Frequently Asked Questions
Are your specialists Board Certified Dermatologists?
Dr. Nixon, Dr. Seward and Dr. Grattan are board certified
dermatologists. This means that all of our doctors
have completed a full 3 year dermatology residency and passed an
exam to show their expertise in skin.
What training have the physicians had? Are they experienced?
Dr. Nixon
- Undergraduate - Duke University
- Medical School- UNC-Chapel Hill
- Internship - Vanderbilt University Hospital
- Internal Medicine Residency - Georgetown University Hospital
- Dermatology Residency - University of South Florida
- Previously practiced with:
- Carolina Dermatology (2000-9/06)
- The Dermatology Group (1998-2000)
Dr. Seward
- Undergraduate - Miami University (Ohio)
- Medical School - Medical College of Ohio
- Internship - Georgetown University Hospital
- Residency - University of Louisville
- Previously practiced with:
- Charlotte Dermatology (2003-9/06)
Dr. Grattan
- Undergraduate - University of South Carolina
- Medical School - University of South Carolina
- Internship - University of South Carolina
- Residency - Medical University of South Carolina in
Charleston
back to top
What are your office hours?
| |
Ballantyne |
Indian Trail |
| Monday |
7:30 am - 4:00 pm |
7:30 am - 4:00 pm |
| Tuesday |
7:30 am - 4:00 pm |
7:30 am - 4:00 pm |
| Wednesday |
7:30 am - 4:00 pm |
Closed |
| Thursday |
7:30 am - 4:00 pm |
Closed |
| Friday |
7:30 am - 1:00 pm |
Closed |
Saturday/
Sunday |
Closed |
Closed |
back to top
How do I make an appointment?
Call 704-341-0090.
back to top
Will you accept my insurance?
We accept most major insurance plans and many others through
the Medcost and United Networks. (Click
here for a complete list of
accepted insurance carriers)
back to top
What does a new patient need to do to get ready for their first
visit?
As a new patient, it would be helpful to have any pertinent
information forwarded from either your referring doctor or previous
dermatologists. This includes any treatments for skin
conditions and past pathology reports and surgeries for skin
cancers. Click here for directions
on sending prior medical
records to our office.
Please bring all your prescription medications with you to the
first visit and any subsequent visit when these medications have
changed.
Please bring all prescribed creams and pills for your skin condition
to each appointment.
Please bring a current insurance card.
Please bring relevant physician referrals, if required from
your insurer.
Visit our Forms page for an overview
of the forms that must be completed on your initial visit.
You may print and complete these forms prior to your arrival at
our office.
back to top
How do I request my medical records from another doctor?
You must formally request your records by writing to the office
of the referring or previous doctor. Complete the
Medical
Records Release form and provide this form to the physician
who will transfer the records. You should specify from whom and to whom in the
letter as well as appropriate dates and information to be sent.
You may send your records by:
- Pick up and bring to your appointment - You may be charged for
the copying of the records by the old practice.
- Fax to 704-341-0092
- Mail to Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte at the
following address:
Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte
Ballantyne Medical Two
15830 John J. Delaney Drive
Suite 100
Charlotte, NC 28277
back to top
Do you take work-in appointments?
Yes, we accommodate our established patients as needed.
back to top
Why should I keep a follow up appointment if I am better?
These appointments are scheduled in order to best care for your
skin. Many skin conditions require close monitoring and
adjustment of the medication for best results. Many medications
require monitoring on a regular basis due to their possible side
effects. Everyone is unique. Your follow up appointments
are important for your health.
back to top
Why keep a follow up appointment if the medicines haven't
worked?
If you are not doing well, there are multiple options that we
could try. Not everyone responds the same to the same
medicines. We need to reevaluate you and change your medications
or treatment to make you better.
back to top
How do I cancel an appointment?
Please call our office to cancel any appointment at least 24
hours prior to the appointment. Canceling your appointment with
a reasonable notice allows us to offer this appointment to someone
else who may need to be seen right away. We do not overbook
to compensate for "no show" appointments. We
can keep an optimal schedule only if you keep or cancel appointments
as requested. This allows for a time efficient encounter
for both the patient and the physician.
back to top
Do you provide cosmetic services?
Yes, click here to view these
services. These
treatments will be offered only after consultation with one of
our doctors. All consultations with the esthetician and physicians require a
$75 fee. If you chose to proceed with the procedure, this
fee will be credited toward your charges. Any missed appointments
for the procedure will result in loss of the above fee. Please
give at least 24 hours notice if you cannot make your appointment.
We also can advise you on skin care products that will
improve your skin, whether you want to improve wrinkles, sun
spots, the texture or tone of your skin. The physician
will make the recommendations and our esthetician and nurses
will counsel you further regarding the optimal use of these
products for best results. Your care is always under the
direct supervision of our physicians. The consultation fee
will be credited toward any purchase of products.
back to top
How do you differ from a spa?
We are a medical office, providing medical care in a professional
setting. Our cosmetic services are directly supervised
and performed by the physicians. We do not offer facials,
massages, makeup consultations and other similar services.
back to top
How do I get my questions answered?
Please ask questions at your doctor's visit. If you think
of another question at home that is directly related to the problem
discussed at your visit, please call the nurses line
(704-341-0090) and leave
an appropriate message. Please leave a daytime phone number
where you can be reached easily. We are not allowed to
leave messages on answering machines. We will return your
call with in 24 business hours.
For a life threatening emergency, please call 911 immediately.
For non-life threatening
emergencies that cannot wait until office hours, please call
the office and you will be forwarded directly to
Dr. Grattan, Dr.
Nixon
or Dr. Seward.
Non-emergency calls will be returned the morning of the next
business day.
back to top
How do I request a prescription refill?
We can only authorize refills on prescriptions written from
this office. Please do not request refills on prescriptions
not related to your skin care.
We regret that we cannot refill any prescriptions when appointments
are missed. Please reschedule the appointment and ask
for refills then. No prescription will be renewed if more
than 1 year has passed since your last visit. Oral medications
and some topical creams require more frequent visits.
Please check with your pharmacy if you are unsure if you have
any refills left.
You may call our office at 704-341-0090 and leave a message
on the nurses' line with your name, birth date, name and dosage
of medication, preferred pharmacy name and number and instructions. We
can mail, fax or have the prescriptions at the front desk for
you to pick up. Please allow 24 business hours for any
refill. The on call physician after office hours will
not refill medications.
back to top
How do I pay for my visit?
We welcome new and existing patients and accept most insurance
plans. If we are participating providers for your
insurance plan, you will be responsible for your co-pay and
deductibles at the time of your visit. We will file
your health insurance for you. Any additional money
due based on your insurance explanation of benefits forms will
be due immediately upon notification by us or your insurance
company.
Any procedures considered to be cosmetic are not covered by
insurance and therefore, payment is expected at the time of service. We
cannot file any service to insurance that is cosmetic. We
will notify you if we believe a planned procedure is cosmetic
and discuss costs prior to performing the procedure.
Co-payments and payments for services must be paid at the time
of service. We accept cash, checks, debit cards, Visa,
MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
We also welcome self-pay patients with payment due at the
time of service.
back to top
Who should I contact with questions
about my bill or insurance?
Please
call 704-341-0090 or email:
billing@dscmd.com
for questions regarding your patient statements. Please
contact your insurance company regarding coverage for services.
back to top
How can I get more information
about my diagnosis or anticipated treatment?
Visit
our patient information website at
www.dscmd.fromyourdoctor.com. Please call our office
with any further concerns and leave a message on your doctor's
nurses phone line. Your call will be returned within 24
business hours.
|
