For Patients
Kadlec Neuroscience Center wants to ensure our patients are full participants in their own care. Having information and knowing what to expect is an important part of this goal.
Your initial visit is generally requested by your primary care provider. One of our specialists will review your clinical records and related imaging, and we will contact you for an appointment within one week after receiving these records. After scheduling the appointment, we will mail a variety of registration and clinical information forms. This will allow adequate time to complete the more detailed sections in the comfort of your home. Please return the forms prior to your visit. If you are unable to complete the forms your visit may be re-scheduled.
Please bring insurance cards and any other identification required by your insurance plan. It is important you understand your insurance benefits, including coverages, exclusions and limitations, as well as requirements for appointments with specialists, so there are no surprises at the time of your appointment. Many plans require authorizations prior to the visit. While we make our best attempt to secure those when we identify the need, it is still your responsibility to ensure a current authorization is in place prior to the visit.
We will make copies of your insurance card and take a photo of you on your initial visit, so we can identify you if future appointments are necessary. Our contract with insurance plans requires that we collect your co-payment at the time of service. For your convenience, we accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover. If you are being seen for a motor vehicle accident, other third party insurance or private pay, we require payment at the time of service.
We do our best to see patients promptly. However, occasionally there are unavoidable delays. We will strive to keep you informed and try to make your wait as short as possible. Circumstances which may require your appointment to be re-scheduled, include:
- Incomplete or missing paperwork
- Missing authorization
- Inability to make co-payment
- Unavoidable emergencies at the hospital
If you are unable to keep your appointment, please provide a minimum of 24-hour notification so that we can offer that time to another patient.
On your initial visit, our team will obtain a detailed medical history, including current and past health, medications and surgeries. A physical examination will be performed. At the conclusion of the examination, you and your care provider will discuss options for further treatment, which may include additional testing. If additional testing is required, plans will be made to discuss the results, which may include a follow-up visit.
The decision to proceed to surgery is arrived at after extensive discussion between you and your surgeon, and after exhausting all conservative options. Our staff will work with you and the hospital staff to help arrange this process. It is important that you understand both the clinical and financial impact of undergoing surgery. Your surgeon can answer your clinical questions, and our financial counselor is here to assist you with financial questions or concerns.
As a general rule, a variety of tests and medical imaging are an important part of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurologic symptoms. Patients will often have imaging studies performed before their first visit. Additional diagnostic testing, such as EMG, nerve conduction and EEG, may be required and can be performed at Kadlec Neuroscience Center. Additional medical images may be needed as well, which can be done close to your home for your convenience. Follow-up visits are often scheduled to discuss these results. Many tests will require pre-authorization from your insurance before we can order them.
Kadlec Neuroscience Center is a specialty-based medical practice which requires a referral from another physician. Some insurance plans require prior authorization before a referral can be made. Patients whose insurance plan requires authorization should make sure this is in place before their scheduled visit or they may be re-scheduled.
As a convenience to our patients, Kadlec Neuroscience Center will bill your insurance with the information you have provided, but ultimately you are responsible for your bill. There is often a balance after your insurance pays, which becomes your responsibility. It is essential that you understand your benefits under your insurance plan.
You may obtain a copy of your complete medical record at no charge. We require your signature or your authorized representative on our release form. Please allow two weeks for processing. We will send your records directly to another physician at their request or yours.
- Please call your pharmacy directly for prescription refills, unless it is for controlled substances, even if you have no refills left.
- Plan ahead. It may take two to three business days for prescription refills. If there are no refills left on your prescription, this will allow time for the pharmacy to get our approval.
- If you have an emergency, please call the office. Do not come to the office to request an emergency refill. We will not interrupt the care of our scheduled patients to do refills.
- Many drug plans cover generic medications rather than brand name medications. If you require brand name medications, you may pay a higher price for those.
- Prescriptions will only be refilled during normal business hours (Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.). Prescriptions will not be refilled on weekends or holidays. Please plan accordingly.
Kadlec Neuroscience Center physicians who admit patients to the hospital will do so at Kadlec Regional Medical Center. Hospitalized patients are routinely seen once per day, but may be seen more often if the need arises.
There are a variety of motels and hotels in the Richland area.
Patient forms
Please complete and return the applicable forms by mail before your first appointment, if possible. If you have any questions, call 509-371-3595.