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Making
appointments
Patients
may be seen by appointment only. Our appointment desk is open Monday
through Friday form 8:30AM until 4:30PM. For your convenience,
appointments
and follow up visits are also available through our email
service at info@gulfcoastpain.com.
The
initial visit
On
your initial visit, we will begin a medical record file. It is highly
recommended
that you bring your current (not more than a year old)
x‑rays, MRI's, CT scans,
and myelogram films along with the
interpretive reports. It is important that you
bring a list of the
medications you are currently taking, as well as a list of any drug
allergies that you may have. Please bring any old medical records that are
relevant
to your painful disorder. If
you are currently receiving pain medications from
another physician, such
as narcotics, please bring their office notes with you. No
narcotics will be prescribed without these notes.
You
will be given a new patient packet to fill out prior to your initial
visit. We ask
that you have these forms filled out upon arrival to our
office, to expedite your visit.
We would like you to bring your current
insurance cards and driver's license or form
of identification. If you
have specific insurance questions, it would be helpful to check
your
insurance company before your appointment. Our staff will also be
available to
help you with your questions. All necessary referrals must be
obtained prior to your
appointment, or you will not be able to be seen,
this is your insurance company's policy.
Urine
Testing & What it means to YOU!
Gulf Coast
Pain Management is a registered Pain Clinic abiding by the newest pain
standards and regulations set forth by the Florida Department of Health,
The Florida Board of Medicine, and The Florida Board of Osteopathic
Medicine for that reason, each new patient who requires medical
management of their pain will be required to undergo urine drug testing
and undergo a written evaluation called
Substance Abuse Screen (SASSi).
Our
physicians utilize the very latest in pain management technologies. They
will coordinate your treatment with your primary care physician and
various specialists.
How Does Urine Drug Testing (UDT) Help You?
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UDT
permits us to prescribe the safest and most effective pain
medications.
-
UDT
helps us reduce medication side effects because medications do not
effect everyone the same way.
-
UDT
provides critical information needed to adjust your pain medication
dosages.
Tips for
Prescription Safety
* Do not take medication that aren't prescribed for you by your health
care provider
*Consult your physician before combining sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs
with pain medications.
* Do not use opioid (narcotic) medications as sleeping pills.
* Do not take pain medication with alcohol.
* Never give your pain medications to someone else, for any reason.
* Do not suddenly stop taking a medicine.
* Make a list of all your medications and bring it to each medical
appointment.
* Lock up painkillers to keep them out of other people's hands.
What is
Urine Drug Testing?
Urine Drug Testing (UDT) is a process that measures the presence and
amounts of medications in your urine, and other substances that could
interfere with your meds. These tests allow us to properly prescribe
medications as part of your pain management treatment plan.
Why do we
perform UDT?
Prescription medications are a common form of treatment for chronic
pain. However, each person reacts differently to them.
UDT enables us to
identify individual risks related to your medications and avoid
problems.
What is
the UDT process?
you will be asked to provide a sample of urine in the cup given to you
by our office, using the bathroom facilities on site. Please do not
alter the cup in any way. Our staff will interpret the results and may
send the sample to an outside laboratory.
What
happens once my sample is sent to the lab?
The lab will run a series of tests to confirm the levels of both
prescribed and non-prescribed drugs in your system. The usually return
lab results the next business day, ensuring we can refill your
prescriptions promptly. When our office receives your results, they are
carefully reviewed. Your treatment may be adjusted at this point.
Are my
results confidential?
Yes. All results are confidential and remain protected as part of your
patient record.
How often
will I be tested?
Your testing will occur either on a random basis, or at certain
appointments as determined by our staff.
Urine
Testing & What it means to YOU!
Gulf Coast
Pain Management is a registered Pain Clinic abiding by the newest pain
standards and regulations set forth by the Florida Department of Health,
The Florida Board of Medicine, and The Florida Board of Osteopathic
Medicine for that reason, each new patient who requires medical
management of their pain will be required to undergo urine drug testing
and undergo a written evaluation called
Substance Abuse Screen (SASSi).
Our
physicians utilize the very latest in pain management technologies. They
will coordinate your treatment with your primary care physician and
various specialists.
Prescriptions
and Renewals
All
prescriptions and authorizations for renewals should be requested between
8:30AM
and 5:00PM, Monday through Thursday. For your protection,
evening and weekend
renewals will not be accepted because the
doctor must have your chart to renew your
medication. Check your
medication supply frequently. Call us before medications
“run out” so
that there is no chance of lapse. We require 24 hour notice for refills.
We require 48 hour notification for controlled substances. All controlled
substances
require picture identification
at the time of pick up, you may be requested to be seen
in follow
up prior to renewal of controlled substance prescriptions. If a medication
is
lost or stolen, a police report is required prior to refill.
Prescriptions and renewals may
also be requested via our
Visit Our
Virtual Office at
www.gulfcoastpain.yourmd.com
Thank
you
Thank
you for placing your confidence in us to evaluate and treat your problem.
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