OFFICE INFORMATION
Appointments
Office hours are by appointment. Please call or fax well in advance to make appointments, try to be on time. Each time you make an appointmaent, explain briefly to the receptionist why you are seeing the physician so that she may schedule your appointment appropriately. If you find that you cannot keep your appointment, please call the office at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment to cancel it. This will make it possible for another patient to be seen during that time. If you do have an emergency, call the office and we will rearrange the scheduled appointments so that you can be seen immediately!
We really try to see you at the appointed time. We believe strongly in the value of your time and we do our best to keep you from having to wait for a long period of time. However, in the specialty of gynecology and especially cancer care, surgical delays and emergency patients and their issues may cause unforeseen and unpredictable delays. I beg your indulgence. The receptionist will keep you informed of such delays, and be happy to reschedule your appointment if your other commitments are affected.
Laboratory results
You will be notified of all laboratory results, such as blood tests, sonograms, cultures, pap smears performed or ordered by Dr. O'Hanlan or Ms. Kuzmich. State law mandates that mammograms be resulted to you directly by the mammography center. If you do not hear from us within two weeks regarding your results of completed tests we have ordered or arranged, please contact our office.
Telephone calls
We welcome and encourage you to call the office if you have a problem, a question, or need to get in touch with Dr. O'Hanlan or Ms. Kuzmich for any reason. Please make all non-emergency phone calls weekdays, when we can have your records directly available. Our office hours vary with my surgery schedule, but recorded calls are answered usually within 24 hours. The outgoing voicemail for the office gives Dr. O'Hanlan's cell phone number which is for use by other doctors, and by any patient with a true life-threatening emergency.
An emergency call should be just that--true emergency situations. When contacting the office, state that an emergency exists. Our after-hours voice-mail gives Dr. O'Hanlan's cell phone for patient use in real medical emergencies. Please do not use her cell phone except for such emergencies.
Because Dr. O'Hanlan's time is usually scheduled, the receptionist will either schedule an appointment for you or channel your call to Dr. O'Hanlan for response. If the call is for a medication refill, let the receptionist know the medication and dose and your pharmacy's telephone number.
Hospitals
Dr. O'Hanlan primarily admits to Sequoia Hospital. in Redwood City, CA. This hospital offers the highest quality care that she requires for her patients.
If you require hospitalization or surgery, Dr. O'Hanlan and colleagues will see you daily. She is happy to discuss your condition with your family or friends, but only if you so direct. Please designate one individual for this exchange of information.
Insurance and Fees
Dr. O'Hanlan accepts MediCal and Medicare assignment. Most insurance contracts are honored; but when Dr. O'Hanlan is not contracted with your insurance plan, she will work with you to either accept the insurance contracted rates or create an equitable working relationship with you. Our office staff is always happy to discuss your insurance coverage with you, providing accurate coverage information and recommendations.
Fees for services are within the customary range for this area, and reflect the level of care you will receive as well as the extensive training and experience of Dr. O'Hanlan in her field. Fees charged to each person are based on the services provided. You will receive an itemized charge ticket at the end of each visit. We ask that you make your co-pay as required by your HMO or PPO, or pay for your treatment at the time of service. Because we do not keep money in the office, we are unable to make change, so please bring a check or a credit card or the exact amount. Always bring your insurance card with you to each visit, and provide information about changes of insurance or of address or telephone number.
Even though Dr. O'Hanlan may make recommendation about your treatment, your insurance company may not be willing to pay for that procedure or treatment appointment. The responsibility for payment of all fees is yours regardless of insurer allowance or disallowance, unless you are a patient enrolled in MediCal, Medicare Part B, or a contracted HMO. If you are in a managed care plan or contracted HMO plan, you will pay the practice only your co-payments and deductibles, if any. Managed care plan and contracted HMO plan patients are responsible for bringing their referral form from their physicians.
It is recommended that you discuss fee management for gynecological surgery with the receptionist in order to arrange payment schedules that are convenient and acceptable. If there are unexpected financial problems, please let us know immediately.
Registration and Records
On your first visit, it is best to arrive about 15 minutes early, since the initial registration procedure takes added time. Basic background information will be requested to initiate your medical record. In addition, extensive family history and personal medical history questions are included in the background questionnaire so that cancers, heart disease and osteoporosis can be prevented altogether or diagnosed early. For your protection, this medical record is strictly confidential. We will release no medical information regarding you or anyone, unless we have your written authorization. Please let Dr. O'Hanlan know which referring doctor sent you so that she may keep them informed of your medical care and progress.
WELL-WOMAN, PREVENTATIVE CARE EXAMS, MENOPAUSAL HRT/ERT CONSULTATIONS
There is no substitute for preventive care. Megan Kuzmich performs these periodic exams, which includes prevention strategies to reduce risk for all of the gynecologic cancers, breast cancer, colon cancer, heart disease, and osteoporosis, all the major threats to a healthy life. Even if a hysterectomy has been performed, Pap smear and pelvic exam with the associated preventive strategies for a healthy life are essential. Megan can also evaluate and prescribe bio-identical hormone therapies for menopausal women as they transition into the second half of life.