Frequently Asked Questions

Is the office accepting new patients?  Yes, the office is currently accepting new patients.  To register with the office as a new patient complete the forms found in the new patients section. 

What should I bring to my visit?  There are several items that you should bring with you to each and every visit.  These include a valid medical insurance card, co-pay, all current medications, and any forms that need to be completed.

What methods of payment does the office accept?  Acceptable methods of payment include cash, credit or debit card.

What should I do if I can't make my appointment or will be late for my appointment?  If you cannot keep your appointment please cancel your appointment. You can cancel appointments by calling the office or using our Online Services.  If you will be late for your appointment please call the office.  For detailed information regarding scheduling or canceling appointments visit our Office Policy page.

If I present to the office without a scheduled appointment can I be seen?  The office operates with an appointment only policy.  Patients who do present to the office without an appointment are likely to be asked to schedule an appointment at a later date.  However, occasionally there is an available opening allowing for a walk-in appointment to be accommodated.  Patients would be best served to call prior to coming to the office.  

When I am sick why won't my doctor call in a prescription to my pharmacy without seeing me in the office first?  When you are not feeling well, we understand you would prefer to have a prescription called in over the phone, without the need for an appointment.  However, establishing a correct diagnose is significantly increased following an examination.  Therefore, the physicians of City Line Family Medicine prefer to perform an examination prior to prescribing therapy to insure that each patient is treated appropriately.   

When I call in for a prescription refill how much notice should I provide?  Every effort is made to have prescriptions called in the same day but this is not office policy.  Because of the large number of prescription refill requests the office receives daily, patients should allow 48 hours for prescription refills to be called or faxed to the pharmacy.  If refills are being requested for several medications you may be required to come in to the office and pick up a written prescription.

If I need a form completed by my doctor what do I need to do?  Patients should allow at least 3 business days for completion of any forms.  There is a $15 charge for the completion of each and every form that needs to be paid prior to picking up the form(s).

Is there a charge to get copies of my records?  The office currently charges a fee of $1 per page for medical record copying.  There is no charge for the transfer of records to another physician's office.

Why doesn't the website allow me to email my doctor directly?  There are many issues that need to be resolved prior to the office accepting emails directly from patients.  Some of these issues include response time and medical liability.  Physicians spend most of their day seeing patients in exam rooms and would be unable to respond to emails in a timely manner.  This is an obvious concern if an email concerned an urgent issue.  Email communications also pose difficulties for doctors to make an accurate diagnosis without the opportunity to perform an exam.  Diagnosing and treating patients is difficult enough following a thorough exam, and treating patients based on email communication would be extremely difficult and less reliable.  There is also little if any ability to restrict the types of questions being submitted to avoid the liability issue.

My surgeon told me that I need to get a pre-operative clearance from my doctor.  Does my family doctor do this?  No, patients of City Line Family Medicine are referred to a cardiologist for pre-operative clearance exams.  If a surgeon requires you to get a pre-operative clearance exam call our office so we can assist you with the necessary arrangements.

Is it true that if I miss or fail to show up for multiple appointments I can be asked to find a new doctor?  Yes.  If you No-Show for multiple appointments your doctor may ask that you seek your medical treatment elsewhere.  However, this problem is easily solved by keeping your appointment or canceling your appointment if you cannot attend.  Please refer to the Office Policy page for more detailed information.  Termination from the practice can also result from continued failure to follow your doctor's advice.  Patient termination is completely at the discretion of your doctor and their decision is final.  Terminated patients may not switch to another physician at the office but instead must choose another medical facility to continue their medical care.  Fortunately patient termination is a very uncommon occurrence.

Why are so many of my doctors moving from Pennsylvania?  In one word, malpractice.  The malpractice crisis currently affecting the state of Pennsylvania is forcing doctors to leave the state, retire, or change careers.  Many physicians find it significantly less expensive to move to another state because Pennsylvania and specifically the Philadelphia area is one of the most costly regions in the nation to practice medicine.  Other doctors are just retiring earlier because it is cheaper than staying in practice.  Many doctors are changing their careers and going into teaching, research, medical insurance, and pharmaceuticals.  These fields offer many benefits without the malpractice risk.  So if your doctor is still practicing in Pennsylvania consider yourself lucky.