Oncology Care Consultants

Welcome to Oncology Care Consultants (OCC) of the Frederick Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Therapy Center. The physicians in our practice are all certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, and Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Our physicians are specialists in the treatment and care of patients with blood disorders and cancer patients. As consultants, we will work closely with your primary care physician and specialist team to provide comprehensive and compassionate medical care. But you are our most important partner. We will work together to ensure that you receive state-of-the-art care.

Oncology Care Consultants of the Frederick Memorial Hospital Regional Cancer Therapy Center
501 West Seventh Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
301-662-8477
301-662-4293 fax
www.cancercarefrederick.com

 There are two types of appointments at OCC:

• Consultations may include review of blood studies and/or X-rays. These comprehensive exams may take more than one hour.
• Follow-up examinations usually take no more than 30 minutes, unless you have a new problem.

Call 301-662-8477 to schedule an appointment. Please call the same number if you are going to be late or if you need to cancel an appointment.

First Time Registration

Please fax or bring the following information with you to your first visit at OCC:

• Relevant medical history
• Imaging (film or discs) as well as X-ray reports from non-FMH facilities
• All relevant laboratory reports and pathology reports from non-FMH facilities
• Your medicines in their original bottles

• Insurance information
• Photo ID

Emergency Care

We have a physician on call 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can always reach the physician by calling the office number, 301-662-8477. After regular business hours, you will be asked to leave a message and the physician on call will return your call within 30 minutes. If you must be seen in the Emergency Room, please inform any emergency providers that you are being treated by us.

Telephone Calls

OCC encourages you to call our office should you have any questions regarding your medical condition, medications and/or treatment. If you have an emergency, call 911 immediately. If you have an urgent issue, please clearly express this to the receptionist.

Non-urgent calls will be returned as soon as possible the same day.

Prescription Medication

Please allow 24-48 hours for both written and call in prescriptions. When requesting a refill, please provide the following information:

• Your name, birth date and call back number
• Prescription number
• Medication name
• Dosage and quantity
• Pharmacy name and telephone number

If you are in urgent need of a medication, clearly express this to the receptionist.

Fees

Our fees are determined by the amount of time a physician spends with a patient and may vary with the severity and/ or complexity of the medical challenges. Fees are based on the usual and customary fees charged within this area and are comparable to other medical and sub-specialists' fees. A sample fee schedule is available upon request.

Please be prepared to pay any deductible and co-payments by cash, check, money order, or credit card at the time of your office visit. If you need to set up installment payments, please ask to speak with our Billing Representative.

Please ask about our cancellation policy for further fee information.

Insurance

OCC will submit insurance claims on your behalf. We will also file any appeals, assist you with referral forms and any preadmission, precertification, or preauthorization requirements your insurance carrier may require.

Please remember your insurance company determines the extent of your coverage. We have no control over your insurance company and cannot guarantee that your health plan will cover our services. You are ultimately responsible for payment of your account.

OCC has contractual agreements with many health plans that may reduce your costs. Please ask about your specific plan.

Chemotherapy

Most chemotherapy can be administered at the FMH Infusion Center located in our building. Certain treatment protocols do require hospitalization, and your physician will notify you when this is necessary.

In many cases, oral medications will also be prescribed for you to take home. To eliminate any confusion regarding your medications, please bring all of them with you to your first office visit and, if requested, at a later date.

Clinical Trials

Oncology Care Consultants and The FMH Regional Cancer Therapy Center participate in many national cancer research trials. This participation provides our patients with the opportunity to access new medications and state-of-the-art cancer care. For more information on clinical trials, please talk to one of our Physicians or our Research Nurse, Shelley Francella, at 301-668-7043 or via email at clinicaltrials@fmh.org.

Confidentiality

Your medical record is strictly private. No information regarding your condition will be given to your relatives, employer, or friends without your permission. You have the right to review your medical record at any time. We encourage you to review your medical records with your physician present, as medical terminology can be confusing and therefore easily misunderstood.

You will receive a statement concerning our privacy policies at your first visit.

Doctor-Patient Relationships

A good doctor-patient relationship is important for your health and well-being. It is important for you to take an active part in this relationship. OCC physicians and staff will make every effort to provide you with information about your condition and care in terms that are clear to you. Please tell your physician if there is any aspect of your treatment that you do not understand, or if you are unclear about any information regarding your care.

If you have any concerns or questions about our services, fees, or policies, please do let us know.