Frequently asked questions

Why do I need another physician to refer me just to make a new patient appointment? 

It is Florida Infectious Disease Group office policy that all new patients must be referred by a physician before making an appointment with our physicians; we are a specialist provider. This insures that an infectious disease condition has been diagnosed requiring an infectious disease consult. In most cases, it also benefits the patient to obtain an appointment with his/her primary care physician; as an established patient.  Treatment can begin as soon as you are seen by an infectious disease physician.

If I was a Florida Infectious Disease Group patient over a year ago and I have a new medical issue now, why can’t I just call and make an appointment?

It’s mandated that patients that have not been in our office within a year’s time are considered new patients to our office and must follow our new patient protocol.  Because your conditioned has changed, you require a new consult referred by your primary care physician.

What if I have been to the office recently but have a new medical issue that I want to be addressed?

Unfortunately, you will need to initially see your primary care physician and than referred to our office for any medical issues that we have not treated you for.  Your primary care physician will decide if a specialist consult is required.

Do I have to see the same doctor every time I came in for follow-ups?

Yes, it is in the patients’ best interest that patients see the same physician for each visit.  This policy allows for optimum patient care as the physician is familiar with your case.

Do I have to pay co-pay every time I come to the office for IV infusions?

No.  The only time co-pays will be collected is when you see the physician or nurse practitioner.

Why can’t I get my test results over the phone?

It is our office policy that all test results be reviewed with you at an office visit.  This allows the physician to explain the results and answer any questions you may have at that time.      

Why can’t the office speak to my spouse or family regarding my medical issues if I say it is o.k.?

Our office can speak to your family as long as you have given written permission for us to do so.  Patient privacy laws restrain us from communication with second or third party individuals.  This form is included in the new patient packet that is provided to you on your first visit.  The release of medical record form can be printed from www.flidgrp.com under forms tab.  Signature is required for validation.

How do I get a copy of my medical records and how long does it take?

A release of medical records request form is available at www.flidgrp.com  This form requires a signature to be valid. Upon receipt of request, records will be ready within 24 – 48 hours.  The medical records department will call you when they are available for pickup and will advise you of the amount due.  The charge for medical records is $1.00 per page for the first 25 pages and .25 there after.   

Medical Terminology

Consultation
A consultation is distinguished from a visit because it is done at the request of a referring physician. The consultant prepares a report of his/her findings which is provided to the referring physician for his/her use in the treatment of the patient. A consultation report will contain documentation of the three key (history, exam and medical decision making) components of an evaluation and management service. You are a patient of Florida Infectious Disease Group because your primary physician has referred you to our practice for treatment. He or she has made a good choice in your health care decision. At Florida Infectious Disease Group we partner with your referring physician to make an impact in your well being. We strive to make our patients better.

Infectious Disease
An infectious disease is a clinically evident disease resulting from the presence of pathogenic microbial agents, including pathogenic viruses, pathogenic bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multi-cellular parasites, and aberrant proteins known as prions. These pathogens are able to cause disease in animals and/or plants. Infectious pathologies are sometimes qualified as contagious diseases (also called communicable diseases) due to their potentiality of transmission from one person or species to another. Transmission of an infectious disease may occur through one or more of diverse pathways including physical contact with infected individuals. These infecting agents may also be transmitted through liquids, food, body fluids, contaminated objects, airborne inhalation, or through vector-borne spread. The term infectivity describes the ability of an organism to enter, survive and multiply in the host, while the infectiousness of a disease indicates the comparative ease with which the disease is transmitted to other hosts. An infection however, is not synonymous with an infectious disease, as an infection may not cause important clinical symptoms or impair host function.

Infusion Therapy

Infusion is defined as the introduction of fluid other than blood into your vein, or intravenously. Infusion (IV) therapy is a way to administer drugs or nutrients that cannot be taken by mouth. Some reasons for infusion therapy are pain management, dehydration, nutritional deficiencies, infections, diabetes, cancer and renal failure. When providing IV therapy services, the IV nurse will work closely with physicians to monitor your condition and make adjustments. The team will collaborate with you and your family while you need this therapy, providing education about IV therapy and the length of time you can expect to need it. Depending upon your condition, once stabilized, you may be able to continue your therapy at home. IV therapy may be a covered benefit under Medicare, Medicaid, and, or private insurance. Our staff will assist in obtaining pre-authorization from your insurance carrier for covered IV pharmaceuticals, supplies, equipment and service.

Wound Care
A wound is a break in the skin (the outer layer of skin is called the epidermis). Wounds are usually caused by cuts or scrapes. Different kinds of wounds may be treated differently from one another, depending upon how they happened and how serious they are. Healing is a response to the injury that sets into motion a sequence of events. With the exception of bone, all tissues heal with some scarring. The object of proper care is to minimize the possibility of infection and scarring. There are basically 4 phases to the healing process:

Inflammatory phase: The inflammatory phase begins with the injury itself. Here you have bleeding, immediate narrowing of the blood vessels, clot formation, and release of various chemical substances into the wound that will begin the healing process. Specialized cells clear the wound of debris over the course of several days.

Proliferative phase: Next is the proliferative phase in which a matrix or latticework of cells forms. On this matrix, new skin cells and blood vessels will form. It is the new small blood vessels (known as capillaries) that give a healing wound its pink or purple-red appearance. These new blood vessels will supply the rebuilding cells with oxygen and nutrients to sustain the growth of the new cells and support the production of proteins (primarily collagen). The collagen acts as the framework upon which the new tissues build. Collagen is the dominant substance in the final scar.

Remodeling phase: This begins after 2-3 weeks. The framework (collagen) becomes more organized making the tissue stronger. The blood vessel density becomes less, and the wound begins to lose its pinkish color. Over the course of 6 months, the area increases in strength, eventually reaching 70% of the strength of uninjured skin.

Epithelialization: This is the process of laying down new skin, or epithelial, cells. The skin forms a protective barrier between the outer environment and the body. Its primary purpose is to protect against excessive water loss and bacteria. Reconstruction of this layer begins within a few hours of the injury and is complete within 24-48 hours in a clean, sutured (stitched) wound. Open wounds may take 7-10 days because the inflammatory process is prolonged, which contributes to scarring. Scarring occurs when the injury extends beyond the deep layer of the skin (into the dermis).

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by a virus. It goes away on its own in almost all cases. Hepatitis A does not lead to long-term liver problems. The virus is found in the stool of an infected person. It is spread when a person eats food or drinks water that has come in contact with infected stool.

Hepatitis B 
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV). The liver becomes swollen and tender (inflamed) and may develop permanent damage, such as scarring or liver cancer. The hepatitis B virus spreads by way of body fluids, including blood, semen, and vaginal fluids (including menstrual blood).

Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The liver becomes swollen and tender (inflamed) and may develop permanent damage, such as scarring or liver cancer. Hepatitis C is spread through sharing needles, being exposed to infected blood, or very rarely, having unprotected sex with an infected partner.

MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It's tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it's resistant to some commonly used antibiotics. MRSA is spread by contact. So you could get MRSA by touching another person who has it on the skin. Or you could get it by touching objects that have the bacteria on them. MRSA is carried, or "colonized," by about 1% of the population, although most of them aren't infected. MRSA infections are most common among people who have weak immune systems and are living in hospitals, nursing homes, and other heath care centers. Infections can appear around surgical wounds or invasive devices, like catheters or implanted feeding tubes. Rates of infection in hospitals, especially intensive care units, are rising throughout the world. In U.S. hospitals, MRSA causes more than 60% of staph infections.

Osteomyelitis
Osteomyelitis is an inflammation or swelling of bone tissue that is usually the result of an infection. Osteomyelitis, or bone infection, may occur for many different reasons and can affect children or adults. When osteomyelitis affects adults, it often involves the vertebral bones along the spinal column. The source of the blood infection is usually Staphylococcus aureus, although it may be caused by a different type of bacteria or fungal organism. Osteomyelitis can also occur from a nearby infection due to a traumatic injury, frequent medication injections, a surgical procedure, or use of a prosthetic device. In addition, individuals with diabetes who develop foot ulcers are more susceptible.

Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a spreading infection of the skin that usually begins as a small area of tenderness, swelling, and redness on the skin. As this red area begins to spread, the person may develop a fever, sometimes with chills and sweats, and swollen lymph nodes ("swollen glands") near the area of infected skin. Cellulitis refers to an infection involving the skin's deeper layers; the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The main bacteria involved in cellulitis is Staphylococcus ("staph"), the same bacteria that causes many cases of impetigo. Occasionally, other bacteria may cause cellulitis as well.