When you arrive for your office visit, a Tulsa Bone & Joint receptionist will make photocopies of your insurance card and your photo ID. You will complete the registration process via electronic tablet. Please remember to bring any MRI or x-rays taken within the last 12 months and a list of current medications including strengths and dosages. A copay will be collected at the time of your visit.
As a patient, you should call your insurance company to verify eligibility, benefit type, co-payment amount, deductibles, and referral requirements at least 3 – 5 days prior to your appointment.
Many insurance companies require you to obtain an authorization from your primary care physician prior to your appointment. You must contact your primary care physician’s office at least 3 days prior to your visit at TBJ to ensure they have forwarded your authorization.
If you arrive for your appointment without an authorization, we may be required to reschedule your appointment.
Tulsa Bone & Joint processes authorizations for all surgeries and some diagnostic services, such as MRI. Each insurance company has its own rules regarding authorizing outside services. Please contact your insurance company, your primary care physician (PCP), or your workers’ compensation adjuster to obtain authorization for testing or therapy. Once authorization is obtained, please call to schedule your test.
If you have any questions regarding your test or equipment, call (918) 392-1400, press “0,” and ask the operator to connect you to the proper department.
The nature of our practice is to give every patient the utmost in comprehensive care and service. At times your physician may need to spend a little more time with a patient than anticipated to fully evaluate the patient and offer the most comprehensive course of treatment.
Additionally, because our physicians provide on-call service at St. John Medical Center, they may be called out for emergency surgery during clinic hours. For these reasons, please excuse any delays you may experience in wait time for your appointment. If necessary, we will reschedule your appointment.
We are proud of the outstanding professional level of our physicians, and we appreciate your patience should our physicians’ clinics run late. We will give you the same careful attention as soon as possible.
A parent or legal guardian must accompany new patients under the age of 18 at their initial visit. State law governs exception to this policy. Please call the office in advance of visit, if you have questions or require an exception.
Please listen carefully to the instructions given to you by your physician and their assistants. They will give you information regarding your pre-operative testing and admission for surgery. If you have any additional questions regarding your surgery, contact your physician’s office.
We verify insurance coverage and obtain authorization for surgeries where required by the insurance company. You will be contacted prior to surgery if it is determined you owe a copay or coinsurance. Any outstanding balance will need to be paid prior to the date of surgery, or the surgery may need to be rescheduled.
Some surgeons work in teams with physician assistants or advanced registered nurse practitioners. Because these teams work together every day, they are highly specialized and experienced in the procedures they perform. This specialization may result in a better patient outcome.
All surgery charges will be billed to your insurance carrier. However, your insurance may not cover the surgical assist fees. Please understand that should your insurance deny payment on a surgical assist, you will be responsible for the unpaid balance.
Our regular hours of operation are Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm. Our Orthopedic Urgent Care Clinic is open 11 am – 7:00 pm Monday through Friday and 8 am – Noon on Saturday.
In case of a non-life threatening medical emergency outside of these hours, an established patient may call (918) 392-1400 and speak with our answering service. The physician on call will be notified as appropriate.
Copies of medical records may be obtained by calling our main number at (918) 392-1400.
Processing requests takes approximately 10 working days. Please note there is a fee for this service. Download the Release of Medical Records or you can ask for it at the front desk at any Tulsa Bone & Joint location. You may fax this medical release to (918) 392-1401 or return it to the front desk at any Tulsa Bone & Joint.
Our physicians participate in most of the health plans in the area. Please check your provider manual if you are unsure about our participation. We also accept Medicare and workers’ compensation, but we do not accept third party liabilities, i.e. car accidents.
We will provide you with care that adheres to your insurance guidelines, however, we must have your help. It is impossible to keep track of all individual insurance plan requirements. We depend on YOU to know your coverage requirements. We will file your claims for you and assist you in obtaining maximum reimbursements, but ultimately, you are responsible for your bill.
For insurance plans that require referrals, please have your referring physician fax the following to 918-392-1401:
- Medical records pertaining to your condition
- Insurance authorization (if prior authorization required by your insurance company)
- Demographics and insurance information (front and back of your insurance card)
The required authorization must be received prior to scheduling your appointment.
Please have your insurance card(s) with you at each visit. You are responsible for notifying us of any change in your coverage at EACH visit. Please advise the receptionist of any address or telephone number changes.
Insurance is considered a method of assisting you with medical expenses and is not a substitute for payment. Your insurance card must be provided to avoid treating you as a cash patient. Without an insurance card, you may be responsible to pay for each visit.
It is our policy, with few exceptions, to bill your insurance company for you. However, you are responsible for any unmet deductibles, co-insurance, or non-covered benefits that may occur. If payment is not received from your insurance within 60 days, a statement may be sent to you.
Co-payments are due at the time of service for each visit in order to avoid rescheduling your appointment. The front desk personnel will collect co-pays at the time of registration prior to seeing the physician. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover for the co-payment or any amount not covered by your insurance; American Express payments are accepted via electronic tablet.
Tulsa Bone & Joint Associates has a workers’ compensation department to assist you, your employer, case manager, and adjuster during the care for your work comp injury. If you have any questions regarding workers’ comp, please call our main number at (918) 392-1403.
Tulsa Bone & Joint is dedicated to providing patient-centered, compassionate, comprehensive musculoskeletal care at the highest level.
Your Surgery
If you are having a procedure at the Union Pines Surgery Center, the information below will tell you what to expect from the Center, as well as what you need to do both before and after surgery.
Prior to your surgery, a nurse from the center will contact you by telephone to take a short medical history and answer any questions that you may have. If necessary, the center will schedule an appointment for you to visit an anesthesiologist prior to the day of surgery.
Tests Prior to Day of Surgery
If your physician orders lab tests, prior to surgery you will need to arrange for them to be performed either at your primary care physician’s office or an outside laboratory approved by your insurance company.
Food
We recommend that you do not smoke or consume alcohol for at least 48 hours prior to surgery.
We recommend eating a light dinner and drinking fluids the evening before your surgery. Please do not consume milk products or food after midnight of the evening prior to your surgery.
If a clear liquid diet is specified, some suggestions include black coffee, tea, apple juice, or pulp-free orange juice.
Dress
- Please wear comfortable, loose clothing appropriate for the procedure being performed.
- Nail polish, makeup, jewelry, and watches should not be worn the day of surgery. Possible exceptions should be specifically discussed with the pre-op nurse or anesthesiologist.
- Do not bring any valuables with you. The surgery center is not responsible for any lost or misplaced items.
- Bathe or shower the night before surgery.
Transportation
We recommend that you make arrangements for a responsible adult to drive you home, and ideally to stay with you the first night following your surgery.
Medical Issues & Tests
If you suspect that you are pregnant, please notify your physician and anesthesia personnel. A pregnancy test will be performed on all women of childbearing age prior to surgery. Anesthesia and medications may be harmful to the developing fetus.
If you experience any health changes between your last visit to your physician and the time of your procedure, please notify your physician immediately. Please report even minor changes, such as an elevated temperature, cold, or cough.
At reception you will be asked to complete the forms that apply to your stay with us, such as Assignments of Benefits, estimate of charges, resuscitate consent, and Medicare’s Advance Beneficiary Notice, if applicable.
In the pre-operative waiting area, a health care provider will have you read and sign a Consent to Surgery form, acknowledging your understanding of the procedure and granting permission for your physician to perform the scheduled procedure or procedures. If the person having surgery is a minor, or is unable to sign forms, then the consent form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
A parent or legal guardian must accompany any minor or impaired adult the day of surgery, and remain at the center throughout the patient’s stay.
A nurse will obtain and/or verify a health history, including height, weight, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure. A pregnancy test will be performed on all females of childbearing age. An EKG will be performed for patients who have a cardiac history, and a blood glucose test will be performed for those patients with a history of diabetes. Once these have been completed a health care provider will assist in preparing you for your surgery.
You will be asked to change into a surgical gown. Your clothes and personal belongings will be placed into a personal belongings bag. Please remember to leave all valuables at home.
Once the pre-operative nurse has completed preparing you for surgery, you may invite one person into the pre-op waiting area to wait with you.
After your surgical procedure is completed, you will move to the fully equipped, post anesthesia care unit, where you will be closely monitored by the anesthesiologist and the recovery nurses until you are cleared to go home.
Although the length of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit varies according to the type of procedure that was performed and your physicians instructions, most patients are discharged within two hours following surgery.
There are three different levels of post-operative care.
- Phase 1 Recovery – For patients who have had general anesthesia.
- Phase 2 Recovery
- Phase 3 Final Recovery – Visitors are allowed in phase 3 final recovery.
Your surgeon will provide post-operative instructions regarding diet, rest, exercise, and medications. Our center will provide you with a written copy of these instructions. The anesthesiologists will discharge you when they are confident you are in stable condition. You may experience sleepiness, dizziness, or nausea. These are normal side effects and may continue for 12 to 24 hours.
It is normal to feel drowsy after receiving anesthesia, therefore, we also recommend that you postpone the following activities for at least 24 hours after discharge:
- Driving and operating equipment or machinery
- Signing important papers
- Making significant decisions
- Drinking alcoholic beverages
On the day following your surgery one of our nurses will call you to check on your progress and answer any questions you may have.
The fee for the use of our Center includes equipment, supplies, medications administered at the time of your surgery, nursing care, and the use of the operating and recovery rooms. There may be additional charges for special or extraordinary items not included in this predetermined fee. Our fee does not include the surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiology, pathology, or laboratory fees. These entities will bill you separately.
The Center will bill your insurance company as a courtesy, however, the balance due is ultimately the responsibility of the patient, and will be requested from you if your insurance company does not pay within 60 days.
Most outpatient procedures performed in the facility are covered in whole or in part by medical insurance. You may be required to pay a deductible or co-pay as required by your insurance. Full payment is expected at the time of admission for non-covered procedures and for patients without medical insurance. The Center accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or personal checks. Please note there is a $25.00 fee for insufficient funds checks returned to the facility.
