FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How should I prepare for my upcoming appointment?
When you come to our office, please bring the following documents:
- Government issued photo ID (driver’s license, passport, military ID)
- Proof of address if it is different from the address listed on your ID
- Medical insurance card
- Any insurance-mandated referral from your primary care doctor
- If you are a new patient, please bring any appropriate or necessary previous medical records
- Please complete the patient forms online.
- If you are being referred by another physician for a particular problem (ie., abnormal labs, abnormal CT scan, recent ER visit), please bring all of the necessary records or call our office ahead of time and confirm that we have the necessary documents prior to your visit.
What if I have a question for my provider?
We encourage you to become familiar with our Patient Portal and use it to communicate non-urgent questions with our doctors and advanced practice providers. This will allow you to receive answers from us without having you wait for a return phone call. You will receive an email message saying that you have a message from your doctor on the patient portal. The patient portal is easily accessible through our website and through the Healow app on your smartphone. Please allow 1-2 days to receive a response back from your doctor (although most times it will be much quicker). For urgent matters, please call our offices and speak with a receptionist or medical assistant.
Can I call for my test or procedure results?
Many of your test results can be viewed on our Patient Portal although we are not able (due to current technological constraints) to post all of your results and records there. If the results are not on the portal, they will typically be discussed at your next office visit. Please use the Patient Portal or call the office to schedule or confirm a follow up appointment with us.
How do I request a prescription refill?
For prescription refills, please contact your pharmacy and ask them to electronically send us a refill request. If your pharmacy needs authorization from us for additional refills, the pharmacy can communicate with us directly. Per office policy, we will not refill a prescription if you have not had an appointment within a year. In some cases (such as high-risk medications or complicated medical issues), we may need to set up a follow up appointment prior to your prescription being refilled. If you must call our office for a refill, please ensure that you provide our staff with all pertinent prescription information (name, dose, timing, pharmacy name and phone number, and length of prescription being requested). Our medical assistants will direct your request to the appropriate provider and will relay the necessary information to your pharmacy. If ever in doubt, please call your pharmacy to ensure the prescription has been filled before attempting to pick it up. We will try to refill your prescription as quickly as possible but please allow us 72 hours to complete the process.
What if I have an emergency?
If you are experiencing a life threatening emergency, please go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. If you have an urgent gastrointestinal problem or question which can not wait until regular business hours, our doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our physicians can be reached by calling our main number (703-580-0181). If it is after hours, you will be connected to our answering service and the on-call physician will be contacted. We request that routine scheduling, billing, and pharmacy questions be phoned in to the office during regular business hours.
How can I cancel an appointment?
If you must cancel an appointment, call the office. We request that you do so at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled office visit, and 5 business days prior to a scheduled endoscopic procedure. If you do not cancel within that timeframe, you will be charged a cancellation fee.