When you call my office during office hours there will be no recording to navigate…only real people to take your call, with a real concern for your health and well-being. All phone calls will be returned

This allows easy and direct communications for urgent medical problems that occur outside of my regular office hours. I will use my reasonable best efforts to be available to hear from you when you are ill or injured to coordinate your care. However, for emergencies, always call 911 first.

You will receive a prompt response from me personally (usually within 24 hours). You may send a text message if a brief communication is appropriate. Because email and text communications are not always secure, please use discretion when choosing topics to discuss with me via these platforms. Your patient portal is the best way to communicate securely and confidentially.

Office visits will start promptly. Appointments will generally be scheduled for approximately 30 minutes, but some appointments (for example, a Comprehensive Annual Health Assessment) will be scheduled for approximately 60 minutes. Our aim is to afford you the time to thoroughly address all of your questions and concerns, regardless of the reason for your visit.

Office visits are best scheduled when the full complement of staff is available. However, should you require an occasional visit outside of our usual office hours, we will certainly do our best to reasonably accommodate you.

As part of my commitment to your long-term health and wellness, my philosophy is to educate you about the importance of fitness, weight management and healthy living. In addition to the clinical services I already offer through my practice, I will assist you in identifying and evaluating wellness providers and offerings. This will support your effort to take an active role in managing and maintaining your good health.

Should you need to be hospitalized, I will make myself available when I can to communicate with you and to serve as an advocate on your behalf, even when you are admitted to a facility at which I do not have privileges or where I am not your attending physician. If you wish, unless hospital policy or protocol does not allow, I will do what I reasonably can to remain involved in your care, including by making courtesy visits and/or communicating with the hospitalists or the other attending physicians who are providing services to you.

If you are acutely ill and unable to come to the office, but not homebound, a house call may be offered at no additional charge beyond an office visit fee. However, the need for each out-of-office visit will be determined on a case-by-case basis, at my discretion.

Whether you are on a brief vacation or living some of the year in a second residence, I am available for consultation. However, if in my judgment you need to be seen by a local physician, I will encourage you to seek medical attention. I will communicate with you directly, as well as with your treating physician as needed, to support the coordination of your care on health issues that may arise.

A staff member from my practice will personally pick up your non-narcotic prescription from a local pharmacy and deliver necessary medication to your home. This service will be determined on a case-by-case basis, at my discretion.

As part of my commitment to preventive care, I will provide you with an annual hearing screening exam, excluding diagnostic hearing and balance exams, regardless of any reported symptoms. I believe that regular hearing screenings are an important tool for early detection of hearing loss.

Should your out-of-town family or friends become ill during a visit to the Sumter area, I will be happy to see them in my office and assist with their medical care. I will treat them as though they are a member of my practice.

I will provide seasonal newsletters on medical subjects of interest.