YOUR FIRST VISIT

What to expect?

Patient Reviews Book Visit

What should you expect?

At your first visit we will spend quite a bit of time getting acquainted.

We will introduce you to the members of our healthcare team and make sure we have plenty of time to answer all of your questions.
Then, we will take as much time as needed to hear about you. 

What we'll want to know?

- What is your medical history?
- What are your current health concerns?
- What are your long-term health and wellness goals?
- What questions can we answer for you?
- Name one thing could we do to make you feel better today

Same-day treatment?

If you are a good candidate for a treatment like trigger point injection, or a joint injection, or acupuncture, we will perform that treatment that day. 

We don't believe in making our patients waste time on unnecessary appointments!

In order to make sure you are fully prepared and equipped to have a great in-office experience we ask that you take a quick look at the list below. If you have any questions about any of the items in this list please don’t hesitate to call us at (908) 450 7002. Call us at that number, as well, to schedule your first visit!
  1. Fill out your patient information (available for download here)
  2. Arrive 10 minutes prior to your appointment
  3. Don’t forget your co-payment, as this is requested before you can be seen 
  4. Please have your insurance card(s) available
  5. Please write down your questions for your physician so that you remember what to ask
  6. Come hydrated and relaxed
  7. Be prepared to turn off your cell phone and other electronics 
  8. Before you leave don’t forget to schedule your next appointment
For acupuncture patients

Generally, your first visit is longer than your followup visits or at the very least it entails quite a bit of questioning. Some practitioners will not treat at all on the first visit, while others have very succinct questions and begin treating once they have made a diagnosis. 

The intial questioning is a very important part of the care your acupuncturist can provide to you. While many of the questions may seem entirely irrelevant to your condition, for example asking the quality of your bowel movements when you came in for back pain or your psychological state when you came in for menstrual problems, there are very good reasons behind the questions. The answers you provide to the questions, along with other basic diagnostic tools such as looking at your tongue and feeling your pulse allow the acupuncturist to tailor the treatment specifically to you.

This individualization of the treatments is one of the strong points of oriental medicine. It is why people may experience broad changes within themselves after receiving acupuncture for a specific complaint. It also means that the treatments can be modified over time if they are not proving effective.
After the initial questioning (or on your followup visit) and the checking of your pulse and tongue, your practitioner will form a diagnosis, treatment plan and begin the acupuncture treatment. In most cases, the initial treatment is fairly conservative to ensure that you are comfortable and to allow your acupuncturist to see how you respond to acupuncture.

After the treatment it is common for an acupuncturist to offer a prognosis along with a basic treatment plan. They are also likely to offer various beneficial lifestyle changes which may help to improve your overall condition. This may include dietary changes, exercise, meditation, etc.

Notice to Medicare Patients
    As you may be aware, Medicare now provides coverage for an ‘‘Annual Wellness Visit” in addition to the one-time “Welcome to Medicare Physical Exam”.
As primary care physicians and practitioners, we know that the cornerstone to your health is prevention. This new benefit is designed to focus you and your doctor on plans for prevention and wellness. We believe this service will be valuable to you and we encourage you to learn about it.

     There are specific Medicare guidelines for the new Annual Wellness Visit, and it is not what most people commonly think of as a yearly “physical exam”. It is not a “HANDS ON” exam.

    Rather, it is a Review of Your Health, plus Education and Counseling about preventive services.

      This visit is designed to focus on health promotion and prevention planning. Because of this, it is difficult to address new or chronic conditions during this visit so your doctor may ask you to schedule a separate visit to appropriately address those issues.

At the Annual Wellness Visit, your doctor will work with you to create a personalized plan to help keep you at your best health over the next few years. To do this, your medical history will be updated, including a list of all your other health care providers. Your blood pressure, height and weight measurements will be taken, and there will be a screening for conditions related to cognitive impairments, depression, and functional status. To prepare for this, you should bring the following with you:
- A list of your medicines and allergies
- A list of your medical conditions and surgeries
- A list of any of your other health care providers

    This information will help us guide your healthcare and provide you advice designed to improve your overall health.

     As always, we appreciate the trust you put in us to take care of all of your healthcare needs and hope that you will take advantage of this new benefit. If you would like to schedule an appointment, for any reason, please call the office location where you visit your provider.

Our Locations

Bridgewater
Primary Care, Acupuncture, Spravato

Morristown
Spravato

Hoboken
Spravato

Nutley
Primary Care, Spravato

Our Contacts

Book your appointment:

Need to be seen? Call us (908) 450 7002 and we'll do our utmost to see you within 24-48 hours.

Phone & Fax:

Phone: (908) 450 7002
Fax: (908) 941 2715

E-mail us:

patientassistance@mypremiermd.com

Billing Questions:

Email our Billing team