Your First Appointment
What to Bring
When you arrive at the UC Health Barrett Center for your first appointment with us, you will be requested to sign a Release of Medical Information if you have not been referred by your attending physician or specialist. This form will allow our facility to contact your attending doctor to request your pertinent medical records. These medical records are important in the development of your individual treatment. If you have been referred by a physician, we will have already requested these records and you will not need to sign a Release of Medical Information.
Please remember to bring your insurance card. We will photocopy your insurance information and provide it to our facility’s billing department. Always consult with your insurance provider for your benefits.
We will need the following information:
- Reports from any testing that you have had for your condition, including:
- Radiology reports
- Procedure reports (endoscopy, biopsies, operations)
- Pathology reports
- Recent CT scans or PET scans – actual film on a disc (paper reports are not sufficient – Our specialists want to actually view your current scans and make suggestions and recommendations of treatment based on their viewings.)
- Contact information from your referring doctors
- Notes from your doctors pertaining to the problem you were referred for
- List of your current medications
- We may ask you to obtain a copy of your films and bring it with you to your first appointment.
You are encouraged to bring a list of questions that you may wish to ask your doctors.
What To Expect
Your first appointment will be an in-depth consultation with one or more specialists, depending on the reason for your visit. You may also see one of our nurse practitioners, physician assistants, resident physicians and medical students. The appointment will be approximately 1 hour in length. You are requested to arrive at a minimum of 15 minutes prior to your appointment to complete the required patient paperwork. You are always welcome to bring a family member or friend to your appointment.
Your visit will start with a comprehensive health history and physical examination. Your records from your doctors and other hospitals will be reviewed by our experts.
After your evaluation, a definitive plan will be generated by our physicians and reviewed with you and your family. We may recommend additional testing, treatment with chemotherapy or radiation, or surgery. Before you leave your appointment, our staff will coordinate any additional testing or procedures.
Our highly trained physicians and our outstanding nursing staff are here to answer your questions and concerns. Our team of physicians, nurses, and support staff are specialists in the treatment of patients with esophageal diseases. Our number one priority is to deliver outstanding, compassionate care to patients with esophageal diseases and esophageal cancer. We strive to improve your life through innovative clinical and basic research and state-of-the-art treatments in esophageal disorders.