Patient Resources

Q: How do I schedule an appointment?

A: To make an appointment, you may call 757-422-2966 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday – Friday, or you may stop by any of our offices to schedule an appointment. Physicians who are referring patients to APM may have their staff schedule the appointment for patients. Physician offices may also fill out the online Patient Referral form and fax it to our office at 422-4563.

Q: How long will I have to wait for my initial evaluation?

A: Patients are generally scheduled within two weeks for a new evaluation.

Q: What is the procedure for the initial evaluation?

A: You will receive a welcome packet in the mail, prior to your visit, or you can download the New Patient Packet. It is recommended that you arrive about 15 minutes prior to your initial evaluation if you have completed your paper work, and 30 minutes if you have not completed the paperwork. After your initial evaluation, your doctor will discuss with you the most effective treatment program for your problem.

Q: What should I do to prepare for my first appointment?

A: To assist in making your first visit to APM more time efficient, please bring any relevant medical records as well as:

We will request any other medical records, MRI’s, CT Scans, X-rays or laboratory results or MRI’s be faxed to our office from your referring physician’s office.

Q: How long does the initial evaluation take?

A: Generally, your initial evaluation takes about 60 minutes. Your physician will have to take a thorough history and review your medical records to determine what treatment is best for you.

Q: Will I need to change clothes for the exam?

A: You should wear comfortable clothing. Please bring shorts or sweat pants for any lower extremity problems, and women are asked to bring or wear a sports bra for shoulder problems.

Q: Is there anything I should not do before I come to APM?

A: As a courtesy to our patients and staff, wearing of strong perfumes or colognes and/or lotions should be avoided. If you are having an electromyography (EMG) or nerve conduction study (NCV), please do not wear any lotions, perfumes or colognes.

Q. Can I smoke at any APM Spine & Sports facility?

A. All facilities of APM are smoke-free.

Q: Can a family member or friend accompany me during the exam?

A: Unless there are special circumstances, we do not allow family or friends into the exam rooms so your physician can devote all their attention to your pain issues.

Q: What if I have questions about my treatment?

A: APM recognizes that diagnoses and medical procedures can be difficult to understand. Every effort is made to simply and completely answer all questions related to treatment. APM believes that patient education is critical in the process of pain management.

Q: How are follow up visits scheduled?

A: Follow up visits are scheduled at the end of your initial evaluation. If a procedure is recommended, it may be scheduled at that time. You will be given any necessary paper work for follow up.

Q: What types of pain does APM treat?

A: APM specializes in diagnosing and treating acute and chronic pain. We strive to find the root cause of the pain, and not just treat the symptoms. APM is committed to providing the most comprehensive and innovative treatment options, by the most highly skilled physicians and therapists in this specialty.

Q: Will the procedures be painful?

A: The answer varies with each procedure. Some procedures are designed to relieve pain, while others are done to reproduce symptoms for diagnostic purposes. Because APM physicians are very experienced and skilled, they perform the procedures quickly and accurately, thus minimizing any discomfort.

Q: Will I need a driver?

A: Reflexes may be temporarily impaired from certain procedures or you may experience numbness, so arranging for a driver is an important safety precaution. You will be advised as to whether or not you will need to make the necessary arrangements prior to your procedure.

Q: Can patients return to work following the exam/procedure?

A: Yes, in most cases. However, there are a few procedures that may require patients to miss work. You will be given more information about your procedure and what you should prepare for as well as expect.

Q: What kind of relief can I expect from the procedures?

A: The quality and length of pain relief vary from patient to patient based on the type of symptoms, how long they have been present, their origin in the body, and the procedure that is performed. Your physician will advise you on what to expect from the procedure that is to be performed.

Q: What happens if the procedure fails to relieve my pain?

A: Whether the procedure relieves your symptoms or not, your physician will gather important information about the source and nature of your pain. If there is no relief, then you physician will discuss with you what needs to be further done to determine the source of your pain.

Q: How can I get my prescription refilled?

A: You can call our office at 757-422-2966 for prescription refills, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Please allow three (3) business days to process your request. If someone is picking up the prescription for you, an Authorization for Release of Prescription has to be completed in order for the prescription to be released.

Q: Why do I have to schedule a follow up visit to get some prescriptions refilled?

A: Depending on the medication that has been prescribed for you, more frequent follow up visits are required so that we can better monitor its benefits and effects on you. We are required by law to see you before certain medications can be refilled. Please see our Prescription Refill Policy.

Q: How can I get a copy of my medical records?

A: We will be happy to provide you with a copy of your medical records. You will need to fill out a copy of the Medical Records Request Form, and return it to the office closest to you. There is a $10 retrieval fee, and a .50 per page charge. You will need to allow at least five days for us to process your request. We will fax any records to other physicians, but you will have to come to the office to sign a release for the records.

Q: Will my health insurance pay for services provided?

A: Benefits vary by insurance plan, and your responsibility depends on what benefits your employer purchased in your insurance plan. Each employer is different in what they choose to provide as covered benefits. We will verify your benefits before your appointment to find out your insurance coverage and your financial responsibility. It is also important for you to contact your insurance company to verify your benefits.

Q: Do I have to get my insurance pre-authorization or do you do it?

A: You should check with your insurance to determine if a referral is necessary prior to receiving treatment. If your insurance requires a pre-authorization to see a specialist, then you must get a referral from a Primary Care Physician or OB/Gyn to see a pain specialist for an initial appointment.

After the initial consultation, our office will obtain any future pre-authorizations, sometimes with the assistance of your referring doctor.

Q: If my insurance plan requires a pre-authorization, can I be seen or start treatment without the authorization? Can I get a retroactive authorization?

A: Unfortunately, most plans that require an authorization will not issue authorization after treatment. Such authorizations usually apply only to emergency cases involving potential for loss of limb, eyesight, or life.

Q: Do I have to pay my co–pay in order to be seen?

A: Co-pays are expected at the time of the visit.

Q: What insurance does APM accept?

A: As of February 1, 2008 , APM accepts the following insurance:

Insurances that Require a Referral

Insurances that DO NOT require a Referral

Worker’s Comp Guidelines

Insurances that We DO NOT Accept:

Q: If I have no health insurance coverage, what is the cost of my treatment?

A: The costs vary depending on what type of treatment is needed. We will try to work with you to help you obtain the care you need.

Q: What is the cost for the office visits and procedures?

A: Please contact the office for all pricing information.

Q: What are the billing procedures and payment options for my treatment?

A: Billing procedures are simplified by sending bills after an insurance statement and payment are received. This helps to ensure correct billing. Our Billing Office can answer any questions about your bills or to help with your questions about insurance forms. Our office accepts cash, personal checks as well as VISA, MasterCard, and Discover cards.

Q: What if I have any questions about my bill?

A: All questions related to your bill should be addressed with the Billing Office. You can contact the Billing Office at 757-422-2966, Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Q: What is a PDF file?

A. PDF (Adobe Portable Document Format) lets you easily view information from any application, on any computer system — and share it with anyone. We offer forms for download in the PDF format so you can easily print any documents that you need.

This is a free product that will be installed onto your computer. If the files do not open, then you do not have Acrobat installed on your machine. You can visit the Adobe Web site to easily download your free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader Click Here to Download the Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Q: How do I view the slide shows on your web site?

A: Adobe Flash Player is needed to view the slide shows on this site. It is a free product that can be downloaded from Adobe. If the slide shows do not open, then you do not have Adobe Flash installed on your machine. You can visit the Adobe Web site to download your free copy of the Adobe Flash program. Click Here to Download the Adobe Flash Player.