FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

Answers to these frequently asked questions are intended to provide brief information relevant to your health. If you would like to speak with us regarding any of these topics, do not hesitate to call us.

Q: What days are you open?
Q: Are you accepting new patients?
Q: Do you accept my health insurance plan?
Q: How do we contact the doctor after hours?
Q: How often should I schedule a checkup?
Q: I need to see a specialist. What do I do?
Q: When will I receive lab or test results?
Q: How do I obtain a prescription refill?
Q: What is the difference between an internist and a family doctor?

• Q: What days are you open?

  A: Our office is open Monday through Friday. As our daily schedule is subject to change, please call to confirm office hours.

• Q: Are you accepting new patients?

  A: Yes, we welcome new patients age 17 and older.

• Q: Do you accept my health insurance plan?

  A: Please refer to Insurance to review Advocare's list of accepted insurance providers.

• Q: How do we contact the doctor after hours?

  A: Our medical providers are available 24 hours a day. Call the office at (856) 427-4180. After regular office hours, the answering system will provide an on-call phone number for emergencies and urgent questions. Please be aware that after-hours calls are intended for urgent medical issues that cannot wait until the next business day. Referral and appointment requests will not be addressed via pager. Please call back to the on-call number if you have not received a timely response.

  IN THE EVENT OF A LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY, CALL 911.

• Q: How often should I schedule a checkup?

  A: The American Medical Association recommends annual "well" visits. A well visit may be a checkup or a complete exam, and provides an opportunity for you to ask questions and learn more about various health issues. Your health care provider may also order important age-appropriate screenings at this time. Periodic follow-up visits are also recommended for patients who have chronic health conditions.

• Q: I need to see a specialist. What do I do?

  A: For non-urgent referrals: when our doctor refers you to a specialist, please schedule your appointment with the specialist and then call our office at least five business days before your appointment. Your referral should be available within three business days. Most referrals are completed electronically and submitted directly to the specialist's office. Please check with our office staff to determine if your insurance plan processes referrals electronically.

  For urgent referrals: when one of our doctors determines that you need an urgent referral, your referral will be initiated immediately. Please remain in our office while your referral is processed, then proceed to your specialist.

• Q: When will I receive lab or test results?

  A:  You will receive a call right away with any lab results that require urgent attention. Other abnormal lab results will be addressed promptly by the provider that ordered the labs or tests. Sometimes, abnormal lab results require office follow up with the ordering physician. Normal values are usually not reported, however, you are welcome to call our office to request a copy of your results or to speak with the doctor about the results.

• Q: How do I obtain a prescription refill?

  A:  Please call (856) 427-4180 to request a prescription refill. Be sure to provide the actual name of your prescription medicine, the dosage, the duration of your medication, and your pharmacy’s name, location, and telephone number. After our doctor reviews and approves the refill request, our office staff will order the refill from your pharmacy. We will call you back if the prescription refill has not been approved by our office. If you have been seen in our office within three to six months, allow one business day for all routine prescription refills. If your last office visit was significantly beyond your recommended follow up interval, we will schedule you for a routine follow up visit. The doctor will prescribe enough medication to cover the period until your follow up appointment. For prescriptions that require prior authorization from your insurance company, please plan ahead to allow at least three to five days for refill approval.

• Q: What is the difference between an internist and a family doctor?

  A: Internists see only patients age 18 and older and have additional training in managing complex adult diseases, while family physicians are trained to care for the entire family from newborn to old age. We recommend that you check with the office to determine their practice range. Advocare Primary Care for Adults treats patients age 17 and older.