Q: What are your office hours?

A: Our offices are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Q: How do I schedule an appointment?

A: Please call one of our offices to schedule your appointment. Patients are seen by appointment only.

Q: How long will my first appointment last?

A: Your first appointment may take up to an hour. When emergencies occur, your doctor may run late and, if so, we will ask for your understanding and patience.

Q: What should I bring to my appointment?

A: Please bring the following:

• All medications in their original containers with their labels
• Co-payments
• Insurance cards
• Medical records, if applicable
• Primary care physician authorization
• Other information that is pertinent to your visit

If you are a first-time patient, please arrive early to complete patient registration forms if you have not already completed them prior to your visit.

Q: If I call the office needing help from a nurse, what type of information should I leave on their voice mail?

A: There are number of items you should leave in your message that will help our nurses return your call in a timely and efficient manner. These include:

• Your full name, including the spelling of your last name
• Your birth date
• Your phone number
• The reason for your call, including what we can do to help
• If you need a prescription refill, please include the following items that can be found on your current prescription bottle:
• The name of the medication
• The number of pills that you are supposed to take each day
• The number of times each day that you should take the medication
• Additionally, we will need the following:
• The number of pills your plan will allow you to purchase (for example, does your prescription plan offer you 30-, 60-, or 90-day supplies?)
• The name and phone number of the pharmacy where you would like to pick up the prescription (or the name and fax number of your mail-order pharmacy, as well as your member identification number)
• The fax number to your pharmacy (if prescription refills can be faxed)
• If applicable, instructions on whether your prescription refill must be presented in writing

Q: When I call Central Florida Cardiology Group and leave a message requesting a call back, how soon can I expect a return phone call?

A: We strive to return all phone calls within 24 hours. It’s incredibly helpful to us if you can be sure to leave a detailed message when you call with all of the information requested above.

Q: If I need for the nurse to look information up in my chart will it take the same amount of time or longer for them to return my call?

A: Because pulling a chart requires an extra step it may take a bit longer for us to return your phone call than for, say, a prescription refill in which all of the details we need are supplied by you.

Q: When I call to request a prescription refill, how soon will the request be called in to my pharmacy?

A: Prescription refills are called in to pharmacies at the end of each day.

Q: Can I request a written prescription be mailed to my home?

A: Absolutely. Just leave on the nurse’s voice mail the above information, including your name and its spelling, your birth date, your phone number, details regarding your prescription, as well as the address to which you’d like for us to send your prescription.

Q: What if I need to cancel an appointment?

A: If you must cancel an appointment, please call our office as soon as possible so that we can best serve our other patients.

Q: When should I remove my bandage?

A: The day after your procedure.

Q: How should I handle bandaging the site following the first day?

A: Please leave the site open to air if possible. If any drainage occurs you may need to cover it with a non-stick bandage for a few days.

Q: Can I apply ointments to my incision?

A: No. Applying ointments may increase your risk of infection.

Q: What should I do if I develop a fever, redness, or rash during the recovery period?

A: Contact our offices.

Q: How soon may I resume my normal activities?

A: Two days following your procedures unless otherwise instructed by your physician.

Q: Who should I contact if I have any questions about the procedure or what to do following the procedure?

A: Please contact a nurse at one of our offices.

Q: What should I do if I just recently began taking Coumadin?

A: Please make an appointment with our Coumadin Clinic for instructions and tips on taking this medication.

Q: Which doctors go to which locations?

A: All physicians practice in Orlando, in addition to our other locations. Doctors Anderson, Thakur and Nocero also practice in Lake Mary; Doctors Parikh, Dublin, Stein and Kumar also practice in Oviedo; and Doctors Hazday, Anderson, Parikh and Laddu at Sand Lake.

Q: What if I develop severe chest pains, shortness of breath, or other life-threatening symptoms?

A: Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Q: What if my emergency is not life threatening?

A: For lesser emergencies, we are available 24 hours a day at 407-841-7151 or 1-800-647-2657. Routine and administrative calls are best handled during normal business hours when office staff members are available; please call one of our offices for assistance with these calls. If there is any question whether your emergency is life threatening or not, please go to the emergency room.

Q: What kind of documentation do I need in order to be seen for the first time?

A: Patients who are members of a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) need to bring a referral from their primary care physician authorizing their office visit and/or testing. Prior to your visit, please verify that we have received your authorization referral with our Billing Department (click here for contact information to our offices). Obtaining this authorization is your responsibility, but we will make every effort to help you.

Q: What insurance companies do you accept?

A: Below is a list some of the insurance companies that Central Florida Cardiology Group accepts.

Aetna

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF)

Beech Street Corporation

CIGNA

Florida Hospital Healthcare System (FHHS)

Medicare

One Health Plan

Private Healthcare System (PHCS)

If your insurance is not listed, please contact one of our offices.

Our staff does their best to keep abreast of what the different plans cover. However, due to constant changes with insurance coverage, it is ultimately your responsibility to know what your insurance plan covers. If the insurance company does not pay the full balance or denies the claim, any unpaid balance is due within 30 days following the appointment.

Please notify us of any changes in your insurance plan.

Q: Does Central Florida Cardiology Group provide laboratory services?

A: Laboratory services, other than Coumadin, are not provided in our clinic. Please contact your insurance company to locate a lab that is approved by your insurance company.