Living with an autoimmune disease or long-term joint pain takes clear talk, good planning and steady care. We want your time with our clinic to be smooth, comfortable and free of stress.
This guide covers the basics. It explains how we run each day, how to book visits, what to do in an emergency and our office rules. When you know how our clinic works, we can work together on what matters most. That means better health, fewer symptoms and a better daily life.
General Patient Information: Scheduling and Appointments
Rheumatic and autoimmune diseases need time to check and treat the right way. We value your time and your health. That is why we follow a few rules for booking visits.
By Appointment Only
Our doctors must work by appointment. We will do all we can to see each patient as soon as possible. If you need care right away, our staff will try hard to give you a visit the same day. If you cannot keep a visit, please call our office at least 24 hours ahead. Then our staff can give your time to another patient.
Handling Medical Emergencies
Arthritis and autoimmune diseases can sometimes cause sudden pain. But it is vital to know the difference between a problem for the clinic and a true medical emergency.
What to Do in an Emergency
If you have an emergency that threatens your life, call 911 right away or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Do not wait for a clinic visit.
After-Hours Care
Some problems happen after office hours, on weekends or on holidays. If your problem does not threaten your life, call our answering service. A medical professional is there to help guide you. But please only call after hours for true emergencies that cannot wait until the next business day. For routine questions or prescription refills, please wait until regular office hours.
Clinic Policies for a Healing Environment
Keeping our office calm, clean and healthy comes first. We share our building with other offices. We ask all patients to help us keep it a respectful place.
No Smoking or Cell Phones Please
The building our office is in has a strict "No Smoking and No Cell Phone" rule.
Smoking harms the joints and the immune system. Research from the National Institutes of Health shows that smoking for a long time raises the risk of rheumatoid arthritis. It can also make the disease worse. Tobacco can make rheumatoid arthritis symptoms worse and make your medicines work less well.
If you must leave the building to smoke, please tell our front desk before you step outside. We will gladly save your place in line, so you do not lose your turn.
In the same way, please step outside the building to use your cell phone. Keeping phone calls out of the waiting room protects patient privacy. It also keeps the room quiet and calm for everyone who lives with long-term pain.
Preparing for Your Visit
To get the most from your visit, get a few things ready ahead of time. Please bring your insurance cards, a photo ID, and any medical records or recent lab results that matter for your visit. Also bring a written list of all the medicines, vitamins and supplements you take. With this general information, our medical team can check your health well and build a safe treatment plan that works.
Do you have more questions about our clinic rules, or do you need to book your next visit? Reach our team on our Contact Us page or call (951) 781-7700. We look forward to working with you on the road to healthier joints.
