You need to come 30 minutes early for your first appointment to allow time to complete the required paperwork. If you wish to fill out the paperwork ahead of time, print the forms from this site, and bring them with you 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment. Forms can be downloaded here.
You will need your Insurance Card, and your Driver's License or other picture ID. If you would like to save time, complete the forms ahead of time and bring them with you as well.
Both M.D.'s and D.O.'s are complete physicians. They both have 4 year undergraduate degrees and must complete 4 years of medical school, as well as 2 to 6 years of residency training or internship. Both M.D.'s and D.O.'s must then pass the licensing examinations for the state in which they will practice. They are then eligible to practice medicine, perform surgery and prescribe medications.
A D.O. is a Medical Doctor who is also a Doctor of Osteopathy. D.O.'s receive an extra 300-500 hours of study of the body's musculoskeletal system and training on OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment). D.O.'s typically focus on preventive medicine and on treating the body as a whole.
Both M.D.'s and D.O.'s can be great medical practitioners. Finding the one that works for you will allow you build long-term relationships with the medical staff and give you confidence about your medical care now and in the future.
A PA is a Physician's Assistant and is a licensed healthcare professional. A Physician’s Assistant must complete a formal medical training program and must pass national exams in order to be licensed. PA's must be re-certified every six years, and must complete ongoing training in order to receive these certifications.
The care you receive from a PA may not be any different than the care you receive from an M.D. or a D.O. A Physician's Assistant may see patients in a physician's office, working under the direct supervision of a physician. They may diagnose & treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, conduct physical exams, prescribe medications and perform some office procedures. If a case is out of the scope of a PA's practice, they will refer it to the supervising physician.
An ARNP is an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. They are Registered Nurses who have advanced education and clinical training and specialize in specific areas of care such as Obstetrics, Family Practice or Pediatrics. ARNP'svmust receive state certification in their chosen specialty.
In most cases, the care you receive from an ARNP may not be any different than the care you receive from an M.D. or a D.O. An ARNP is licensed to diagnose & treat illnesses, perform some office procedures, order and interpret tests, conduct physical exams and educate patients on wellness. If a case is out of the scope of a ARNP's practice, they will refer it immediately to the supervising physician.
Both M.D.'s and D.O.'s can be great medical doctors. PA's and ARNP's certainly do not take the place of a medical doctor, but can be very helpful in most well or sick office visits, and can often have more appointment availability than medical doctors. Remember, if you choose to see a PA or and ARNP, the doctor is always available if needed to review your specific needs.
Finding a practitioner that meets your individual needs will allow you to build long-term, trusting relationships that will ensure excellent medical care and wellness for you and your family for years to come.
Yes, we are happy to see self-pay patients. Please contact one of our offices for more information.
If you have a medical question that the Medical Assistants cannot answer and does not require an office visit, we will be happy to take a telephone message for the provider. We will ask you to provide as much information as possible, in order for the provider to best be prepared to respond. We try to return non-urgent phone calls on the same day, but we cannot guarantee that; however, your phone call will be returned.
You can either call the pharmacy or call our office during normal business hours and request a refill. All calls regarding refills are transferred to a prescription refill voicemail. If you are approved for a refill, it will be sent to your pharmacy that we have on file. In the event that your refill is not approved, we will contact you to schedule an appointment. Refill requests will be processed within 48 hours. We ask that you plan accordingly.
Medical records can be obtained by the patient or patient's guardian by signing a medical release form. We follow the HIPAA guidelines in regards to charging for these records from persons other than the patient themselves. In the event that you need to send you medical records to a doctor’s office, please provide us with the doctor’s mailing address and we will be happy to mail your records to the requested office.
Your scheduled appointment is a time that is reserved just for you. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know 24 hours in advance so that we may schedule a new time for you. There is a $25 fee for appointments that are cancelled with less than 24 hour notice.
Coastal has ownership in the following entities: Coastal Physical Therapy, Coastal Laboratories
Physicians Group Services, PA complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. View our policy here.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.