Listed below are the most frequently asked questions fielded by our Office Staff. If you do not see answers to questions you have, please contact our Office at (513) 475-8264.  

What are your office hours?

Monday & Thursday: 8 am to 8 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8 am to 5 pm

Do you have any specialists available at the office?

At present we do not have any specialists in the office. If your doctor wants you to see a specialist he will refer you to one in the community or to one of the many specialists located in our building.

Where did my doctor get his or her training?

To find out specific information about each of our doctors and their training please click here.

Will I be seeing only my own physician for each office visit?

Yes

Do I need an appointment to see a physician?

All appointments are scheduled in advance.  Our schedulers will be happy to assist you.  They will provide you with the next available appointment time that is convenient to you.  Same day appointments are usually available.
 
If you are unable to keep your appointment, we ask that you phone us at least 12 hours in advance. Failure to keep appointments may compromise your medical care, as well as prevent other patients from being seen.  In addition, there may be a charge for appointments not cancelled at least 12 hours in advance.

How do I cancel my appointment?

Just call our office to cancel your appointment.  If you miss your appointment and have not called to cancel the appointment more than 12 hours before you are scheduled, it will be counted as a “no-show”.   In addition, there may be a charge for appointments not cancelled at least 12 hours in advance.

What do I do in case of an emergency?

In a life-threatening emergency, call 911 and the paramedics will assist you by taking you to the nearest hospital emergency room.
 
For urgent medical needs that are not life-threatening,  call our office and we will try to give you a same day appointment.

What is the difference between urgent care and emergency care?

Urgent Care:  Urgent care is the treatment of a condition that requires prompt attention, but does not pose an immediate serious health threat.  Examples would be flu, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, burning when you urinate, blood in your urine, or a sprained ankle.
 
Emergency Care:  A life-threatening emergency is the sudden onset of a condition that requires immediate medical attention to prevent death or permanent injury.  Some examples that require emergency care are heart attack, stroke, unstoppable bleeding or convulsions. 
 
Stroke:  The symptoms of stroke are distinct because they happen quickly: 

• Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
• Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
• Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
• Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
• Sudden severe headache with no known cause

Heart Attack:  Symptoms of a heart attack include:

• Chest discomfort that may feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain
• Discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Other symptoms, including breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness

How do I find out about insurance, co-payments and benefits?

University Family Physicians serves patients with many types of insurance, including HMO’s, PPO’s, and Medicare. Click Here to see a listing of the insurance plans our office accepts.  You may also call our Central Billing office at 513-585-9009 or check with your insurance company.
 
Any co-payment, coinsurance and/or deductible amount is due at the time of service.  Please refer to your health plan contract or benefits summary information for the co-payments that apply to your coverage.
 
Patients are asked to bring their insurance card to each visit so that insurance coverage can be confirmed.  Patients who are not covered by insurance will be asked to pay at the time of service.

Do you file my insurance?

Yes, we file claims on your behalf. Please note that you are responsible for any co-payment, coinsurance, or deductible amount at the time you receive services in accordance with the terms of your health plan contract.
 
Click Here to see a listing of the insurance plans our office accepts.

For the most up to date information of our participation in any plan, or to answer a question about insurance, please call our Central Billing office at 513-585-9009 or the phone number on your insurance card.

How do I get a referral to a specialist?

If you should need to see a specialist, your doctor will refer you to one.  There are several specialists practicing at the University Pointe facility.  The site also has MRI and CT scanners.

Referral procedures vary greatly by insurance plan, so please check with your insurance company regarding its specific specialty referral requirements.  Once you have made an appointment with the specialist, please advise your family doctor’s nurse or medical assistant of your appointment information to complete your referral.

What is your policy regarding confidentiality of my medical information?

We follow all federal HIPAA guidelines for confidentiality of your health information. All patients are given a copy of these policies.  If you need another copy, please ask our office staff.

How do I get my prescription refilled?

Please contact your pharmacy when you need a prescription refilled.  They will then request any necessary orders directly from our office, saving you time and energy. Please allow 24 hours for refills to be completed.  Your physician may decline to refill a prescription if it is time for you to visit the office again for a checkup.
 
Please try to contact your pharmacy before your medication runs out, because we can not always process refills the same day that they are received.  Note that Federal Law prohibits some prescriptions for certain controlled substances from being mailed or faxed to a pharmacy.  You must personally pick up and deliver the written prescription to the pharmacy or we can mail the prescription to you.  Your pharmacist will let you know if your prescription is for a controlled substance.
 
Please bring all the medications you are taking with you to each office visit, which will allow you to receive any needed written refills for prescriptions at the time of your office visit.

How do I transfer medical records to you from another physician's office? Can you retrieve them for me?

If you have not already made arrangements to have your medical records forwarded to our practice, we will request that your records be sent to us once you have completed and signed a HIPAA compliant Medical Records Release form.

How do I transfer my medical records from you to another office?