What to Expect at Your First Visit
At Medical Specialists of Fairfield, we understand a cancer diagnosis can be upsetting and even confusing. From the moment you contact us, at your first appointment and through each subsequent visit, you are the focus of our care, and we treat the whole person as well as the illness.
A cancer diagnosis is not hopeless. In fact more than half of today’s cancer patients will be cured. And getting the proper treatment early from the right cancer specialists and facility is imperative.
What to Bring
- After scheduling your appointment be sure to bring the following to your first appointment:
- Insurance card (and Medigap card if applicable)
- Completed Patient form—click here to download a pdf version of the form (please note that the form can be filled out in our office)
- Referral Information (If applicable; may be completed by your primary care physician)
- Patient History (Blood work, pathology report, CTs, etc. This information is generally forwarded by your referring physician.)
- List of current prescription and non-prescription medications
What to Expect
Upon entering, you will be greeted by a warm staff who will review and check your patient information. While Medical Specialists prides itself on maintaining a prompt schedule, you may experience a short wait. While waiting or if you arrived early, you can use this time to explore the volumes of printed cancer educational material available in our waiting room.
Your assessment will begin by either a professional nurse or your oncologist. They will review your case history, test results, and perform a patient examination. Your physician will then determine if additional tests are required.
Following your evaluation, your oncologist will present your treatment options, and answer all of your questions. We recommend you bring another person to your appointment and encourage you to also take notes. You will be taking in a lot of information, so taking notes and having another person for support will enhance your understanding. But don’t be embarrassed to ask any question or request further explanation. We want to make sure you understand all of the information you are taking in.
Based on your referral information and physician evaluation, more tests or scans may be scheduled by the staff.
You will also visit with our certified chemotherapy nurses (if chemotherapy has been a recommended or determined course of treatment). A chemo nurse will examine your veins in preparation of your first treatment.
Once your appointment is complete, your next appointment or treatment will be scheduled. We strive to get you on a regular routine, and meet the demands of your daily life with as little interruption as possible.
Insurance Plans
Medical Specialists participates in most commercial and managed care plans, Medicare and Medicaid.
We will handle your pre-certification so you do not have to worry about it. Just be sure to have your insurance card with you on your first visit and we will take care of your insurance information.
Please notify us immediately of any insurance changes to ensure continued treatment without interruption.