Feel free to email us if there are any other questions you would like answers to.
General Inquries: info@simidoctorsmedical.com
Front Desk: front@simidoctorsmedical.com
Billing: billing@simidoctorsmedical.com
WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO MY APPOINTMENT?
If you are a new patient to our practice please go to the forms tab and print and complete the New Patient Forms. Do not submit online and bring originals to your appointment.
- Insurance Card and a method of payment for your co-pay; and please arrive at least 15 minutes before the appointment time to check in.
- List of medications and dosages, or bottles of all of your medications and/or vitamins.
- A copy of any recent lab, Xray, or other test results
- A list of questions, symptoms to discuss with the doctor.
DO I NEED HEALTH INSURANCE?
Whether or not you choose to carry health insurance, we welcome you as a patient. In general we recommend that our patients carry health insurance so that financial help is in place should you require hospitalization or surgery.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL OR SEE A SPECIALIST?
At Simi Doctors Medical Clinic, we provide primary health care. Should you require consultation or care beyond the scope of family medicine, we will make the appropriate referral to a subspecialist.
DO YOU ALLOW URGENT OR SAME DAY APPOINTMENTS?
We do set aside time for urgent same-day appointments. Alternate Saturdays available. Evening and more weekend appointments are coming soon. However, if you are having a life-threatening emergency, please dial 9-1-1, or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
WHAT IF I HAVE AN EMERGENCY OR NEED TO CONTACT A DOCTOR AFTER HOURS?
- If you need immediate medical attention, please call 911 or proceed to an emergency room.
- To reach our on-call provider please call our office and follow the prompts to leave a message for a provider.
- SDMC policy does not permit us to call in prescriptions for narcotics or pain medication after hours.
- Generally, we will not call in antibiotic prescriptions without first seeing you for the problem.
- Please call during regular office hours to make an appointment, request a referral or to have a refill request processed.
WHAT DOES BOARD-CERTIFIED MEAN?
Medical specialty certification in the United States is a voluntary process. While medical licensure sets the minimum competency requirements to diagnose and treat patients, it is not specialty specific. Board certification demonstrates a physician’s exceptional expertise in a particular specialty and/or subspecialty of medical practice. Certification by an ABMS Member Board involves a rigorous process of testing and peer evaluation that is designed and administered by specialists in the specific area of medicine.
Certification Matters.If your doctor is certified by an ABMS Member Board, it means he or she is dedicated to providing exceptional patient care through a rigorous, voluntary commitment to lifelong learning through board certification.
In addition to completing years of schooling, fulfilling residency requirements and passing the exams required to practice medicine in your state, your board certified specialist participates in an ongoing process of continuing education to keep current with the latest advances in medical science and technology in his or her specialty as well as best practices in patient safety, quality healthcare and creating a responsive patient-focused environment.
-American Board of Family Medicine
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAMILY MEDICINE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE?
To begin to understand the differences between the two, we must understand the definitions of each.
Typically, a family practice physician has finished a 3-year postgraduate program. The program itself is specifically geared toward family medicine. In finishing this program, they find that are best-suited to provide primary care to patients of all ages. FP doctors are proficient in treating diseases that pertain to each organ system. This also includes treatment for both acute ailments and how to best manage chronic conditions as well.
Additionally, FP physicians’ training focuses on caring for the whole family, including pediatrics and OB/GYN care. Internal medicine training focuses solely on disease facing adults.
Sadly, there are physicians who label themselves as a “family practitioner” in the interest of marketing as the word “family” immediately appeals to a large demographic.
To make sure that the physician you have chosen truly meets your preference, one has to check the certifications they present. It does seem unappealing that this burden lies on the patient, but when choosing a doctor, it seems worth the extra effort.
