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Dr. Cook's
Endometriosis Treatment Program
Out
of State Patient Instructions to schedule an initial
phone consult,
new patient appointment and surgery with Dr. Cook
This section outlines the steps needed
for out of state patients to come to California to receive
treatment with Dr. Cook. If you are interested in further
exploring this possibility, follow the steps outlined
below.
The decision to undergo surgery is
not made lightly by most people. Here at VitalCare we
understand that traveling out of state to have surgery
with a doctor that you have not previously met can be
difficult, even if it is the best decision. Some women
are fortunate to have the support of their local physician
and family, while others may not have that support or
may even encounter resistance. Dr. Cook and the staff
at VitalCare Institute of Health truly believe in the
quality of service that we provide to patients. We welcome
your questions. We want you to understand our medical
practice and what we have to offer to you. We don't
pretend to offer a quick fix that will easily rid you
of all of your problems. We are very good at dealing
with these medical problems and are dedicated to doing
everything possible to help you. Some of the staff at
VitalCare have experienced pelvic pain, endometriosis,
adhesions and interstitial cystitis. They are part of
VitalCare because they believe in helping others get
the relief they deserve. We also want to help others
avoid some of the struggles so often encountered with
the medical profession when dealing with pelvic pain.
We want to help you make the right
decision for you. To help make this happen we need some
information from you. We need you to fill out our new
patient questionnaire. We also need a copy of your previous
medical records, especially a copy of previous operative
reports and a color copy of pictures if available. The
steps listed below will help to expedite the process.
Steps
to Arrange Surgery with Dr. Cook at VitalCare Institute
of Health
- Serious inquires should schedule an appointment
to talk with Dr. Cook. There is no obligation for
speaking with Dr. Cook about your situation and the
possibility of having surgery with him.
- call Michelle, Dr. Cook's Patient Coordinator,
at 408-358-2511 or 888-256-7705 or
- complete and submit
the Medical
Summary Form via
the Internet and Michelle will call you back to
schedule an appointment to speak with Dr. Cook.
- Michelle will answer any questions you have about
the practice and will set up an initial phone appointment
with Dr. Cook. She will tell you how to download the
VitalCare new patient packet from the Internet
or she will mail you a VitalCare new patient packet,
depending upon your preference.
- When you get your VitalCare new patient packet,
complete the new patient questionnaire and return
it and the other requested forms as soon as possible.
We need to have these forms back at VitalCare one
week prior to your phone appointment with Dr. Cook.
- Get a copy of your previous medical records,
especially your previous operative reports and a color
copy of any photos from your surgery, sent to Dr.
Cook. You will need to send a "release of medical
records" to your previous doctors. They need
your written permission to make a copy of your records
and send them to us. You can start this process right
away by downloading the medical
release form now, completing the necessary
information and sending it to your previous doctors.
- Speak with Dr. Cook. This helps Dr. Cook
understand your particular medical situation and it
helps you understand what Dr. Cook and VitalCare can
offer you in the way of treatment options. A tentative
treatment plan is formulated based upon your conversation
with Dr. Cook.
- Speak with Michelle, Dr. Cook's Patient Coordinator
and Surgery Scheduler. Based upon the treatment
plan formulated in step 5, Michelle will:
- call your insurance company, verify medical
coverage and benefits and determine if pre-certification
is required,
- provide you with an estimate of costs,
- will schedule your surgery
- set up any other necessary appointments
- Make flight and hotel arrangements. (see
below) San Jose airport (SJC) is the best airport
to use to if you are flying into see Dr. Cook.
- If at anytime you have difficulties in the process,
please call Michelle at 888-256-7705.
Making
Travel Arrangements for Your Surgery
- You can use your own travel
agent or book flight arrangements yourself, or alternatively,
you can find low cost fares via the Internet Travelocity.
If you do book a flight through travelocity the airport
code for San Jose is SJC.
- Out of state patients undergoing
surgery are usually here for about one and a half
weeks. On average, patients are usually off of work
for one to five weeks after returning home and it
will probably be a month or even two before you are
feeling completely back to normal. Patients usually
fly in one day with the new patient visit, pre-operative
evaluation and lab tests Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Surgery is usually scheduled on Thursday. Depending
upon what type of surgery is performed, patients usually
need from a day to a week of post operative recovery
before they are ready to fly home.
- Make hotel arrangements.
VitalCare Institute of Health has made special arrangement
with Oakwood Apartments for our patients. They have
Studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom furnished apartments
with full sized kitchens and appliances. Click here
for a list of local hotels, web links, addresses and
phone numbers.
- If you need to make arrangements
for a rental car, this can be done through any of
the major car rental companies or arrangement can
be made through travelocity.
- Review the map
of the area. This shows the location of my office
(VitalCare Institute of Health) as a red star.
- The weather in Los Gatos
is usually sunny, mild and pleasant in the summer.
The temperature in the winter usually reach's a high
in the 50's with rain not uncommon. You can check
the Los
Gatos 4 day weather forecast or the 5
day weather forecast to get an idea of
what the weather will be like during your stay.
Information
about the San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay area
is a great place to visit with a lot to see and do.
San Francisco, San Jose, Carmel, Monterey, Santa Cruz
are all with in an hour of Los Gatos.
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Local
Patient Instructions to schedule an in office
new patient with Dr. Cook at VitalCare Institute of
Health
The first step on your road to recovery
of your health at VitalCare is a new patient office
visit with Dr. Cook.
- Either call Michelle, Dr. Cook's Patient Coordinator,
at 408-358-2511 or 888-256-7705 OR
complete and submit the Medical
Summary Form via the Internet and Michelle
will call you back to schedule an appointment.
- Michelle will answer any questions you have about
the practice, Dr. Cook or your situation as it pertains
to the practice. She will schedule a New Pateint
Appointment for you with Dr. Cook at VitalCare
Institute of Health.
- Michelle will also tell you how to download the
VitalCare new patient packet from the Internet
or she will mail you a VitalCare new patient packet,
depending upon your preference.
- When you get your VitalCare new patient packet,
complete the new patient questionnaire and return
it and the other requested forms as soon as possible.
We need to have these forms back at VitalCare one
week prior to your appointment with Dr. Cook.
- Get a copy of your previous medical records,
especially your previous operative reports and a color
copy of any photos from your surgery, sent to Dr.
Cook. You will need to send a "release of medical
records" to your previous doctors. They need
your written permission to make a copy of your records
and send them to us. You can start this process right
away by downloading the medical
release form now, completing the necessary
information and sending it to your previous doctors.
- The new patient office visit with Dr. Cook
usually takes an hour to an hour and a half depending
upon the complexity of your situation. You are encouraged
to bring your significant other. During this time
Dr. Cook will review your history, perform a physical
examination, usually an pelvic ultrasound (sonogram),
discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan. You are
also encouraged to bring a written list of questions
you would like answered.
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