Patient Welcome Letter

Thank you for selecting the MUSC Evelyn Trammell Institute for Voice and Swallowing for your speech, language, voice, and/or swallowing needs. We look forward to working with you to provide the highest quality of care possible.

Please note:

As of January 1, 2003 the Radiology Dept will collect co-payments and deductibles from all insured patients who present for radiological procedures. To remain compliant with managed care contracts, patients who have insurance requiring a co-payment or deductible must pay the amount that their plan specifies at the time of service. Since they will be doing this for all insured patients, the Department of Radiology will also be collecting a radiology visit deposit from all uninsured patients at the same time. This fee only applies to patients who are having Modified Barium Swallow Studies or outpatient voice evaluations by Dr. Halstead.

The following guidelines are set up to guarantee quality care for all patients, control therapy costs, and provide for the safety and welfare of patients:

1.	It is very important that you attend every scheduled appointment. If you are sick, or if it is impossible to attend any session, please notify your therapist or the departmental secretary as soon as possible to reschedule. At a minimum, 24-hour notice is required. Contact the office at (843) 792-7162.
2.	If you have a cold, upper respiratory infection or the flu, please call and reschedule your appointment. These conditions may affect your test results or therapy performance.
3.	The therapist, with your input, will set goals and therapy will be planned to meet those goals. Regular attendance is required for you to receive maximum benefit from treatment. Therapy will be ended if: You meet your therapy goals. You do not keep an attendance rate of 80% (8 out of 10 sessions). Two sessions are missed without notifying the office at least 24 hours prior to appointment time.
4.	Therapy sessions are scheduled for a specified amount of time (30 or 45 minutes) and cannot be lengthened to make up for late arrivals. Our appointments are scheduled back to back. It is very important that you arrive on time for your sessions. If you are more than 15 minutes late for an appointment it will be rescheduled.
5.	Each therapy session includes two important parts: (a) direct treatment and (b) consultation. This may include team meetings, family conferences, special reports or letters, phone communication, as well as hands-on treatment.
6.	We will notify you as soon as possible if your therapist must be absent from a session. In the event your regular clinician is absent, one of our other highly skilled staff may be able to treat you. This therapist will be given information about you and will be able to continue your treatment.
7.	Please carry out all home program assignments as directed by your therapist. This ensures ongoing progress and is essential to your total treatment program.
8.	If you have any questions about financial or billing issues, please direct these to the secretary or the Patient Accounts department (843-876-0381). If you have insurance coverage, it is your responsibility to ensure that coverage for therapy is approved prior to beginning your therapy sessions. Our secretary will be glad to assist you with this matter, in sending reports or letters of support. You are responsible for all charges incurred which are not covered by your insurance.
9.	We will occasionally have student interns assigned to our facility. As we are a teaching facility, we have contracts with many universities to provide clinical training experience for students. Your therapist will closely supervise these interns when assisting with therapy.
10.	We are committed to making the therapy experience successful for you. Communication with your therapist is very important. If you have any questions, or do not understand any instructions given by your therapist, please do not hesitate to ask.