What Type Of Appointment Do I Need?

We are dedicated to help patients for both urgent care needs and to maintain healthy lifestyles through the assessment of risk factors during screening exams in our office and through the evaluation of chronic and new conditions. Outlined below is general information that helps distinguish between the different types of services that are offered during office visits at Ultima Medical & Aesthetics.

Please let the staff know what you are coming in for, so you are booked under the right type of appointment with appropriate time allocation. This ensures your problems and health concerns are addressed with attention and time these deserve.

WELLNESS CHECK OR COMPLETE PHYSICAL OR ANNUAL EXAM

Some employers or insurance plans encourage yearly wellness checks for their employees or members. In some situations, these are done in the form of health fairs at the workplace. When done in a physician’s office, these visits are generally free to the patient with no co-pay.

A wellness check involves screening a patient’s health risks, generally with a questionnaire, exam, and lab tests. It does not involve managing existing conditions or addressing complaints, and these will not be addressed during a wellness check. Wellness form fees apply per office policy.

A longer appointment time for annual physicals allows for necessary tests, vaccines, cancer screening / recommendations, radiology referrals, review of family history, review of risk factors, counseling, etc.

A complete physical or annual exam in which ongoing medical problems are addressed or prescriptions are renewed, or in which one or more complaints are evaluated and treated, cannot be billed as a “wellness check.” Routine co-pays and deductibles will apply.

FOLLOW-UP VISITS

Anyone on maintenance medications for any condition will have to be seen by their primary care physician on a regular basis to continue receiving refills. Generally, a follow-up visit will be scheduled as you leave the office. Ongoing problems, refills and required blood work are addressed in follow up visits.

In the event either you (the patient) or the physician has to reschedule this appointment, you may be provided refills of necessary medications as deemed appropriate by your physician until the time of the rescheduled appointment.

PROBLEM-ONLY VISITS

Throughout the day, short appointment times are available to accommodate visits from patients with acute illnesses, such as sinus infections, sore throats, urinary tract infections, etc. These appointments are meant to allow patients to be taken care of in a timely manner when symptoms warrant.

Please DO NOT wait for you annual exam or regular follow up visits to address your acute problems. Acute issues need to addressed in a timely manner. Make appointments for problems as soon as the problem arises.

During problem-only visits, chronic medical problems will not be addressed or discussed, maintenance medications will not be refilled, and routine labs will not be ordered or reviewed. Please limit these visits to one complaint or problem. Please let the physician know if you have multiple concerns and the physician will triage the health concerns and address the most urgent ones. You will be offered subsequent appointments to address the rest of your concerns.