Southern Pain Specialists

Patient Information

Southern Pain Specialists is committed to compassionately diagnosing and treating your pain. Please take a few minutes to read the following information about policies and procedures. This will allow SPS to care for you better and more efficiently. Please call to the office at (205) 995-9967 if you have any questions about any of the information contained here. Thank you for allowing us to care for you.

Southern Pain Specialists does not keep narcotic medications on premises.

Prescription refills are taken Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. ONLY. We guarantee that these will be processed.

Prescription refills will not be taken or filled on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or after hours- under any circumstances.

Southern Pain Specialists enforces a strict NO TOLERANCE POLICY against aggressive or abusive patient behavior that is directed at physicians, administrative or medical staff, or toward other patients. Patients who violate this policy will be immediately discharged from the practice.

Southern Pain Specialists will not provide telephone consultations with patients. It is necessary for patients to come in for follow-up appointments so we can personally discuss test results, medications, and other matters relating to your care.

We understand that at times it is necessary to change or cancel an appointment; however without a minimum of 24 business hours notice Southern Pain Specialists is not able to fill the cancelled appointment time. We must charge patients $25 for office visits that are missed or cancelled less than 24 business hours in advance of the scheduled appointment time. Insurance Companies do not cover these charges.

Procedures require hours of staff time to schedule and coordinate, as well as the time of Southern Pain Specialists strives to perform necessary procedures on patients as soon as is possible. We consistently have several patients waiting for procedures. In-office and hospital procedures require hours of staff time to schedule and coordinate, as well as the time of the physician, hospital staff, insurance companiews, etc. Patients who cancel a procedure without providing a minimum of 48 business hours notice to SPS from the scheduled procedure time or who miss a procedure will be charged $150. Insurance companies do not cover this charge.

Patient Rights

1. The patient has the right to considerate and respectful care.

2. The patient has the right to receive treatment at Southern Pain Specialists without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap, or national origin.

3. The patient has the right to obtain complete and current information regarding their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in terms the patient can understand. When it is not advisable to give such information to the patient, the information will be made available to an appropriate person on their behalf.

4. The patient has the right to information to make informed consent prior to the start of any procedure and or treatment. This shall include such information as the medically significant risks involved with any procedure and the probable duration of incapacitation. Where medically appropriate alternatives for care or treatment should be explained to the patient.

5. The patient has the right to refuse treatment to the extent permitted by law, and to be informed of any of the medical consequences of their action.

6.The patient has the right to every consideration of privacy concerning his/her own medical care program limited only by state statues, rules, regulations, or imminent danger to the individual or others.

7. The patient has the right to be advised if the clinician, hospital, clinic, etc. proposes to engage in or perform human experiments affecting their care or treatment. The patient has the right to refuse to participate in such research projects.

8. The patient has the right to examine and receive an explanation of the bill.

-American Academy of Pain Management

Patient's Responsibilities
Providing quality health care is a complex task which requires close cooperation between patients and health facility personnel. Patients can take responsibility for their care by helping the medical team give the best possible care. These patient responsibilities are:

Providing Information. The responsibility to provide, to the best of their knowledge, accurate and complete information about complaints, past illness, hospitalizations, medications, and other matters relating to their health. A patient has the responsibility to let his/her health care provider know whether he or she understands the treatment and what is expected of him/her.

Respect and Consideration. The responsibility for being considerate of the rights of other patients and health care personnel and for assisting in the control of noise, smoking, and the number of visitors. The patient is responsible for being respectful of the property of other persons and of the facility.

Compliance with Medical Care. The responsibility for complying with the medical and nursing treatment plan, including follow-up care recommended by health care providers. This includes keeping appointments on time and notifying the health facility when appointments cannot be kept.

Pain Management. Patients and/or their family members have the responsibility to ask the health care provider what to expect regarding their pain management and to participate in discussion and decisions. Patients should ask for pain relief when the pain first begins and notify the health care provider if the pain is not relieved; share the concerns.

Medical Records. The responsibility for ensuring medical records are promptly returned to the medical facility for appropriate filing and maintenance when records are transported by the patient for the purpose of medical appointments, consultations, etc. All medical records documenting care provided by a military health facility are the property of the U.S. Government and may not be maintained elsewhere.

Rules and Regulations. The responsibility for following the rules and regulations affecting patient care and conduct.