Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs

HOURS & APPOINTMENTS

  • Our hours are 8:30am-5pm Monday through Friday.

    Though individual provider hours may vary.

  • If you cannot keep your appointment, please provide 24 hours notice. This allows us to accommodate other acutely ill patients. A charge may be billed for repeated missed appointments without notice.

  • If you are going to be late, please call our office as soon as possible, so that we can work with you to accommodate you.

  • Please make an appointment for each family member that you want examined. We’ll do our very best to schedule you around the same time.

  • We work earnestly to remain on schedule. However, the nature of Family Medicine is such that emergencies and treatment delays can occur. If you need to leave, feel free to ask us for a more convenient appointment time. We will try to notify you in advance of schedule changes.

  • We provide you with immediate access to a healthcare professional 24 hours a day. If you have a medical problem that should not wait until office hours, call your provider’s phone number, and you will be directed by our answering service to the physician on call. He or she will advise you whether you need emergency care, office care, or how to care for your problem at home.

    Please note that on weekends we share call coverage with Columbia Gorge Family Medicine.

  • We occasionally make house calls for the elderly or for chronically debilitated patients. Your primary care provider will decide this on a case-by-case basis.

  • If you or your provider feel you need a specialist’s care, please arrange this through our office. This improves communication between everyone involved, and optimizes your quality of care.

 

COMMUNICATIONS, MEDICATIONS & MEDICAL RECORDS

  • Because of time constraints, our trained staff handles most phone calls, in direct communication with your provider.

    If you need to speak directly with your provider, he or she generally returns calls by the end of the clinic day.

  • Yes! We provide you with immediate access to a healthcare professional 24 hours a day. If you have a medical problem that should not wait until office hours, call your provider’s phone number, and you will be directed by our answering service to the physician on call. He or she will advise you whether you need emergency care, office care, or how to care for your problem at home.

    Please note that on weekends we share call coverage with Columbia Gorge Family Medicine.

  • Please plan ahead so you do not run out of your medications.

    For routine refills: Contact your pharmacy first. They will contact us to arrange your refills.

    Please plan for two business days for refills.

  • If you are transferring care to a new provider, or seeing a specialist, we forward your medical records free, as a courtesy. A fee will be charged for copies of medical records for personal use. Please allow one week’s notice.

 

BILLING & PAYMENTS

  • If you have questions about our fees, we want you to feel comfortable discussing them with us.

  • We are on most insurance panels. We accept Medicare and Oregon Health Plan assignments.

  • Our contracts with insurance companies mandate that co-pays be paid at the time of service. Please know the amount of your co-pay.

    Patients who do not have insurance, or have not met their deductibles are expected to pay for the visit at the time of service.

  • If you are in financial difficulties, we would like to work with you. Please speak to our staff about a monthly payment plan.

  • We accept VISA, Master Card, cash, and personal checks.

Get started with Summit Family Medicine today.