|
POLICIES
 Emergency Care
If you need emergency care after office hours or if an emergency arises during office hours, please go directly to the nearest emergency room or dial 911. Your problem will be evaluated by the emergency room physician on duty who will perform the procedures necessary to stabilize your condition and will then contact the physician on call for our office.
Specific Non-emergency Questions Regarding Your Care
Routine questions regarding your care should be discussed with Dr. Merrell at your next scheduled office appointment. If you feel that a more immediate answer is required, please call our office during normal working hours. For after-hour care, a physician is always available to speak with you. Dr. Merrell currently shares call with other family physicians. If you need to speak with the on-call physician covering our practice, please call the Pardee Hospital operator at (828) 696-1000.
Test Results
The results of many laboratory tests, x-rays, scans, and biopsies are received weekly. Due to this large volume, it may take up to 2 weeks to receive results of your tests. If results return significantly abnormal, we will notify you as soon as possible. If all is well, you will receive a letter or telephone call from our staff. If further discussion or instruction is needed, a member of our staff will notify you. If you have not heard from us in three weeks, do not assume that "no news is good news." You are responsible for calling at this point to obtain the results of any tests ordered.
Pain Medications
Our office policy on pain medications and anxiolytic medications is as follows: If you are new to the practice, no pain or anxiolytic medications will be prescribed at the initial office visit. Our practice does not routinely manage chronic pain medications or chronic anxiolytic medication. It will be Dr. Betsy S. Merrell’s discretion, whether or not we will prescribe you any current pain or anxiolytic medication.
Medical Records
The accuracy of your medical record is essential to providing quality medical care. Prior to your first appointment you will be asked to complete a medical history questionnaire. This questionnaire will be mailed to you along with other relevant information about my office.
Please remember that accuracy and completeness is of utmost importance. Any changes in your health status, medications or allergies should be brought to our attention and appropriate changes made in your personal medical record.
Occasionally, we receive requests for copies of patient’s medical records. Since your medical record is a confidential document, no information will be released without your authorization. All copies are made by my office staff once per week. Therefore requests for copies of medical records should be made well in advance of your anticipated need. There may be a charge for copying records.
Hospitals and Referrals
Patients are referred to any hospital system or specialty group for which the patient prefers.  Dr. Betsy S. Merrell maintains hospital privileges at Margaret R. Pardee Memorial Hospital in Hendersonville, NC. Patients who are seen in the office that require hospitalization, will be admitted directly to Pardee Hospital by Dr. Betsy S. Merrell. On evenings and weekends, the TST Hospitalist Service admits Dr. Betsy S. Merrell’s patients to Pardee Hospital. Dr. Betsy S. Merrell then provides inpatient services for the remainder of the patient’s stay.
Prescription Renewals
Prescriptions may be refilled in one of two ways:
-
By calling the office between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM daily
-
By requesting that your pharmacy call the office
Refill requests are to be made at least two days (48 hours) before your current supply of medication runs out. An annual office visit is required for patients on long-term medical therapy. Therefore, prescription refills will not be approved for any patient who has not been seen once during the previous calendar year. Prescriptions for all classes of pain medication, anxiolytic medication or antibiotics will not be refilled by the weekend on-call physician. Any patient requiring a pain medication, anxiolytic medication or antibiotic refill on a weekend should be seen by the physician on-call, urgent care, or emergency room.
| 