Commonly Asked Questions
What should I do if I need to talk to a physician after the clinic has closed??
Call our office number as usual. Our answering service will relay your message and have the "doctor on call" return your call. The doctor on call will be a physician from our clinic. The doctor may be busy with patients at the hospital or clinic at the time that you call, which may result in a slight delay in returning your call, BUT THEY WILL RETURN YOUR CALL.
Some of you may have chosen to have your home phone line "blocked" so that anonymous phone calls cannot ring through to your home. When you call the clinic after hours and request a phone call from the physician on call IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU TEMPORARILY 'UNBLOCK' YOUR LINE. If you are unable or unwilling to do this, it may delay or interfere with receiving a timely response from the physician on call.
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What should I do if I get sick on a weekend?
North Cascade Family Physicians office is open on Saturday morning from 9:00am to 1:30 pm for urgent care. If this is an emergency you should go to the emergency room at the hospital.
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How do I go about setting up lab appointments?
All lab work requires a doctors authorization. Lab work done by clinic staff requires an appointment. Other lab work may be done at the MDL lab located in our clinic. Please contact our receptionists for further information.
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When I pick a doctor, will I always see him/her?
We always try to keep you with the same physician so that you doctor is familiar with your health records. In case of an urgent situation, we will try to schedule you with your primary physician. However, if that doctor is not available, we will schedule you with another provider.
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Can I be billed for my co-payments?
We are not able to bill you for co-payments. Through the contracts that we sign with the insurance companies, we are required to collect the co-payments at the time of your visit. If there is a reason that you cannot pay at the time of the visit, please ask to meet with a member of our billing staff. Failure to pay your co-pay at the time of your visit may result in a billing surcharge.
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What do I do if I cannot accompany my teenager or child to their appointment?
Unless a life-threatening illness or injury is occurring, a minor will not be seen without consent of the parent or guardian. We prefer that a note be written authorizing treatment. Without a parent or guardian present, it can sometimes be more difficult to get an accurate history and to explain options for treatment. For this reason, we encourage a parent to be present when possible.
There are some exceptions to this policy. A minor living apart from their parents and managing financial affairs themselves may give consent to treatment. By state law, a minor has the right to consent for treatment of pregnancy and conditions associated with pregnancy, venereal disease, alcohol and drug abuse treatment and the hepatitis B vaccine. Treatment of these conditions is confidential and cannot be discussed with the parent without the minor\'s consent. A minor must be informed of any drug testing done. A written consent from the minor must be obtained prior to testing.
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How should I go about making follow-up appointments?
It's best to make your follow-up appointments as you are leaving the office. If you need to schedule routine appointments, such as a physical, pap or well child checkup, please call us as far in advance as possible. Calling on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday will help keep our appointment lines open on Mondays and Tuesdays, which are our busiest days.
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What should I do when I need a refill on my medication?
The fastest way to refill medication is to call the pharmacy where you received your prescription. Please call them several days before your medication is finished to allow enough time for all of the appropriate steps to be completed. Refills are done Monday through Friday only. Narcotic medication is not refilled over the weekend.
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What should I do if I need to see a specialist?
While there are many types of insurance, some of them require a "referral" from one of our doctors. In most cases, insurance companies require that you see your primary physician first. It is then up to the doctor to determine if your condition needs to be seen by a specialist or if it can be taken care of in our clinic. REMEMBER THAT IT IS THE PATIENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO UNDERSTAND THEIR SPECIFIC INSURANCE POLICY AND ITS REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING REFERRALS.
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Which doctor would I see if I happen to be hospitalized?
Our doctors work with the Skagit Valley Hospitalist Program for adult hospital care. The hospitalists carefully communicate and co-ordinate with our physicians after your hospital stay. NCFP continues to admit and care for our pediatric and obstetric patients.
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Who should I call if I have questions about my billing?
You may contact our billing department at 360.848.5312. We can help answer your questions Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm.
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