Your first visit

Before you come in

• Ask whether your insurance requires a referral.
• Bring identification, your insurance card and the referring clinician’s information.
• Bring an accurate medication list, including supplements, and your allergies.
• Request imaging, test reports, pathology and relevant prior operative reports.
• Write down your main symptoms, when they began and what you hope treatment will improve.

The discussion

We review the clinical problem and the available information, then explain the reasonable next steps. Sometimes additional evaluation is needed before a treatment decision can be made. When a procedure is considered, the discussion includes the expected benefit, alternatives, risks and recovery.

Understanding is part of consent

You should be able to describe in your own words what the procedure is intended to do and what its limitations are. Ask about anything that remains unclear. The decision should make sense to you, not just to the surgeon.

For referring clinicians

Please include the reason for referral, relevant imaging or endoscopy reports, pathology and prior operative notes when available. Call the office to coordinate record transfer and appointment needs.