About Your Appointment

How far in advance should I call to make an appointment?

Established patients are encouraged to use our patient portal to request routine follow-up appointments.  Specifics with regard to month, day, time and symptoms can be conveyed via the portal, as can the most convenient time for a return phone call, if necessary.

Patients who do not have access to our patient portal, should call well in advance so that we can schedule your appointment on a day and time most convenient for you.

If you are acutely ill, call the office immediately.  Depending on the situation, you may be worked into the schedule for that day, or you may be requested to go to an Urgent Care Facility.

Do I need a referral from my family doctor?

Depending on your specific insurance coverage, a referral from your family doctor may be required.  For information on insurance coverage, please contact your insurance company.  If a referral is required, you must bring it with you to your appointment.  You can also request that your primary care physician fax the referral to our office.  If you choose to have this done, it is your responsibility to verify that the referral is faxed to the office at which you are being seen prior to your appointment.  Insurance companies will not allow our physicians to evaluate you without the required referral.

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

We ask that you contact our office as soon as you know you will not be able to keep your appointment.  The most convenient and quickest way to do this is via our patient portal.  If you do not have access to our portal, call our office to cancel your appointment.  Appointments not cancelled within a 24-hour period will result in a missed appointment fee.

What should I bring with me to my first appointment?

Please bring your current insurance card(s) and a valid photo ID.  Also, bring, or arrange for us to receive, your pertinent medical records, sleep study reports, pulmonary function test results, as well as any recent CT or chest x-rays you have had.  You may be requested to bring a disk with your film images; reports will not suffice. You will also need a list of current medications (prescription, non-prescription and supplements).  Be prepared to discuss any illnesses that run in your family, hospital stays longer than several days, and any surgery that you have had in the past.

About Your Insurance

Does PCCA accept my insurance?

We accept most insurances.  For specifics regarding co-pays and deductibles, which are due at the time of service, we recommend that you contact your insurance company.

My insurance plan has changed, what do I need to do?

Using our patient portal is the quickest and most convenient way to update your insurance information. By clicking on My Messages (located in the dark blue bar at the top of the portal screen) and selecting ask an insurance question from the I would like to field, you can quickly and easily inform us of any changes to your insurance.

If you do not have access to our patient portal, contact our office as soon as you are aware of any change in your insurance policy.  Be sure to bring your new insurance card and any information regarding the change with you to your next appointment.

About Our Doctors

I called the office to talk to my doctor, when will he/she call me back?

Messages of an urgent nature will be addressed promptly. Messages for routine matters are given to the doctors on a daily basis. Your doctor or a member of our staff will return your call.  Please understand that to properly diagnose and treat most medical conditions an examination is necessary.  If acutely ill, you will likely be instructed to go to your local Emergency Department.

Do PCCA physicians see children?

Our physicians do not typically see children under the age of 16.  We welcome you to inquire if you have a specific question about treating children under the age of 16.

With which hospitals are PCCA physicians affiliated?

Our PCCA physicians are affiliated with four major healthcare systems in the community, including:

• Ascension St. John Hospital
• McLaren Macomb
• Henry Ford Macomb Hospital
• Corewell Health Troy & Grosse Pointe

We are also affiliated with long-term acute care facilities (LTAC), such as:

• Select Specialty Macomb & Grosse Pointe

My follow-up appointment is with a physician assistant (PA), what is a PA?

Physician Assistants (PAs) practice medicine under the supervision of physicians and surgeons.  They are fully licensed by the State of Michigan and are all certified in their field.  They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative healthcare services, as delegated by a physician.  Working as members of a healthcare team, they take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x-rays, make diagnosis and prescribe medications.  PAs record progress notes, and instruct and counsel patients.