Patient Information
Insurance and payment
Southern Illinois Brain and Spine Center is a provider for most major insurance plans and Medicare. We also belong to many HMOs and PPOs. If a co-pay is required, you are expected to pay it at the time of your appointment. We will submit bills to your insurance company on your behalf.
We request payment at the time of your appointment for services not covered by insurance. When necessary, our staff will work with patients who require a payment plan.
If you have any questions regarding which insurance plans we accept or any patient billing questions, please contact us. Questions regarding your coverage and benefits should be directed to your employer or insurance company.
Scheduling an appointment
You may need a referral from another physician before you can schedule an appointment with Southern Illinois Brain and Spine Center. Check with your insurance provider to be sure.
To schedule a visit, call our office at 618-222-1341.
We schedule appointments from Mondays to Fridays from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Emergencies and Refills
For medical emergencies, please go to St. Elizabeth's Hospital Emergency Room and/or notify the on-call physician.
For medication refills, please call during office hours so we can better serve you with access to your chart to review your medication history, allergies and current plan of care. No medication refills will be given after hours.
For other questions regarding your care, please call during regular office hours.
Preparing for your appointment
To make your visit as successful as possible, we ask that you keep these things in mind:
- Bring the following items with you. Failure to do so may delay your appointment.
- Your insurance card
- Physician referral forms or authorization numbers, if required by your insurance
- A list of current prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking, including dose and frequency
- Pertinent information about your medical and surgical history
- Any pertinent x-rays, MRI and CT scans or records you may have
- New Patient Forms (for first-time patients)
- Co-payments are due at the time of your visit: We accept cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa and Discover.
- Completed paperwork/forms: For your convenience, you may download the forms below, review and complete them prior to your visit and bring them with you. You still may need to fill out additional forms or provide further information at the time of your appointment.*
*Download forms and then close Word to return to the web site.
What to expect
For many people, a visit to a neurosurgeon can be stressful and frightening. Our doctors at Southern Illinois Brain and Spine Center understand your concerns, and will be sensitive to your feelings.
The most important thing you can do on your visit is to always tell your doctor any information that relates to your health – even if it makes you uncomfortable. Your doctor needs this information to fully understand the issues and problems you are having.
Also, prepare for your appointment in advance by writing down any questions you may have. Make sure to get these questions answered when you meet with our doctors, along with any other questions that may come up during your visit. You may even want to bring someone along to help you ask questions and remember the answers.
Any tests and procedures performed as a result of your visit will depend on your symptoms.