WHY AM I BEING REFERRED TO A NEPHROLOGIST?
Your doctor has a concern regarding your kidney function or other issue best addressed by a kidney specialist. Many patients are unaware they have kidney disease as it is painless in its early stages.
WHO WILL SEE ME?
Smiley Thakur, M.D., FRCPC, is a Board Certified Internist and Nephrologist with a fellowship in Transplantation Medicine. He has been in private practice in the Seattle area since January 1999. He is credentialed with local hospitals and kidney dialysis centers. His teaching has been recognized by the University of Washington where he is a Clinical Assistant Professor. His focus is the diagnosis and prevention of kidney disease. Patients are also assisted with transplantation and dialysis options.
HOW DO I START THIS PROCESS?
Please call our office number at (206) 709-2009 and our staff will:
1. Offer you a choice of three office locations
2. Book your appointment
3. Get records from your doctor
4. Make sure your understand how we bill for our services - Click Here for Our Fee Schedule
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR FIRST VISIT
You will be requested to review our practice agreement and sign.
Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time to complete these forms. You will receive copies. The doctor evaluation will take approximately 1 hour.
THINGS TO BRING
- Any medical records you may have (we will copy these and return the originals)
- An accurate list of your current prescribed, over the counter, herbal, and vitamin medications.
- A personal calendar (we will be booking your follow up appointment at the end of the visit)
IS THERE A FEE TO BELONG TO THE PRACTICE?
No. There is no membership fee. This is not a concierge practice. Patients do not pay any fees for services they do not receive.
WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE A PROBLEM AFTER HOURS?
Dr. Thakur, or another nephrologist, is on call 24 hours a day. You can reach him after hours by following the voice prompts on the main number. Your call will be answered by the doctor within 5 minutes.
WHAT IF I NEED TO BE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL?
Dr. Thakur will speak with the ER at the hospital you will be arriving to facilitate your treatment. Note, Dr. Thakur does not provide in hospital care. This will be assumed by other specialists while you are in hospital. Dr. Thakur is always available by phone to assist these specialists. I've managed patients this way since 2003.
HOW IS MY PRIVACY MAINTAINED?
We observe state privacy laws. Your privacy is important to us. Your information will not be shared outside the physicians you designate.
WHO PAYS FOR ANY TESTS, TREATMENTS, REFERRALS ORDERED?
You will not pay Dr. Thakur for these. Your insurance pays for tests, treatments, and referrals that are ordered by Dr. Thakur, just like any other provider. The costs of these are ultimately determined by your insurance company, as always.
WHY NOT JUST TAKE INSURANCE? WOULDN'T THAT BE SIMPLER?
There is a short and long answer to this question. As insurance companies pay doctors less and less for their service, doctors must hurry more and more. This is bad for the patient as well as the doctor. Quality and satisfaction suffer. The only way to break this cycle, is to acknowledge that external paying agencies will always call the tune. If you want the experience to be different, better, more personalized, the doctor-patient visit must exclude their influence. This is why, after 9 years of private practice, I decided a self-pay arrangement was the only the way I could spent the time my patients needed, the time I needed, to continue to provide excellent care.
HOW CAN I PAY?
We accept and checks , debit, and credit cards. Payment is due at the end of each visit.
WHAT IF I MISS OR CANCEL AN APPOINTMENT?
Life happens. There is no charge if we receive notice >24 hours (not including weekends) prior to your appointment that you won't be attending. For example, we need to know Friday 9 am if you won't be coming Monday 9 am. Patients who are ill or in hospital are exempted from this rule. Regrettably, we will not be able to continue to assist patients that frequently no-show.
WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE I COME TO MY FIRST APPOINTMENT?
Dr. Thakur or one his staff will call to confirm the reason for your appointment and clarify any questions you may have on our billing arrangements. We are transparent in our practice and this starts even before you arrive.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST VISIT?
When you call for an appointment, we will arrange to obtain records from your primary care physician. Prior to your appointment, these will be reviewed to assist Dr. Thakur prepare for your visit.
THINGS TO BRING:
Any medical records you may have (we will copy these and return the originals)
An accurate list of your current prescribed, over the counter, herbal, and vitamin medications. Some patients prefer to bring all their pills bottles. This is fine too.
A personal calendar (we will be booking your follow up appoint at the end of the visit)
At your first appointment, you will be requested to review our practice agreement and sign. Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time to complete these forms. You will receive copies.
DOCTOR EVALUATION
The doctor evaluation will take approximately 1 hour. We pride ourselves on running on time. You can count on a timely appointment. |
