Patient Information

Our physicians see patients by appointment only. This allows us to work as efficiently as possible and reduce your waiting time. We will make every effort to honor your appointment time. Please try to understand, however, that in our specialties, medical and surgical emergencies arise which may cause occasional unforseen delays. We appreciate your patience during these times. To schedule an appointment, call 217-545-6314. We will ask you a few questions before scheduling your appointment. After your initial appointment, the receptionist will periodically ask for updates to your personal and insurance information to ensure that our records are kept accurate and up-to-date. If you cannot keep your appointment, we ask that you give us at least 24 hours notice. This courtesy makes it possible to give that time to another patient.

Your Healthcare Provider

Because we are part of an academic medical center, in addition to the physician or healthcare professional, you may also be seen by a medical student, resident, or fellow.
Students are college graduates in their third or fouth year of medical school training; a resident or fellow is a medical school graduate and a licensed physician in the state of Illinois who is seeking advanced training in one of the surgical subspecialties.
All of these individuals work directly with your physician, who will be making the decisions about your care and treatment.

As a new patient in the Institute for Plastic Surgery, you will be greeted at the reception desk and asked a few questions so that we can establish your record. These questions will include your legal name, address and telephone number, date of birth, Social Security number, employment and insurance information.
In order to complete the registration, you will need to bring:
1) Your insurance card
2) The address of your insurance company
3) Any Worker's Compensation information if it applies to you
4) Managed Care references and/or referrals if applicable
In addition, you may be asked to bring medical records, X-rays or laboratory reports. Please make sure you bring these with you so your physician can fully evaluate your medical history and condition.

We expect payment at the time services are rendered, unless you are covered by an HMO in which we are an enrolled provider, Medicare, IDPA, Worker's Compensation, a special agency, or you have made prior payment arrangements. We accept cash, check, VISA or Mastercard. A statement will be sent to you each month for any unpaid balance on your account. All accounts with a balance due will receive a monthly statement until the account is paid in full. Charges still outstanding after 90 days will have a finance charge of 1% per month added to the outstanding balance.
As a special service to our patients, we will file insurance claims for you free of charge. While it is not necessary to bring your own insurance form, we must have the mailing address of your insurance carrier. Please bring the address with you to your appointment.
We will also complete disability forms on your behalf. There is no charge for the first form; however, there is a $10 fee for each additional form.

Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For emergencies at any other time please continue to call 217-545-6314. The answering service will contact your physician, or the physician on-call, who will contact you as soon as possible.

Traveling by Car

From the South: Take I-55 north to Business 55 (Sixth Street). Follow Sixth north to Carpenter. Turn left on Carpenter and right on Rutledge. Go north on Rutledge for one block to Miller Street. Turn left on Miller Street. Parking ramp will be on your right.

From the West: Follow Veterans Parkway north to Jones Parkway. Turn right on Jones and proceed to the first stoplight (North Grand Avenue). Turn left on North Grand. Turn right at the next stoplight on to Rutledge. Follow Rutledge south to Miller Street. Turn right on Miller Street. Parking ramp will be on your right.

From the North or East: Take 1-55 to Clear Lake Avenue (Exit 98B). Proceed west on Clear Lake (turns into Jefferson). Turn right on First Street. Turn left on Miller Street. Parking ramp on the right.

Telephone Numbers

Institute for Plastic Surgery 217-545-6314
FAX Number 217-545-2588
Billing, Insurance and Disability 217-545-8257
Hand Therapy Center 217-545-0885

The SIU Call Center: 217/545-8000
The center provides one telephone number for referrals and appoints. It connects referring physicians and patients to our primary care physicians and specialists, as well as to services offered through SIU Physicians and Surgeons. Representatives are available 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Outside 217 area code in Illinois, dial 1-800 DIAL SIU (1-800-342-5748). Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD): 1-217-545-8038. Available from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Call use your announcer and the TDD will accommodate your call.