Your First Visit
About Your Appointment
We understand that you may feel anxious about your first visit to our center. You can be certain that we will do everything we can to make you and your family comfortable. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make you feel more at ease.
When you arrive at an Arizona Oncology cancer center, you will find convenient, free parking. There is easy access for patients, even those in wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are available at all locations for patients who need assistance.
Your first appointment will be comprehensive, so you should plan to spend an hour or more with us. Please arrive 20 minutes before your appointment to complete a few forms.
Every effort will be made to explain your diagnosis and initial treatment plan and any associated processes during your first visit. However, sometimes a follow-up visit is necessary for this. Most likely, chemotherapy or radiation treatment will not begin on your initial visit.
- A comprehensive meeting and evaluation with your physician
- Tests needed for an accurate diagnosis that will guide your treatments
- A meeting with your nurse and other members of your medical team
- A meeting with your patient benefits representative to discuss your insurance and billing
What to Bring to Your First Appointment
It is important that we understand your medical history and the previous care you have received so we can provide you with the most appropriate and effective cancer care. Please bring the following items to your first appointment.
Medications
You should bring a complete, up-to-date list of all medications you take, or bring the bottles and packages with you. This should include should a complete list of herbs and vitamins as some of these may interfere with treatment.
Family History
It is important the patients knows their family history particularly 1st degree and 2nd degree relatives diagnosed with cancer including age at diagnosis and type of cancer.
Insurance and I.D. Cards
Please bring your insurance card and drivers license or picture I.D. If your insurance company requires that you have a referral for your first visit, please make sure that your referring doctor has provided this.
We will verify your insurance coverage and benefits, and let you know of any out-of-pocket expenses you will incur at the time of the visit. If we cannot validate your referral or insurance coverage prior to your first appointment, your appointment may need to be rescheduled, or you may be financially responsible for your visit.
We will file your insurance claims on your behalf, and help you with questions or concerns regarding payment of your bill. You will see a financial counselor during one of your initial visits to assist you in understanding your insurance coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs of therapy. If you would like to speak with our financial counselor about questions or concerns regarding your insurance coverage or bill, please don’t hesitate to ask for a consultation.
Referring Physician Information
It is critical for your Arizona Oncology oncologist to directly communicate with your primary care and/or referring physician(s), so information can be shared to determine the best treatment for your disease. Please bring any authorizations and referrals with you, and provide contact information for your other doctors.
Your Arizona Oncology medical team may send copies of your test results and reports to your other doctor(s), and follow-up with them for collaboration on your condition and treatment plan.
Medical Records
Please arrange to have your previous test results and reports provided to us. Some doctors and clinics will directly send them to us on your behalf. Others will give these records to you, so you can bring them on your first visit. Examples of these are:
- Your actual diagnostic films and related reports, including x-ray, CT, PET, or others ordered by your physician(s). These films and reports can be obtained from the radiology department or facility where your tests were taken.
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If you have already been diagnosed with cancer, a pathologist has probably made a diagnosis by reviewing a biopsy or tumor specimen under a microscope. Please make sure that we receive the written reports. These can be obtained from the pathology department at the medical facility where your biopsy was performed.
What to Ask Before Your First Appointment
When you call to make your first appointment you may want to ask these questions:
- What is the exact location of the office (including floor, room, or suite number)?
- Where is the best place to park?
- What time should I arrive for my appointment?
- What personal information do I need to bring to my first appointment?
- What is my physician’s full name and title?
- What is the cancellation policy for appointments?
- Does my physician participate in my insurance plan?
- Will the office bill my insurance company, and what am I expected to pay at the time of my appointment?
- What medical records do I need to bring with me (diagnostic reports, surgical reports, notes from my referring physician, etc.)?