What are your office hours?
Our office hours are listed in our patient information section and are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. We do have an after-hours number for emergencies only. To contact us during or after business hours please call (205) 595-5504.
How do I make an appointment?
Making an appointment is easy just go to the patient information section and you can request an appointment or reschedule an appointment online. You can also make an appointment by calling our main number (205) 595-5504.
Where is your office located?
We are located on the 5th floor of the OrthoSports Center and Medical Tower at St. Vincent’s downtown campus. Directions can be found on our contact page. Remember to go to the OrthoSports elevators and not Building 3 elevators in the parking deck!
I am a new patient. What special information should I know?
New patient information can be found under our patient information section. You may also want to call your insurance company to make sure you understand your coverage for office visits.
I am moving and need my records transferred. How do I do this?
We have partnered with HealthMark Group to ensure the accurate and timely completion of medical record requests. Please go to the Medical Records page for more info!
How do I request a refill of my prescription?
Use the chat option to request a refill on your routine medications. Please be aware that if you are due for a follow up with your physician or if you need refills on controlled medications, you will need to come in for an appointment to get your prescription. Our staff answers online requests Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. Requests sent after hours or on weekends will be answered the next business day.
What if I need forms filled out by my physician?
Most forms will require an office visit to be filled out by your physician. Seale Harris Clinic providers do not complete any forms requiring a DOT physical. Use the chat option or call our office to schedule an appointment.
How do I get help after the clinic is closed?
If you are having a true medical emergency you need to call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. If you must speak to one of our on-call physicians dial our main office number (205) 595-5504 for after-hours instructions. Any calls to our staff after hours that are not an emergency will result in a charge of $25.
What if I get admitted to the hospital?
Our providers do not see patients in the hospital. We admit patients to hospitalists at various hospitals in the greater Birmingham area. This allows our physicians to have more time available for you to see them in the office allowing same-day appointments and minimal wait times for your appointment.
I am having testing done. How do I find out what preparation is needed?
Do I need an Advanced Directive/Living Will/HealthCare Proxy?
Please read this brochure to help make your decision about this common question. Click here for the Advanced Directive for Health Care and should you decide to complete it make sure your physician has a copy to add it to your medical record.
Office Guidelines
COVID-19 Safety Standards
The health & safety of our patients & staff is our highest priority. Below are a few of the ways we have ensured safe office visits for everyone.
- Spaced seating in all patient areas
- Finger covers for check-in kiosks & hand sanitizer in lobby
- Masks & facial coverings required for all physicians, staff, and patients
- Thorough room sanitization between every patient
- Sanitization of common areas and touchpoints throughout the day
Returning Phone Calls
Our clinic staff returns most calls at lunch and before leaving for the day. All calls made before 3:00 P.M. will be returned the same day, calls made after 3:00 P.M. may not be returned until the following business day. Should your call require immediate attention, it would be best to make an appointment. Our providers are busy seeing patients in clinic, if you wish to speak directly to the physician or nurse practitioner, you will need to make an appointment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
Paperwork for the Physician
If you have any paperwork (such as FMLA, disability, etc.) that needs to be signed and completed by the physician you will need to make an appointment and bring the forms into the office. Should you need a wellness form filled out after a recent visit, you may fax it to us at 205-592-3427 or bring the form into the office and leave it with the front desk for the physician to review. After review, the staff will contact you to let you know if it could be completed or if you will need to make an appointment.
Prescription Requests
If you are out of refills for your medication and are due for an appointment, you must come in and see the physician to get a new prescription. If you have recently been seen in the office and your medication was not renewed at that time, you may leave a voicemail for the staff or request a refill on our patient portal. We do not refill controlled medications without an appointment.
Online Requests
All online requests will be answered within one business day of submission. You can request and reschedule your appointments online as well as ask nurse questions and request prescription refills. With prescription refills please note that the doctor puts a certain number of refills on each prescription so if your pharmacy says you are out of refills you may need to make an appointment to see the physician before they will give more refills. Please remember, if you have an emergency, it is best to call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.
Referrals
If you need an insurance referral to see a specialist please request it at least seventy two (72) hours before each appointment with your specialist, so we will have adequate time to obtain it. Doing so will ensure your referral is up to date and that your visit will be covered. We cannot do retro referrals. It is the patient’s responsibility to obtain and confirm your referral. Please double check with the nursing staff before you leave about your referral.
Insurance Cards: We now ask to see your insurance cards each time you come in. We MUST HAVE copies of all your active insurance cards. Please notify us of any change in your insurance, address, place of employment, phone number, etc. in writing when you arrive and BEFORE you see your physician or have any testing.
Insurance /Account Balances: Co-payments, deductibles and account balances are due before each visit. Please be aware that many insurance companies charge a percentage copayment for procedures and that you may have a copayment for an office visit and only 80/20 coverage on other services. Knowing what your insurance company covers is your responsibility. If you are not covered by medical insurance, full payment is due at the time of each visit or service.
Returned Checks
There will be a $25 charge for all returned checks. Returned check amount and fee will need to be paid by cash or credit card.
Medical Records
We have partnered with HealthMark Group to ensure the accurate and timely completion of medical record requests. Please go to the Medical Records page for more info!
Appointment Cancellation/No Show Policy
Patients should call to cancel or reschedule appointments at least 24 hours prior to the appointment time. Constant rescheduling or cancellations could result in termination from our practice due to non-compliance of physician instructions.
Testing Cancellation/ No Show Policy
Please contact our office at (205) 595 -5504 no later than 12:00 noon the previous business day prior to the test to cancel or reschedule. A $100.00 fee will be assessed to any patient that fails to appear for their appointment or does not give a 24-hour appointment cancellation notice for any reason. These charges are not billable to insurance and will ultimately be the responsibility of the patient. All no-show charges will need to be paid in full before your next appointment with the provider.