Hope Cancer Care Charlottesville

What to Expect When You Arrive

When you arrive for your appointment, the receptionist will verify all of your information and scan your insurance information and driver’s license (picture ID) into the electronic medical system.
You’ll be asked to take a seat in the lobby or you’ll be directed to another location in the office.

If you ever wait more than 15 minutes in the lobby, check back with the receptionist. We try to adhere to scheduled visit times, but patient emergencies may delay the doctor's schedule. We apologize if this does happen and want you to know we respect your time and value you as our patient.

Patient Phone Calls

Your doctor’s nurse returns phone calls on the same day, in between patient appointments. If your call is urgent, please let the receptionist know this when you call. Your nurse will tell your doctor about any problems. If you want to speak to your doctor, tell your nurse.

Test Results

We’ll call you about lab and X-ray results or tell you during your appointment. Most other tests results, like PET scans, bone scans or MRIs, usually take two to three days. Call our office if you don’t get a result within four days.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and other systemic agents, such as endocrine or targeted medications, may be used to treat cancer. Other specialized drugs or therapies may be administered to treat (or prevent) other conditions, such as osteoporosis, anemia, blood disorders and high-risk pregnancies.

These therapies may be administered intravenously (directly into the bloodstream with an IV), orally or by injection. Schedules and durations of treatment vary by the condition, and from patient to patient. Your doctor and treatment team will give you information on your specific regimen, its side effects and expectations for success.

Return Appointments

At the end of each visit, your provider will determine when you need to return. This helps you make your next appointment before you leave the office. If you have been in the hospital, ask your doctor when you need a follow-up visit and then call the office to make an appointment.

Canceled and Missed Appointments

As a courtesy, you will receive a phone call reminder within a business day before to your appointment. Anyone can have an emergency that may make you postpone an appointment. However, because our appointment schedules are generally full, call in advance (24 hours if possible) so we can allow another patient to take your appointment space. You can make a new appointment during the same call.

After Hours

On-call doctor: 434.982.7866 or 866.575.HOPE.

We encourage you to call our answering service with medical concerns after hours and on weekends. One of our staff doctors is available 24/7.

Useful information to have available when you call includes:

• Your doctor’s name
• Condition for which you are being treated
• Medications you are taking, including chemotherapy
• Explanation of symptoms and concerns

Try to keep all of your prescription renewals up to date because it’s often difficult (or impossible, with controlled drugs) for the on-call doctor to call in a medication. These prescriptions need to be handwritten and picked up and taken to a pharmacy.