FAQ

  • FAQHow do I become a patient at Grand Valley Primary Care?
    We ask all prospective patients to complete the new patient form. You can fill out this form on our website, or call our office and we will be happy to send you a copy of the application.

  • FAQHow do I access my health information online?
    Please call your primary care office to request online access. You can use the online portal to request appointments, send your provider a quick message and more.

  • FAQWhat is a patient portal?
    A patient portal is a secure online website that gives you convenient 24-hour access to your personal health information and medical records – called an Electronic Health Record or EHR – from anywhere with an Internet connection.

  • FAQWhy is using a patient portal important?
    Accessing your personal medical records through a patient portal can help you be more actively involved in your own health care. Accessing your family member's health information can help you take care of them as well. The patient portals also offer self-service options that can eliminate phone tag with your doctor and sometimes even save a trip to the doctor's office.

  • FAQWhat can I do with a patient portal?
    The features of patient portals may vary, but typically you can securely view and print portions of your medical record, including recent physician visits, discharge summaries, medications, immunizations, allergies, and most lab results anytime and from anywhere you have web access. A patient portal may also allow you to access these features on behalf of your children or other dependent family members.

  • FAQHow do I get access to the patient portal?
    Please call your primary care office for instructions on how to set up a patient portal. We will provide you with instructions for setting it up. There are a couple of steps involved in setting up your account, including creating a secure password. This is to make sure only you have access to your health information. Once your account is set up, you'll be ready to conveniently access your health information and medical records through the patient portal. What are you waiting for? Call us to sign up today!

  • FAQHow do I get my prescription refilled?
    Please call your pharmacy directly for prescription refills; if the refill needs physician approval they will contact us. Please plan ahead as this process may take up to 72 hours. Refill requests will not be processed after hours.

  • FAQHow do I contact my physician after hours?
    We provide 24/7 call coverage for our patients. Please contact your provider's main office number and the answering service will contact the physician on call. If you are in need of immediate emergency care, call 911.

  • FAQMy child needs a school/athletic physical, how do I schedule this?
    Please contact your provider's main office number and ask for an appointment with your physician. Tell the receptionist that you are scheduling the appointment for a school/athletic physical and they will schedule the appropriate amount of time with your primary provider. Be sure to bring any forms that need to be completed with you. If you need the physical before your physician has an appointment opening, you can be scheduled with one of our other primary care providers to provide this service.

  • FAQHow do I know what immunizations my child needs?
    We follow the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for immunizations. Please visit CDC for more information.

  • FAQI am traveling to a foreign country and want to find out what are the health precautions/requirements, how do I do that?
    The CDC maintains detailed, current information on the health requirements and suggested precautions you need to know and understand before traveling abroad. Please visit Traveler's Help for more information.

  • FAQWhat is the difference between a Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and an Annual Physician Exam?
    Medicare does not cover an Annual Physical Exam, instead you have a free benefit called the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit. At this visit, your provider will give you a personalized prevention plan or checklist with the screenings and preventive services recommended for you. You may have a co-payment for the recommended services when you get them.

    The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit includes:
    • A health risk assessment (questions you answer about your health)
    • A review of your medical and family history
    • Updating a list of your current providers, medications, and supplements
    • Looking for signs of memory loss or dementia
    • Personalized health advice just for you
    • Reviewing health risk factors and treatment options for you

    The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is an important Medicare benefit that helps you and your provider stay on top of your health. This is not a physical exam but does provide a service to help you with some of the needs you may not have discussed with your provider.

    The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes an Annual Physical Exam as studying the body to determine if there is or is not a physical problem. The Annual Physical Exam usually includes:
    • Looking at the body
    • Feeling the body with fingers or hands
    • Listening to the body's sounds
    • Producing sounds, usually by tapping on areas of the body

    The Annual Physical Exam may be thought of as a head-to-toe assessment. Providers gather information through their senses — what is seen, felt or heard. Tests may be ordered based on this information but may not be covered as part of the physical exam.