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Patient Care

Orthopaedic surgeons at UT Southwestern Medical Center have long been recognized for their success in the treatment of:

  • Orthopaedic trauma
  • Arthritis
  • Joint replacement
  • Sports injuries
  • Hand surgery
  • Other musculoskeletal conditions

UT Southwestern’s team of physicians, researchers, and clinical service providers evaluate patients and create a comprehensive treatment program for their specific condition. UT Southwestern physicians work with patients to choose the course of action that will yield the best results, using minimally-invasive techniques whenever possible.

Confidentiality

Any information about your current or past medical history, diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis is confidential information as protected by state statute. Copies of reports from the medical records chart can be obtained by contacting the Medical Records Department at 214-645-3030. A signed release is required from the patient to obtain medical records. Medical records will not be released directly from the Orthopaedic Surgery Department.

Appointments

  • Each of the physicians on our team is a specialist, trained to provide you with the best care available anywhere. It may be necessary to refer you to another physician within the Department whose specialty better meets your needs.
  • We make every effort to see patients in a timely manner; however, delays can occur. Please help us keep on schedule by arriving on time. If you need to make information changes such as insurance, address, or phone number, please arrive 15 minutes early.
  • For your convenience, reminder calls are made several days prior to your visit. Please notify the office as soon as possible if your telephone number changes, so we can update your record.
  • If it is necessary to cancel an appointment, please let the Clinic know at least 24 hours in advance, if possible. This is important for the courtesy of other patients who may be in need of urgent care.
  • To enhance your care and to complete a comprehensive medical history, some of the physicians require that questionnaires be completed prior to your initial visit. If the forms have been mailed to you, please complete them at home and bring them to your visit.
  • Please bring previous X-rays and accompanying reports, medical records, the name and address of your referring physician, names of current medications, and all insurance identifications to your appointment. If your previous diagnostic reports are not available at this visit, an additional appointment may be necessary.

Prescriptions and Refills

Prescriptions will be written for you at your visit and will be written in conjunction with your next expected appointment date. If you need a prescription refill, please contact your pharmacy and have them fax a refill request to 214-645-3323 (except for Orthopaedic Spine, for which the fax number is 214-645-3366.) If you feel you need a new prescription, one the doctor has not ordered for you previously, please call 214-645-3300. Leave a message for the nurse specifying why you may need a new prescription. Please allow one business day for a new prescription or refill to permit time for consultation with the appropriate physician.

Nurse Calls

For your safety, if you have a medical emergency, please call 911. If you need to contact the Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic, please call 214-645-3300. For the Spine Center, please call 214-645-3360. A staff member will take your call and send a message to the appropriate nurse, who will return your call within four hours. Please leave a valid phone number for callback. Please Note: Calls received after 1 p.m. may not be returned until the next business day.

X-Rays, Specialized Tests, and Surgery

  • X-rays may be taken during your office visit on the 1st Floor of the Outpatient Building.
  • If you require more detailed studies, such as CT scan or MRI, they will be pre-certified with your insurance company and then scheduled by the scheduling personnel.
  • Once insurance authorizations have been obtained, you will be contacted and given the dates of the tests.
  • Most outpatient diagnostic and surgical procedures require pre-certification, and this process can take up to a week to be completed.
  • Inpatient surgery scheduling is made for you by our office through William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital or Parkland Health & Hospital System.

Insurance and Billing

Many of our patients are enrolled in managed care plans which require a primary care physician (PCP). These insurance plans require referrals from the PCP to specialists. Without the written referral, the specialist cannot see the patient. Insurance companies will not back-date referrals for the patient's convenience. It is the patient's responsibility to obtain the necessary referrals to be seen by the specialist. Referrals are usually written for a specified number of visits. It is also the patient's responsibility to keep in mind the number of visits authorized and to request further authorization as your visits expire. Currently Accepted Insurance Plans

If you will be covered by Worker's Compensation, it is important to alert the scheduling staff. Worker's Compensation insurance has to be authorized prior to the visit, just as with private insurance.

Normally, payment is due at the time of service. This includes co-payments, co-insurance, deductibles, and balances not covered by insurance. In an effort to expedite the exit process, we ask that you pay your co-pay amount prior to seeing the doctor. This will reduce the congestion at the check-out area and allow a smooth exit. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.

Billing is handled off-site. For any questions regarding billing processes, please call 214-645-0600.

Campus Amenities

Guest and Patient Services

We want to ensure that your visit to our campus is as convenient and comfortable as possible. Arrangements for wheelchairs or other special assistance can be made by calling a UT Southwestern Patient Ambassador at 214-645-3395. For those who live out of town, several hotels located near campus provide discounted rates for patients and their family members and complimentary transportation to and from campus.

Parking

Valet parking is provided to all patients for a fee of $5. Please remember to have your parking ticket validated before you leave the clinic. Self-parking is also available across the street from the Outpatient Building.

Learn more about Orthopaedic Surgery programs, meet our specialists, get details on our locations, and find out how to request an appointment, at utswmed.org. 

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