WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY SPECIALTY CLINICS® - SURGERY

We would like to welcome you as a new patient to our practice. This information will help introduce you to our practice and answer some of the questions our patients most frequently ask. We want you to feel comfortable and secure with our practice policies and procedures and invite you to discuss the information contained here with us anytime you wish. Our staff members will be happy to provide you with any assistance you may need.

ABOUT OUR PRACTICE

The Department of Surgery of the University Specialty Clinics® is a private practice specializing in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of health problems which may require operative intervention.  Our practice maintains affiliation with the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Palmetto Health Richland Hospital, and Dorn Veterans Administration Hospital. Each of our physicians are a member of the faculty of the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and, in addition to patient care, provide the primary teaching responsibilities for surgical residents and medical students at these affiliated institutions. 

OFFICE HOURS

Our regular office hours are Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

APPOINTMENTS

We see all patients on an appointment basis and request you call in advance so a time can be reserved.  Walk in patients will not be seen without an appointment unless a genuine medical emergency is evident. For appointments call (803) 256-2657 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On the day of your appointment, please bring the completed paperwork that was mailed to you in advance of your appointment, driver’s license or other form of photo identification, all pertinent insurance information with you including, if your insurance carrier requires it, a preauthorization form or number.  We need to keep a copy of this insurance information in your file in order to assist you with handling payment for the services rendered.  Due to allergies, please do not wear perfume or cologne.

Every effort will be made to honor scheduled appointment times and to avoid long waits or delays. The nature of our practice dictates your surgeon may be called to perform emergency procedures in life-threatening situations. If this situation occurs, you will be informed by the receptionist and asked to wait for the physician or given a new appointment time. If you have waited more than 15 minutes beyond your scheduled appointment time and no explanation has been offered, please inform the receptionist.

We request that should you need to cancel a scheduled appointment, you do so as early as possible. Consistent failure to keep appointments may result in a charge to you.
 
Our offices are located at Two Medical Park, Suite 300 for General Surgery and Suite 302 for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

AFTER HOURS EMERGENCIES

Emergency treatment is provided for our patients at night, on weekends, and on holidays.  Please call our main telephone number, (803) 256-2657 and our answering service will contact the physician on call immediately.  We will not refill or prescribe pain medications after hours, on weekends, or holidays.

TELEPHONE CONSULTATION

You may call our office with any questions concerning your health care. Telephone consultations regarding medications, treatments, or test results are ordinarily handled by our nursing staff.  If our staff can not assist you, they will relay information or questions to the appropriate physician. Your call will be returned at the earliest possible opportunity. It is not our policy to prescribe medications over the telephone.

AUXILIARY SERVICES

In most cases, lab specimens will be drawn at the office and sent to a commercial laboratory. Radiology services are rendered at Palmetto Health Richland Hospital and 3 Medical Park Diagnostic Services. These procedures will be billed directly to you either from the hospital or medical laboratory and will be payable to them rather than our office. This is a separate charge from our services. 

PROFESSIONAL FEES

The Department of Surgery shares in the growing concern over the cost of medical care. Our fees are in line with fees charged by other surgeons with similar training, expertise, and experience. Current economic factors are also considered in our fee structure and are not determined by any insurance company, medical society, or government agency. You are responsible to us for the fees charged.

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

Our practice in now offering self-pay and cosmetic surgery financing options.  Please ask our receptionist about our available programs.

Payment for office visits and services is expected at the time of service. Co-payments and deductibles will be collected at the time of check-in. We accept cash, personal checks, and most major credit cards for office services. Financial counseling services are available. If you have a problem, please speak to the receptionist and he/she will direct you to our patient accounts representative.  Any arrangement for delayed payment should be made in advance.

In the case of those patients involved in accident litigation, the patient is responsible to pay for services rendered in full at the time of service as our department does not honor letters of protection from attorney’s offices.

Cosmetic surgical services are payable 15 days prior to your scheduled surgery date.  We do not accept credit card payments for these surgical procedures.  You may pay for your procedure by cash, personal check, cashiers check, or certified money order. 

Our patient accounts department will file insurance claims on your behalf for major surgical procedures; however, it is essential that you bring your insurance cards and other pertinent information with you such as insurance preauthorizations.  We ask that you keep us informed of any change in your name, address, telephone number, or insurance coverage.   Likewise, patients that do not have insurance will be classified as self-pay and are expected to make arrangements to settle their accounts by either paying in full or speaking with a patient accounts representative to set up a payment plan.

We usually require a deposit for certain procedures considered elective (non-life threatening conditions). Most insurance carriers now require prior approval for payment of services. Pre-authorization for services is not a guarantee of payment. Please be familiar with the requirements of your policy before asking us to schedule your operative procedure. We will allow 45 days grace period for your insurance company to process and pay assigned claims. Payment in full is expected by you after the grace period has elapsed. We do accept assignment for Medicare claims. The patient is responsible for deductible and coinsurance portions as provided by federal law. Any balance resulting from underpayment by your insurance company must be paid by you.

Questions regarding insurance claims or monthly statements should be directed to our patient accounts representatives at (803) 256-2657.

DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY FACULTY
GENERAL SURGERY
Suite 300
Richard M. Bell, M.D.
Raymond P. Bynoe, M.D.
Stephen A. Fann, M.D.
Robert R.M. Gifford, M.D.
James L. Haynes, M.D.
Brent E. Krantz, M.D.
James E. Morrison, M.D.
James M. Nottingham, M.D.
David B. Renton, M.D.

PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY
Suite 302
Harold I. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D.
Jeffrey R. LaGrasso, M.D.
Mary J. Aitchison, Ph.D.

TRAUMA/CRITICAL CARE
Suite 300
Raymond P. Bynoe, M.D.
Stephen A. Fann, M.D.
James E. Morrison, M.D.

VASCULAR SURGERY
Suite 300
Robert R.M. Gifford, M.D.
James L. Haynes, M.D.

Thank you for allowing our practice to participate in your care. Be assured we will endeavor to assist you in every way possible, and we invite your questions or comments about our practice and your treatment by our physicians and staff.