FAQ
Q: What is the endocrine system?
A: The endocrine system is a complex group of glands. Glands are organs that produce hormones that control reproduction, your metabolism, as well as your growth and development. The glands that make up the endocrine system include the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, ovaries, testicles, adrenal, pituitary and hypothalamus.
Q: What is an endocrinologist?
A: An endocrinologist is a specially trained doctor that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect your glands. They know how to treat conditions that are often complex and involve many systems within your body. They are trained to diagnose and treat many conditions including:
- Diabetes
Thyroid Diseases
Metabolic Diseases
Osteoporosis
Hypertension
Cholesterol Disorders
Menopause
Infertility
Lack of Growth (short stature)
Over or Under Production of Hormones
Cancers of the Endocrine Glands
Q: Who is a Nurse Practitioner?
A: A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has completed advanced education and training in diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. Nurse practitioners are licensed by the state and have board certification in their area of practice. Nurse practitioners are able to specialize in an area of study that they desire and then provide care within the scope of their expertise. A NP can serve as a patient’s regular health care provider. They can prescribe medications, order testing, diagnose and treat patients just as a physician would.
Q: Who is a Physician Assistant?
A: A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed health professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. A physician assistant provides a broad range of health care services. They perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, provide preventive health care counseling and write prescriptions. Physician assistants are found in all areas of medicine and work closely with the physicians that they supervised by.
Q: What insurances do you take?
A: We take all major insurances including, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Altius, Select Health, United Healthcare, Cigna, Aetna, Medicare, All Medicare HMOs, Tricare, and some Medicaid plans. Due to the huge number of insurances and different plans: It is always best to contact your individual plan and make sure that we are contracted with them.
Q: How do I make an appointment?
A:You can call our office Monday thru Thursday from 8:00 to 5:00 and Friday from 8:00 to 4:00 at 801-746-0776 and we will be happy to make you and appointment. You can also call our appointment message line anytime 24 hours a day at 801-931-6909 and leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible and get you scheduled for an appointment. Referrals are not needed in order to make an appointment except if you have Medicaid. (we will need a referral from your Primary Care Physician in order to make you a new patient appointment if you have Medicaid)
Q: What do I need to bring to my appointment?
A: It is very important that we have any previous records and reports that relate to your concern so they can be reviewed during your appointment. If we don’t receive them by the time of your appointment, then we may have to repeat costly testing or schedule you a second visit to complete the initial phase of your evaluation. You and your primary care doctor can fax those records to us at
801-746-0775 or you can pick them up and bring them with you to your appointment.
We also ask that you bring your actual medications and/or supplements in there original bottles so the providers can see exactly what you are taking.
Please download our “New Patient Paperwork” off of this web site and have it filled our prior to your visit. If you can not fill it our prior to your appointment, then please arrive 30 to 45 minutes early for your appointment so we can process the paperwork and have you still on time for your appointment time.
Q: How do I get a refill on my medications?
Prescription refills are best managed by contacting your pharmacy and asking them to send us a request for a refill. This ensures that we have the correct medication and dosing prior to refilling the medication. Please ask your pharmacy to send us a request electronically or by fax to the following numbers. It could take up to 4 business days to get a prescription refill.Fax# for prescription refill requests:
Dr. Burr fax#-(801)931-6927
Michelle Litchman fax#- 801)931-2467
Bonnie Sims & Joyce Ferrone fax# - (801) 931-2468
General fax# 801-746-0775
Chris Singer fax#- (801)931-2467
Q: How do I receive my test results?
A: Most of the tests we run are complicated, it is best if test results are gone over during your follow up visit. Some routine tests can be given over the phone but that is up to the provider’s discretion. The patient will be contacted as soon as possible about test results that require immediate action.
Q: How do I get a copy of my medical records from Wasatch Endocrinology?
A: Due to federal laws, we have to have a written medical records request. The needs to include what type and/or date range records you are requesting. Please also include your name, date of birth and/or social security number and signature. You can come into our office during office hours and sign a release or fax one to us at our fax number 801-746-0775. If the records are for another physician we would be happy to fax the records to that physician, just make sure the request includes the doctors name, address, phone number, fax number and once again what records the physician is requesting.
Any records for disability insurance companies or attorneys will need to be paid for prior to having the records copied. Our cost for copying medical records are as follows:
$15.00 search fee
$1.00 per page for copies
$ postage.
Q: How do I contact someone after hours for an urgent matter?
A: Our after hours phone system has the capacity to notify your provider of an urgent issue after our office has closed and on the weekends. Please follow the voice prompts on the phone system and make sure to flag the message as URGENT, otherwise it will not notify your provider until the next open office day. The provider will call you back within 2 hours.