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PRIMARY CARE
At this time Dr. William Buchholz is not accepting new primary care patients. New Hematology and Oncology patients will be seen promptly. Depending upon your insurance, if wish to see Dr. Buchholz in consultation you may need authorization from your primary care physician or you will be responsible for the entire bill.
INSURANCE
It is the policy of the office that the patient is responsible for payment of the bill. If you wish insurance to pay for your appointment you must present your "card" before being seen and allow us to verify your coverage and make sure we are eligible for it. We are members of many PPOs but no longer accept HMO insurance plans (unless they offer a POS or point-of-service option). If we are not listed in your provider book, please check with our office since we are joining new plans all the time. Even if we are not listed (i.e. out of network provider), many insurance plans will pay (for example) 70% for our services as outside providers versus 80% for those on their list. For some plans we do your insurance billing. For others you will have to file your own claim. We will provide you with the necessary documents.
If you have a co-pay, this is due at the time of service. We do accept Medicare patients but because of difficulties in providing what we consider appropriate care we do not accept MediCal.
If you change insurance while you are receiving care at our office, please notify us immediately and verify that we are still eligible under your new plan.
We are happy to see you even if we are not on your plan (e.g., Kaiser), or if you wish services that are not covered on that plan. You will be informed before the visit of the charges and asked to sign a statement acknowledging that you agree to this arrangement. Payment is expected at the time service is rendered.
Telephone appointments are billed as regular appointments (as if you were in our office) in accord with the time allotted. Some health plans have restrictions on telephone appointments and will not cover these charges; the charges then become the patient's responsibility.
APPOINTMENTS
We try to see patients as quickly as possible. Urgent problems are seen within 24 to 36 hours. Depending upon the nature of the emergency, patients may have to be seen in the ER or Urgent Care Clinic if they cannot be accommodated that day in the office. Newly diagnosed patients with cancer are accommodated within 1 week. We generally run on time (really!) because we know you don't like to wait any more than we do. If you are referred by another patient or by a health professional please let us know.
If you have outside records or X-rays bring them with you or have them sent so they arrive before your visit. If you need lab tests or X-rays before your visit please arrange to have them done at least 1 week before your visit so the reports are available on time.
If you have to cancel your appointment please give 24 hour notice so we may allow other sick patients to use that time. There will be a charge for missed appointments unless notice is given.
Please verify your insurance coverage before making an appointment.
OFFICE HOURS
Dr. William Buchholz sees patients Monday through Thursday, 9:30AM to 5PM by appointment. He makes hospital rounds between 8AM and 9:30AM. Dr. Susan Buchholz sees patients Monday through Friday with both morning and afternoon appointments. Dr. Damon Miller, Catherine Burns, Margaret Barilli and Jeanne Fournier see patients by appointment.
LABORATORY & X-RAYS
We will send or give you a laboratory or X-ray request if you need tests before your visit. You may have your blood drawn at Quest with the results generally available to us within 24 hours. They have offices throughout the Bay Area and are open from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, and from 8AM to 12:30PM on Saturdays. Alternatively, patients may have tests done at El Camino Hospital Lab 6AM to 10PM, every day. X-Rays and scans are done at El Camino Hospital or Valley Radiology but may be done at other facilities if needed. Patients may schedule their own mammograms. Some X-rays (chest X-ray, bone X-rays, etc.) do not need an appointment and a "walk-in" with a phone or written request is adequate. Our staff will help you make appointments for CT and MRI scans.
ON-CALL COVERAGE
Dr. William Buchholz shares call with a group of internists affiliated with El Camino Hospital. Dr. Susan Buchholz has several colleagues who are available if she is not. There is always a physician or psychologist available. If you need someone after hours or on weekends, call our office and our exchange will answer. They will put you through to us if we are on call or to the covering physician or psychologist.
PHONE CALLS
Phone calls are returned. Urgent phone calls are returned promptly and others by the end of the day (rarely, the next morning). Please specify the nature of the call and where you may be reached at various times. If distance or disability prevents you from coming to our office, you may make arrangements for phone consultations.
HOSPITAL AFFILIATIONS
Dr. William Buchholz has been on the medical staff of El Camino Hospital since 1978 and generally admits patients there.
LECTURES & WORKSHOPS
Members of our medical group are available to give lectures and workshops on topics including cancer prevention and treatment, oriental medicine, wellness, preventive medicine, etc. Please contact our office if your company or group would like a speaker or health education program.
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