Making an Appointment

Appointments

For an appointment or more information about our services call (315) 432-8899 or 800-432-9590 between  9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  You can call directly and do not need a referral from a doctor. When you call, you will have a short phone interview with the OHCC  intake specialist to find out what your needs are, and to provide you with more specific information about the services we can provide. in New York State who know or suspect that their symptoms are job-related, be evaluated by a doctor of their choice; they are not limited to a doctor chosen by their employer Workers’ Compensation insurance carrier. 

Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes BEFORE your appointment time to allow for check in and chart processing.

New patient visits are about 1 ½ hours. The length of the visit is, in part, related to the thoroughness of your job history, your work conditions, and the possible sources of injury, illness or exposure.  This varies based on the complexity of your case.
The purpose of the initial visit is to review your medical and work history, conduct a physical examination, and determine if further testing or treatmentis necessary.

Locations

We offer specialty medical services to working men and women (and retirees with work-related illness) at three locations in New York:

• Syracuse (which serves the Central New York Region)
• Binghamton (which serves the Southern Tier Region)
• Canton (which serves the North Country Region)

For more detail about clinics in each of these regions, go to the Locations drop-down menu.

Preparing for Your Appointment

What to bring: - To better understand your medical history and the treatment you have had to date, it is important that you bring several items to your first appointment.

• New Patient Packet will be mailed to you well in advance of your appointment. Please fill out all the forms to the best of your ability and mail your completed forms to our central office:
  Occupational Health Clinical Center
  6712 Brooklawn Pkwy, Suite 204
  Syracuse, NY 13211
  Please mail the completed forms at least one week prior to your      appointment so that the information will be available for your visit. 
  If it isn’t possible for you to mail the forms ahead of time, please bring them with you the day of your visit.
• Medical Records – Knowing your medical history and past treatments will help us assess your current symptoms and possible causes.  The pink medical record release forms are included in your new patient packet and should also be completed, signed and sent to your treating physicians so that they can send OHCC your records at least one week prior to your appointment.
• Referring physician information - OHCC staff may want to consult with your primary care physician regarding your care or share the findings.  you have a primary care doctor for your regular medical care, pleasebring the ,address and phone number to your first appointment.  If you don’t have a primary care doctor, we may be able to help you locate one.
• Medications – At your first appointment, be ready to tell us what your current medications are, the dosage (if you know it) and whether you have any allergies to medications. For additional visits, be sure to let us know of any changes in your medications.
• X-rays related to your workplace illness or injury- Arrange to bring the actual x-ray films related to your medical condition to your first appointment.  You can obtain these from the radiology department where your films were taken.  This will save time and avoid having the x-rays redone.
• Insurance pre-authorization form and ID card - Your health care insurance coverage may have been discussed before you arrive, but please bring your health insurance card, along with your pre-authorization referral from your primary care provider, if applicable.  Pre-authorization referral is still required for Workers’ Compensation cases so that referral is in place for your visit if the case is denied.
• Workers’ Compensation Information - Please provide the OHCC with the Workers’ Compensation Carrier name and address if this is a Workers’ Compensation case.  If you already have an existing Workers’ Compensation case, bring in the case and carrier numbers already assigned to you. If you don’t know where to find your Workers’ Comp numbers, please call the patient intake coordinator at 315-432-8899 or toll-free (800) 432-9590 for additional help.

What does it cost?

Every effort will be made to prevent cost from being a barrier to using our services.
Most forms of health insurance or workers’ compensation insurance should cover a sizable portion of your visit. A sliding fee scale is available to those who are without health insurance and no worker is denied care because of lack of resources.
Fees for group evaluations and other services will be determined on an individual basis.

Confidentiality

The OHCC is HIPAA compliant. Confidentiality is assured to each patient. Patient records are only accessible to the patient or an authorized representative upon written request.

Cancellations

Please help us!!!  Every week we have several patients who fail to show up for their appointment without calling to cancel.  We have many patients on a waiting list . . .  patients that could have been seen during this time.  Please help them (and us) by canceling your appointment if you cannot keep it.  We are always happy to reschedule your appointment for a different time if necessary.

After the Visit

Upon completion of your evaluation at the OHCC, you will receive an encounter form that lists diagnosis/diagnoses, what the patient is responsible for, what the OHCC will be responsible for, the date are-check appointment if to other specialists within our practice, necessary. 

At the checkout counter, your insurance will be verified, and you will be asked to make any required payments, including co-payments.  You will be meeting with our billing specialist just in case you have any questions concerning your bill or coverage.