Amarillo Endoscopy Center

Our Center

ENDOSCOPY

Examination of the GI tract is often best done by a procedure called endoscopy (examination of the upper GI tract), or colonoscopy (examination of the lower GI tract). If your physician feels that an endoscopy or colonoscopy is necessary to aid in the diagnosis or treatment of your condition, the procedure will be explained fully to you, outlining the potential benefits, risks, and alternatives at the time of your office visit. Brochures explaining these and other procedures are also available to you.

On the day of the procedure, we will ask you to sign a consent form, which outlines the risks and benefits of the procedure. If your test requires sedation, it is important for you to have a relative or friend come with you in order to drive you home after the procedure. Our policy is no sedation for a procedure will be administered unless the patient has made arrangements for someone to drive him/her home. If arrangements have not been made, you will be asked to reschedule your procedure. After your test, the doctor will discuss the findings with you. Usually, you will be asked to return for a follow-up appointment to review the findings and any biopsies which were taken, and to discuss the plan of treatment in more detail.

FEES

If you have a procedure performed at AEC, you will receive two separate charges. One will be from the physician for their professional fee; the other charge will be from AEC for the use of the facility (room charge, medication, equipment usage, nursing care, etc.). In general, the fees charged at AEC are comparable with those charged by other ambulatory surgery centers in this area. Please do not hesitate to discuss our fees if you have any questions. There will be a separate fee from Panhandle Anesthesia Services for Anesthesia given to you for your procedure. You will receive a separate fee from a pathologist for any pathology taken.

INSURANCE

AEC physicians accept assignment on Medicare patients. The individual is responsible for co-payments and deductibles. We also participate in a number of managed care contracts. Please inform the admitting clerk if you are covered by one of these programs. For your convenience and ours, please have your insurance card ready at the time of your visit.

We will file your insurance claims for inpatient services and procedures. As an added courtesy, we will also file your secondary or supplemental insurance claims. In addition, a deposit may be required before the procedure.

PATIENT INFORMATION

Medical records are maintained in a confidential manner. Information regarding your diagnosis, medications, test results, and other necessary items will be made available to your referring physician. Worker’s compensation, insurance, disability, rehabilitation, and others can obtain information only with a signed release from the patient. Hospital records and records from other physicians or labs may be helpful to your AEC physician. You may be asked to sign a release so that we may obtain these records.

TELEPHONE CALLS

The doctor-patient relationship is a private one. For this reason, we do not provide information to others about our patients without their prior consent. We receive a large number of calls everyday and it is impossible for the doctor to personally talk to each patient. If you have questions regarding fees or billing, your call will be directed accordingly. If you have questions regarding your medical problems, your call will be directed to a nurse who will speak with you or return your call as soon as possible.

Calls regarding medications or refills should be made during regular office hours so that your chart may be reviewed. Please have the name, dosage, and schedule of your medication, as well as the pharmacy telephone number on hand when you call. The staff will do their best to provide your prescription or refill in a timely manner.