at the time of the visit, we do our best to address it However, we will not (nor should we be expected to) provide inappropriate treatment, even if the patient insists on it Billing for our service, in this situation, is appropriate, and is certainly not fraudulent, as has been alleged in this situation

While I am not at liberty to discuss details of a particular patient's visit, given privacy laws, I can respond with the following general statements.--a patient in my office is never seen only by a nurse.  I have a nurse practitioner (NP), who has advanced training and is licensed to see...

patients, who works in my office.  When a patient is scheduled for an appointment, they are told at the time of scheduling who they will be seeing: either me or the NP.  My NP is incredibly thorough, always comes to me if she has questions. She is also a kind person, who takes time to listen to people and get to know them. My patients, without exception, love [redacted], my NP.--if a patient raises a concern or question about an evaluation that my NP has done at the time of the visit, my NP would never hesitate to come and talk to me and get my input to make sure that I agree with her assessment or treatment plan.--I review the chart of every patient that has been seen by my NP, and sign off on them, as I have done with this patient.--Patients often come in to the office expecting an antibiotic, but are found to have a viral infection, for which an antibiotic would not be appropriate or helpful.  In these situations, we provide education regarding different types of infection (viral vs bacteria), and we provide a treatment plan that is appropriate for the condition our evaluation reveals.  The vast majority of patients appreciate the time we take in doing this education, and do not want to be put on an antibiotic if it will not be effective.  --When a patient is seen in this office, we offer them our expertise.  Time and resources are invested into providing the service to evaluate the patient, diagnose the problem, and recommend treatment.  When this professional service has been rendered, a bill is appropriately generated.  If patients have insurance, the insurance is billed.  Patients may be required by their insurance company to pay a copay at the time of the visit.  Billing is done for the professional service that was rendered, and is not subject to the whether a patient agrees with our diagnosis or our management plan.  Patients, with no medical training or background, do not always agree with our expert assessment and management.  If a patient raises a question at the time of the visit, we do our best to address it.  However, we will not (nor should we be expected to) provide inappropriate treatment, even if the patient insists on it.  Billing for our service, in this situation, is appropriate, and is certainly not fraudulent, as has been alleged in this situation.