Midwest Medical Specialists

MMS's North and South offices are open from 8:30am - 5pm, Monday through Friday. Our phones are answered from 9am - 5pm by MMS staff, except between Noon - 1pm during the lunch hour. If you have an after hours emergency, your call will be forwarded to our answering service. The service can contact the doctor on call if necessary.

Midwest Medical Specialists' primary affiliations are with North Kansas City Hospital and Shawnee Mission Medical Center. Our physicians also have privileges at: Creekwood Surgery Center, Briarcliff Surgery Center and Shawnee Mission Surgery Center.

Midwest Medical Specialists has contracted with the health insurance providers listed below as of 1/09*. If you have any questions regarding your coverage, please contact your provider to confirm coverage.

IMPORTANT: Certain providers are contracted only with the specific physicians listed next to the insurance company name. If no physician's name is listed, then coverage applies to all MMS services and physicians.

• Aetna
• Blue Bell Benefit Trust
• Blue Cross Blue Shield (all plans)
  • Preferred Health Professionals
  • Freedom Network
  • Freedom Network Select
  • TriCare
• CCO
• Century Health Solutions
• Cigna
• Community Health Plan
• Comp Results
• Corvel
• Coventry
  • Coventry National
  • First Health
  • Work Comp
• Coventry Health Solutions
• Galaxy Health Network
• Great West
• Health Choice of NW Missouri
• Health Management Network
• Health Payors
• Humana - Ear, Nose, Throat care only
• Medicare
• MultiPlan/PHCS
• National Healthcare Solutions (IMS)
• NPPN
• Premier Work Comp Management
• Prime Health
• Railroad Medicare
• United Healthcare
• USA Managed Care Organization
• WPPA

You may cancel an appointment in one of two ways. One, call our office and let the front desk know directly. Or, if you receive an automated reminder call, you will be given the option to hit a certain key and cancel your appointment that way.

Patients should bring their current insurance cards to every MMS appointment. It is also helpful to bring along a list of current medications (prescription and over-the-counter including vitamins), and all forms we may have sent you in advance of your appointment. Important: if your insurance requires a physician referral, please bring that along as well. Be sure to bring a form of payment to make a co-pay or full visit payment.

You have three options for completion of paerwork. Option One: If you have access to a printer, you can download and print the paperwork and complete it before you come to you appointment. Option Two: Depending on how soon your appointment falls after you schedule it. you can request that new patient packets be sent to your home for completion prior to your visit. Option Three: You are always welcome to stop by our office and pick up your forms in advance. If you have any questions regarding the completion of your forms, do not hesitate to ask us.
PLEASE BE SURE to discuss these options with the appointment desk when you call to make your appointment.

We understand that weather conditions or a last minute conflict at the office may cause you to be a few minutes late for your appointment. If you find yourself running behind, simply call the office and notify the front desk. We'll let you know if it's necessary to reschedule, or if we can adjust your appointment time a bit.

A physician assistant is a health care professional trained in an intensive education program. PA's are licensed by the state or credentialed by a federal employer to practice medicine with the supervision of a physician.

As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PA's perform physical exams, diagnose conditions and illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, suture, assist in surgery, provide patient education, counsel on preventive health care and can prescribe medications in virtually all states.

Supervising physicians work closely with their PA's to determine which patients and conditions they want them to treat. Close consultation between the physician, PA, and patient is utilized for unusual or hard to manage patients.

To remain nationally certified, PA's must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every 2 years and must pass a national recertification examination every 6 years.

If you need a refill authorization, or you've discussed a new prescription with your doctor, please call your pharmacy first and then let the pharmacy contact us. If you have specific questions or needs, you can call MMS and ask for the nurses' line and leave a detailed recorded message. A nurse will return your call as soon as possible.

If you need to contact a Midwest Medical Specialists physician after hours, simply call the phone number of your preferred location: South - 913-722-5551 or North - 816-454-0666 and listen for a recorded message with the answering service phone number. Call that number and the doctor on call will respond as soon as possible.

Where can I find more medical information?

Ears, Nose, Throat

www.entnet.org

Dermatology

www.skincancer.org

Skin Renewal

www.RestylaneUSA.com

Audiology

www.mayoclinic.com