Columbus Regional Health
Nephrology & Hypertension

Patient Education and Handouts

Frequently Asked Questions About Kidney Disease

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Anemia and Chronic Kidney Disease

Fluid Restriction

Iron Deficiency

Kidney Stones and Prevention

Phosphorous Fact Sheet

Potassium Fact Sheet

Protect Your Veins

Sodium Restriction

Patient Links

American Association of Kidney Patients
https://aakp.org/

American Diabetes Association 
http://www.diabetes.org

American Society of Transplantation 
https://www.myast.org/

National Kidney Foundation 
https://www.kidney.org/

PKD Foundation 
https://pkdcure.org/

Thank you for choosing to refer your patient to Columbus Regional Health Nephrology & Hypertension! We consider your referral to be the highest compliment, and we look forward to providing excellent and convenient care to your patient.

We understand that you have invested time and energy into building your relationship with your patient, and we recognize our role as helpful consultants who enhance that relationship.

Our main office is located in Columbus, Indiana. We also have locations in Seymour, Greensburg, Franklin, and North Vernon, which have varying days and hours of operation. We hope to be able to offer your patient services in the location that is most convenient for them. Our goal is to be able to schedule your patient for their first visit with us within a two-week time frame and to be able to provide the location of preference, if not initially, then at their first follow-up visit. With our new practice structure, patients referred to our practice are no longer subject to specific criteria to be seen by one of our providers.

New Patient Referral Process:

• Referring practice will fill out the Patient Referral fax cover letter and attach the requested information.
• Fax the Patient Referral to (812) 375-9856 or (812) 375-1093.
• Please be sure that the contact information for your patient is correct and that they are expecting our call.
• Download Patient Referral Form
• Once this information is received, we will call your patient to schedule their initial visit and mail them a New Patient Packet.
• We will fax back to you a confirmation of the appointment date and time.

Urgent Panel (UP) requests will be scheduled within a time frame consistent with the urgency of the patient's need. Time for UPs will be blocked Monday through Thursday, in our Columbus or Franklin offices. We will accommodate same day to two week requests using the UP referral process.

Urgent Panel Referral Process:

• Call (812) 375-0272, extension 204. Please be prepared to share the nature of the urgent request, in case multiple requests are received and needs must be prioritized.
• An Urgent Panel appointment will be given so you can contact the patient. Please ask the patient to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled appointment time. Ask them to bring all medications they take, their photo ID, and insurance cards.
• Fill out the Patient Referral fax cover letter, attach the requested information, and fax it back to 812-375-9856. Please be sure the contact information for your patient is correct.

Payment is expected at the time of service. We accept cash, check, VISA and Mastercard. If we are contracted with your insurance company, you will need to pay your co-pay at the time of your visit. This amount will be indicated on your insurance card. We are contractually bound with the insurance companies to collect this at the time of service. We will then file your insurance claim. However, payment for the account remains your responsibility.

If you have insurance that we are not contracted with, you will be asked to make full payment, and file your own insurance claim. Patients scheduling procedures will be required to pay a percentage at the time of service.

Please maintain your account with our office in good standing. Should your account become delinquent, your account may be turned over to an outside collection agency. Should this become necessary, you will be responsible for all additional expenses incurred to collect this outstanding debt and you will be discharged from the practice.

Your medical records are strictly confidential. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) restricts us from releasing any information without your written permission, except to other providers, payors, and other specified entities, as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Labwork and testing are typically ordered to be done right before your scheduled visit, so your results can be discussed when you see the Doctor. Occasionally, your Doctor will order labs shortly after or between visits to see how you are doing. Your Doctor will review the results and you will receive prompt notification of any results that require immediate attention. If your results are normal, or as expected, and no changes are required, you may not be notified. If you wish, you may call the office for results.

Prescription refills will only be authorized during normal office hours. For your convenience, we have a Prescription Refill Line - it is option #3 when you call 812-375-0272. You will need to leave your name, date of birth, medication to be refilled by name, strength, amount (90 day, 30 day), instructions for taking medicine, physician, pharmacy and your phone number for any questions. This line is checked periodically during the day by our clinical staff. Please allow 48 hours for request to be completed. Patients must be seen by our physicians within the recommended time frame for follow-up, or you will need an appointment before refills can be authorized.