Colon and Rectal Cancer is curable IF it is detected early
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I need a physician referral to make an appointment?
No. We welcome ALL patients who require our particular services. Patients can call us directly to make an appointment.
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Why can't I schedule surgery or a scope exam without a preliminary office visit?
Patients who are new to our practice and those that have not been seen for over a year should have an
initial consultation before any surgery or tests are scheduled. At the initial visit, your medical
history, current medications, medical allergies, and family history will be reviewed, and a physical
assessment will be done. You will have the opportunity to ask questions. Appropriate tests and/or
surgery will be recommended based on your particular condition. During your first visit you will
meet our staff and establish a professional relationship with us. At our clinic, we believe that
continuous personal communication between physician, staff and patient is essential from the initial
visit and throughout the course of treatment. We strive to provide a relationship based on mutual
trust, open expression, and realistic expectations. We make a sincere effort to know our patients,
listen to them and understand their medical needs.
Even if you have been referred to our clinic by your primary physician for a specific test or surgery,
you will need to have a preliminary visit. If the test or surgery that we recommend is different
from that recommended by your primary physician, we will consult with him/her before undertaking
any treatment, and will always send all reports to your physician.
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How can I best prepare for my first visit?
If you are new to our practice or have not been seen for over a year, please come early to allow time
to fill out necessary paperwork. Bring a written list of all of your current medications or put
them in a paper bag and bring them along with you. Write down a list of all prior major illnesses,
operations, hospitalization, and medical allergies. Be aware of what illnesses run in your family.
Don't forget to bring your insurance cards with you.
(To save time, you may wish to download our Patient Registration form
from our website. Print it out and write down the information and bring it with you on the day of
your appointment.)
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What is Board Certification, and how important is it?
A fully trained surgeon is a physician who, after medical school, has gone through many years of training
in an accredited residency program to learn the specialized skills of a surgeon. A good measure of
a surgeon's competence is certification by a national surgical board approved by the American
Board of Medical Specialties. All board-certified surgeons have satisfactorily completed an approved
residency training program and have passed a rigorous specialty examination.
The letters F.A.C.S. (Fellow of the American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon's name are
a further indication of a physician's qualifications. Surgeons who become Fellows of the College have
passed a comprehensive evaluation of their surgical training and skills; they also have demonstrated
their commitment to high standards of ethical conduct. This evaluation is conducted according to national
standards that were established to ensure that patients receive the best possible surgical care.
To be certified by the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery, the
surgeon must have met a standard of excellence in colon and rectal surgery by fulfilling specified rigorous
educational, credentialing and examination requirements. The surgeon must first complete at least one or
more years of specialized training in all aspects of colon and rectal surgery after completing full
residency training (6 to7 years beyond medical school) in General Surgery and achieving Certification by
the American Board of Surgery.
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How do I choose a specialist to treat my particular condition?
Your primary care/family physician usually is the one who will refer you to the appropriate specialist who has
the training, expertise, and credentials to manage your particular case.
Even though in the majority of cases, your primary care physician has your best interest at heart, as a
patient/consumer you should learn to protect yourself and to seek the best care available for yourself and
your family. Do not hesitate to ask questions of your physician, such as: Why did you chose him/her in
particular? Is he/she Board Certified in the specific area of my condition? How long has he/she been
in practice? Is there someone else locally who is more qualified in this field? Would you or your family
members seek treatment from him/her?
When meeting the specialist, again do not hesitate to ask questions: Are you Board Certified in this field?
How many such cases have you managed? What complications have you had? If you are unsure of the
recommendations get another opinion! Make sure that it is from another similarly, or more
qualified specialist.
Also, a good source of information about physicians is the hospital nursing staff, and the anesthesia and
operating room personnel if you need surgery. The local and state medical societies are good sources of
information about physicians and hospitals. Also, the national specialty societies (such as
ASCRS and ACS, etc) have access
to local physician directories and can steer you to the right specialist.
It is best to gather information from more than one source. Remember, this is about your well-being and
you are in charge of your health.
