NEW PATIENT INFORMATION

If you have any questions, the nurse will be happy to provide you with any information you need.

To ensure that your procedure is a success, it is very important that you understand and follow the instructions below. If you do not understand the instructions or have any questions, please ask the nurse when she calls or contact our office at 785-320-7576.

Remember:

• NO food or drink (including water) in the eight hours before your procedure. (If having sedation)
• NO smoking the day of your procedure
• Please discuss with your provider any medications you are taking to determine whether they can be safely taken in the days prior to your procedure or if they need to be stopped and for how long.
• If you become ill (such as a fever, congestion, cough, or rash), please contact our office right away so we can reschedule your appointment.
• If you have been on an antibiotic in the last 2 weeks or starting one, please contact our office right away so we can reschedule your appointment.

What do I need to do before the procedure?

You will need to arrive at our facility 10 mins. before your procedure appointment time to allow for check in and to take any copays/payments needed.

Please see below for a list of reminders about how to prepare for your procedure:

• We encourage bathing prior to your procedure.
• Do not apply any product to your skin, including lotion or oil.
• Do not wear perfume, body splash, or other fragranced products.
• If your procedure will involve your hand or foot, please be sure to remove any nail polish so that your nails are fully visible.
• Be sure to wear something comfortable, preferably baggy clothing that can be pulled on over a potentially large bandage. Make sure your shoes are also comfortable and easy to walk in.

Please be sure to bring the following:

• Photo ID (required by law to prevent insurance fraud).
• Insurance Cards
• Have any imaging (MRI, CT, or X-ray) faxed to us before your consult or bring it with you.
• A complete list of medications.
• A friend or family member to drive you home if having sedation, or requested by the provider.

However, do NOT bring:

• Jewelry, watches, and other valuables. You will not be able to wear them or keep them with you during the procedure and we cannot be responsible for keeping them safe while you are here.
• Children, unless they are well-supervised by another parent or other responsible adult.
• Any item that you would not want to lose or get damaged. Again, our staff cannot be responsible for personal belongings.

If you have any questions about your procedure prep or whether something is OK to bring or not, please contact our staff and we will be happy to assist you!

What should I expect when I get there?

When you enter the building, please go to the front desk, where a member of our staff will check you in, you will be asked to wait in our comfortable waiting room until the nurse calls you back.

Once the nurse calls you back they will provide you with instructions.

The nurse will check your temperature, blood pressure, and other vital signs and ask you a number of questions about your medical history and drug allergies.

Once you have spoken with the nurse, you will then meet with the anesthesiologist, who will again review your medical history and discuss the nature of the procedure with you. If you have any questions about the procedure, the provider will be happy to answer them for you.

What will happen once the procedure is over?

The nurse will review the provider’s discharge instructions with you, including diet, care for the surgery site, your follow-up appointment, any restrictions, and when to call the provider. The nurse will give you a copy of the discharge instructions, which will include a number to call if you have any questions or develop any uncomfortable symptoms. You will also be told what to do in the case of an emergency, as well as what constitutes an emergency. Please do not hesitate to ask questions.

Be sure to keep your follow-up appointment so the provider can confirm that you are healing well.

When should I call the provider?

If you develop symptoms that you think may be life threatening or are experiencing any kind of medical emergency, call 911! Do not call the office.

If you experience any of the symptoms listed below, please call our office right away. Someone from our office (the provider, the provider’s staff, or a provider on-call) will always be available to either take your call or call you back within an hour or so. Symptoms that you should let us know about right away include:

1. Fever (temperature over 100.4 degrees)
2. Excessive bleeding from the wound
3. Pus or any foul-smelling discharge coming from the wound.
4. Nausea and/or vomiting.
5. Excessive sleepiness
6. Excessive pain
7. Redness around the wound, especially if it travels up the arm or leg, or otherwise spreads out from the wound.

Advance Health Care Directives

In the event that you are unable to make medical decisions for yourself (such as while you are under anesthesia), an advance health care directive lets your medical providers know who will be making decisions on your behalf and whether you have any preferences as to the type of medical treatments you will receive. If you have one, you should make sure that Flint Hills Pain Management has a copy before your procedure. We will put it in your chart and have it on hand to refer to in the event it is needed. You should also give a copy to the decision-maker named in the directive, your providers, and any other family members that you think should have a copy.

If you do not have an advance health care directive, you may want to consider creating one. The contents of advance health care directives vary by state. This web site provides a list of helpful links to state government agencies, legal associations, or medical associations that provide free forms where you can make a directive or living will for yourself: http://estate.findlaw.com/estate-planning/living-wills/state-living-will-forms.html. Or you can hire an attorney to draft the document for you.

Patient Rights

At Flint Hills Pain Management, we believe in providing our patients with the highest level of care. As part of our commitment to quality care, we have established the following patient rights, which all our providers and staff adhere to (see below). Please note that if a patient is not legally responsible for making his or her own medical decisions, these rights will be extended or in some cases transferred to the designated decision maker where appropriate.

1. All patients will be treated with kindness and respect.

2. The highest quality treatment will be provided to all patients regardless of their age, sex, race, language, religion, cultural background, or financial situation.

3. We will make sure you know the name and role of anyone involved in your care.

4. We will respect your privacy and will ensure that you are able to discuss your condition and treatment with your medical provider in private. Likewise, our staff will not discuss you or your treatment outside of the office, in the presence of other patients, or with any staff member who does not need to know about your condition or treatment.

5. We also extend our respect for your privacy to your medical records and other documents associated with your care. Your records will be treated confidentially and will not be released to any other party without your written consent, unless required by law or court order.

6. We will ensure that you are fully aware of the nature of your condition, possible treatments, risks and benefits, rationale for diagnosis, potential for recovery, and the like. You will be encouraged to ask questions, and your questions will be answered thoroughly and with respect.

7. Your input and treatment preferences will be valued and encouraged when your provider is advising you on the best course of treatment for your condition.

8. We want you to be comfortable and satisfied with your care. Accordingly, if you would like to change from one provider to another within our office, we will be happy to assist you.

9. When you leave our facility after a procedure or appointment, we will provide you with clear information regarding your next appointment, follow-up care, discharge instructions, and/or instructions for how/when to contact the office as needed.

13. We will respect your right to express complaints about your treatment. We will listen to your complaint with respect and respond appropriately.

Patient Responsibilities

In addition to patient rights, patients also have several responsibilities in order to receive care at our facility:

1. Patients are expected to treat the staff, other patients, and patients’ friends or family members with respect and courtesy.
2. Patients must behave in such a way that does not hinder their treatment or the treatment of others. Accordingly, patients must cooperate with staff requests for the sake of everyone’s safety and comfort.
3. Patients must assume financial responsibility for services received at our facility.
4. Patients must provide all requested information to ensure appropriate treatment, such as previous medical history, imaging, insurance card(s), and a copy of the patient’s advanced health care directive or living will, if applicable.
5. Patients must follow provider’s orders after discharge to ensure maximum recovery and safety. This may include finding a friend or family member to drive the patient home after a procedure and/or stay with the patient for 24 hours after the procedure.

Our Privacy Policy

            A copy of our Privacy Policy is available upon request.