General Information for Patients
Welcome to Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists! We have provided quality orthopaedic care for over 90 years (click
here for history of AOS), proudly serving the East Coast, and we thank you for choosing us. Our basic philosophy has always been to provide those who come to us with the most courteous, sympathetic treatment and with the highest quality of medical care.
Office Hours
Our office hours are by appointment only from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday - Friday.
Payments
Co-payments are due at the time of your visit as established by managed care companies and HMOs. If insurance is not being filed, we ask that you pay your bill in full at the time of your visit.
Appointments
When calling to schedule an appointment, please have the following information available:
- Nature of the problem
- Type of insurance you have
- Whether you have X-rays or MRIs to bring
- Name of referring physician
- Physician you prefer to see
- Referral for HMO patients
We try to do our best to accommodate work schedules, any special circumstances or emergencies. We also have Express Care available for urgent care injuries. In this instance, appointments can be made for the same day or within 24 hours.
Prescription Refills
Refills for prescriptions need to be called in to the office between 8:45 AM - 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Medications cannot be approved for refill without a review of your chart.
Please call to refill your prescription(s) before you may run out taking into account any weekends and/or holidays. Without first accessing your chart for review, your doctor may not be able to authorize a refill.
When calling in your prescription, have the medication bottle in front of you so that you will be able to give both the name of the medication and the phone number of the pharmacy.
Emergencies
The physicians at Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists are available for emergencies 24 hours a day.
Daytime: During regular office hours our physicians are available by calling (757)321-3300. For an appointment call (757) 321-3360.
After Hours: After regular hours, please call our answering service at (757)875-9479. The on-call physician will return your call.
Diagnostic Tests
Please bring any current x-rays and MRIs with you when you come for your appointment. A doctor's report alone is not sufficient for our doctors to make a diagnosis.
Injury Notes
- Swelling: Usually takes place at the time of injury and can last up to 48 hours after the injury. Swelling is normal and is part of the healing process. Swelling can be reduced by keeping the injured part elevated above the heart and by applying ice to the injured part during the first 72 hours after the injury.
- Circulation: Tingling and numbness usually occur in the injured area and can be relieved by changing the position of the injured area frequently unless your physician advises you against it.
- Pain: While anti-inflammatory medication is recommended for pain, it will not totally relieve the discomfort of a bad sprain or fracture. The pain should decrease 72 hours after injury.
- Cast/Splint Care: Keep the cast and padding underneath the cast dry. Do not poke under the cast with any objects as you could scratch the skin or break off pieces of the cast.
Referrals
It is the responsibility of the patient to have a valid referral or referral authorization number for each visit. This would include post operative visits, referrals from the emergency room, referrals from other physicians and ALL follow up care, etc. Please ask for a copy of your referral so that you can keep up with the number of visits.
Billing
The billing office is open Monday through Friday from 8:05 AM - 4:50 PM to answer any questions you may have about your bill. Please call 757-321-3300 (option3) and ask for the billing department. We do not bill auto insurance or any other third party.
Phone Messages
Due to the large volume of patients we see each day, physicians are not able to answer all phone calls immediately. Your doctor's secretary will answer your call and take a message for the doctor. All phone messages will be returned by the doctor before the end of the day.
Insurance
Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists participates with most major insurance plans including: Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Sentara/Optima, Aetna, United HealthCare, Champus, Medicare, Medicaid, Cigna, and HealthKeepers.
As a courtesy to our patients, Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists will file your primary and secondary insurance claims.