Dear Patient:
We appreciate your selection of this office to serve your medical and health needs. We will do all we can to provide you the very best of care.
In order to do so, we ask you to spend time reviewing the patient information brochure.

The importance of this booklet cannot be overemphasized. We have tried to give you as much information as possible and to anticipate your questions and needs regarding your health.

The problems and pressures of delivering the best medical care to all in this country are growing every day and this community is not exception. This is why our policy is to continually let our patients know about our practice philosophy, new ways of increasing our practice productivity, as well as consistent and continuing education in the prevention and treatment of illness, accidents and disease. Of course, your help and understanding is vital to every one of the above.

Finally, a word about our office staff. We take great pride in our staff. All of us here – receptionist, secretary, business office and technical personnel – operate as a team. We take great pride in our staff's training, knowledge and capabilities. We want you to have the same confidence as we do. This will help all of us do the best job possible. We look forward to serving you and having a most happy and healthy relationship.
         Drs. Eichelberger, Leary, Beaudrot, Carter, Forrest, Dixon, and Russell

GENERAL

Our practice is devoted solely to the care of females from the aspects of obstetrics, office gynecology, urogynecology, surgical gynecology, gynecologic oncology (cancer), endocrinology and infertility. For problems outside our specialty we will work closely with your family physician, internist, surgeon, or other appropriate specialist to meet your medical needs.

Although we have our own patients, we are professional associates. One of us is always available when the other is not for obstetrical delivery, office care, hospital care, or telephone consultation. Being individuals, we do have minor variations in our evaluations and treatment, but we are all dedicated to the best possible medical care for the patient.

 All obstetrical patients will by necessity be seen by all physicians of the group as you will be cared for during labor and delivery by the physician on call at that particular time.

We accept new gynecological and obstetrical patients as well as care for our regular patients. Though it is sometimes difficult for a new or old patient to be seen immediately, every true emergency will either be readily seen in the office, spoken to on the telephone, or seen in the emergency room as soon as possible.

TELEPHONE

Our Greenwood office phone, 227-6371, is answered by the office personnel from 8 a.m. to 5 pm. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. We are also in our Laurens office on Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The phone number there is 833-4282. We would urge that routine calls regarding appointments, prescriptions, laboratory results and general questions be made during these hours. Our staff is trained to answer many questions. Please explain the nature of your call as accurately as possible.

We have a toll free number so you may call our office from anywhere in SC without charge. This toll free number is 1-800-922-1614. After hours, on weekends or holidays, the doctor on call is available through Self Regional Hospital (725-4111) for emergency calls only. It is best if the patient calls. Husbands, relatives and friends are usually unable to answer detailed questions that may be necessary. Please have pencil and paper handy to take down any instructions the doctor might give.

APPOINTMENTS

Our Greenwood office is open for scheduled appointments from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. We also offer night hours until 8 p.m. On Mondays and Wednesdays. We are available in our Laurens office in Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please notify the office as soon as possible for rescheduling. No charges will be made for appointments canceled 24 hours in advance.    

We try to honor your appointment time, for we firmly believe in the value of your time and dislike long waiting periods in the office. You must understand, however, that in our specialty, babies being born, surgical delays and emergency patients may cause unforeseen delays and we request your indulgence. If timing is critical to our schedule on a particular day, notify the receptionist and you will be rescheduled either later that day or at another time.

From time to time it is necessary for us to reschedule your appointment. This is due to unexpected surgery, deliveries, or to enable us to attend medical meetings to keep current with the latest medical and surgical techniques.

WAITING ROOM

Since our seating is limited, we request that you limit children, friends and relatives accompanying you to the office. Of course, we realize that transportation and baby sitting problems do arise for which you may not have an alternative choice. When bringing children, please bring someone to look after them while you are with the doctor.

OBSTETRICAL CARE

We offer obstetrical care including prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care through six weeks. A family physician or pediatrician of your choice will care for your newly delivered infant. Each patient is an individual and therefore different instructions may be given to different patients as one code of rules does not apply to everyone.

Different types of analgesia and anesthetic agents are employed by us and in most cases tailored to your specific wants and needs. Epidural anesthesia is available for those patients who desire this service.

In our office we have a complete set of prenatal films designed to answer many of the questions you may have about your pregnancy, labor and delivery and postpartum care. Prenatal classes (Prepared Childbirth Classes) are available through Self Regional Healthcare and are taught by a trained professionals.

GYNECOLOGIC AND SURGICAL CARE

Approximately one-half of our practice is devoted to gynecologic care. This care starts with the newborn female, continues through adolescence, the reproductive years and finally to after menopause. This care is limited to problems of pelvic organs, breasts, hormone and endocrine glands – surgical and medical. We are employing the latest advances in gynecological care such as cryosurgery, colposcopy, laser surgery and laparoscopy (band-aid surgery) in an effort to provide the best possible medical care.

Educational films on specific topics in gynecology are also available in our office and you may be encouraged to view certain films according to your individual problem.

We are all Board Certified Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology which means we are Diplomates of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and perform our own gynecologic and obstetrical surgery. Any other surgical procedures that would be necessary such as orthopedic surgery, breast surgery or neurosurgery should be performed by a trained physician in that specialty.

ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound is performed in our office for both obstetrical and gynecological patients. We think this is an important instrument for providing the best possible medical care.

FEES

Fees for all services rendered are standardized for equality. An estimate of the charge for any surgery will be furnished upon request, although it may be impossible to quote an exact fee because of unforeseen complications which might arise. We are happy to discuss any questions on charges with you. It is the policy of the office to EXPECT PAYMENT FOR SERVICES AS THEY ARE RENDERED.

Payment arrangements may be made for large fees such as obstetrical care and surgery. Payments for obstetrical fees must be completed by the seventh month of pregnancy and for surgical procedures by three months following the date of surgery. A few procedures require payment in advance.

INSURANCE

As a convenience to our patients, we will help in completing health insurance forms. If you have insurance information to submit, our insurance clerk will assist you.

We will not file end-of-the-year medical claims, so keep your receipts for major medical claims and tax purposes. If we must complete a special claim for your major medical expenses, there will be a charge for this service. There will be a charge for completion of disability claims.

We recognize the need for a definite understanding between the patient and her doctor regarding financial arrangements for medical and surgical care. The fees in the office are set by the physicians and collections are the responsibility of the business manager. Responsibility for payment of these fees is the direct obligation of the patient.    

EPILOGUE

More so than in any other specialty of medicine, the practice of obstetrics and gynecology requires mutual understanding, respect and confidence. We try to offer you the best and highest standards of medical care and request that you reciprocate by confidence in our judgements. If you have any doubts, please convey them to us and do not hesitate to request another opinion if you are not satisfied.

Again, we feel the patient-physician relationship is unique, sacred and confidential and we shall strive to keep it that way.

Help us work together to provide you with the finest possible medical care.

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO BE YOUR DOCTOR.