For Patients: Spine Center

Please visit our central patient information page for more information on insurance, paying online, billing, customer services, privacy practices (HIPAA), patient guide, and documents and forms including Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information (medical records) and the Patient Relationship Agreement.

Phone: (713) 798-BACK (2225)
Fax: (713) 798-8225

Referred Patients

If required by your insurance, we have several ways in which your referring physician can submit a referral to us. We request that they also provide the applicable medical records and imaging.

Planning for Your Appointment

We ask that you prepare for your visit by completing our New Patient Packet prior to your initial visit.

We encourage you to complete the New Patient Packet via your Baylor Medicine MyChart account. However, you can also complete the forms and send them to spinecenter@bcm.edu or bring them and any imaging or pertinent medical records to your first appointment. If you cannot complete the forms before your appointment, we ask that you please arrive 30 minutes early to allow you enough time to fill out the required documents.

• Spine Questionaire
   

If you need help determining which x-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans to bring to your appointment, please contact your physician’s nurse or assistant BEFORE your appointment.

Day of Appointment

On the day of your appointment, remember to:

• Arrive 30 minutes early to complete forms and allow us time to upload any imaging you might have brought with you.
• Bring photo identification (ID)
• Bring your insurance cards(s)
• Bring a form of payment. Payment is due at the time of service.
• Have a list of your current medications, including dosage and frequency available.
• Bring relevant medical records.
• Bring x-rays, CT scans, and/or MRI scans taken for your current medical condition, if available. Please arrive early if you are bringing your imaging with you on a CD.
• Have your referring physician contact information available (if applicable)
• Have your preferred pharmacy contact information available
• Have your emergency contact information available

Patients who require diagnostic tests such as ultrasounds, CT scans, or MRIs will be referred to Baylor Medicine Radiology and Diagnostics or a facility approved by your insurance carrier. Your physician’s nurse or medical assistant will schedule the tests for you.

Please note that many insurance carriers require pre-approval of diagnostic tests. We urge you to read your policy carefully and discuss any questions you might have with us. If you have a preferred diagnostic service provider, please discuss with your physician during your visit.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911.

In emergency situations, patients should be taken to the Baylor St. Luke’s emergency room. Please notify your neurosurgeon as quickly as possible in an emergency situation.

Call (713) 798-BACK (2225) if you need medical care after our regular office hours (weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), on weekends, or during holidays. The answering service will relay your message to the on-call physician.

Our billing office specialists will work with you to make the appropriate financial arrangements. Please note that many insurance companies require pre-certification, a second opinion, or that you file claims within a certain time period in order for you to be reimbursed fully.

We urge you to review your policy carefully so that you will receive the full amount to which you are entitled. The billing specialists can be reached by calling (713) 798-BACK (2225).

Cash-paying patients will only be accepted on a case-by-case basis after review by one of our physicians. Payment will be due at the time of service.

The most convenient way to refill a medication prescription is to call your pharmacy with the prescription number. The pharmacist will contact our office for physician approval. You can also request refills using your Baylor Medicine MyChart account.

Our contact information for the pharmacy is:

Phone: (713) 798-BACK (2225)
Fax: (713) 798-8225