General FAQ

When you see Dr. Roman-Pavajeau, you may be asked questions about your health. You should ask questions too. Together, you and the doctor will make decisions about your health care and any treatment you may need. If you are ready for the conversation, you will be able to speak for yourself and help make the best decisions about your health care.

When you make an appointment, you will need to say why you need to see a doctor, only in the case you have not been referred by another doctor.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you need an annual checkup with your primary doctor first?
• Is your visit about a problem that needs surgery? Is the problem urgent? If so, be sure to say whether you need to see the doctor right away.
• Is your first visit with Dr. Roman-Pavajeau? If so, find out whether the office accepts your insurance. You will need to bring your health insurance card with you to the visit. You also may need to bring a photo ID.
• Dr. Roman-Pavajeau is a specialist, therefore do you need special permission from your insurance? With some insurance plans, you need to have a referral from your primary doctor to see a specialist. Make sure you have this referral handy so you can give it to the specialist

Telehealth, also called telemedicine, allows you to get health care without seeing your doctor in person. You talk with your doctor using your phone, computer, or tablet.

Dr. Roman-Pavajeau, most of the time doesn't offer telehealth. If there is a particular situation for which you need this type of visit, you can ask the office whether a telehealth visit is an option for you. Access to telehealth may depend on:

• what your state and local laws allow
• whether you have access to the internet and a computer, phone, or tablet

Before your health care visit, it may help to write down the following information:

• Your questions and concerns. Put your main problem first on your list, so you can bring it up right away. Then list other problems that you want to discuss.
• Your signs and symptoms. These are things you can show or describe to your doctor, such as a rash, swelling, pain, dizziness, or itching. Be ready to describe what your symptoms feel like, when they started, and what makes them better.
• Any medications that you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs (such as pain relievers), vitamin supplements, and herbal medicines. List why you take each drug, how much of the drug you take, and how often you take it.
• The names and addresses of your past doctors.
• Your health history

Bring these lists with you to your health care visit.

A health history is a record of your general health. You may be asked about your health history at your appointment. If you do not understand the questions, the office staff can help you. It is always good you bring your notes or information about the following:

• Illnesses and injuries
• Hospitalizations
• Surgical procedures
• Vaccinations (shots)
• Medications (ones you take now as well as ones you have taken in the past)
• Allergies
• Bad reactions to medications and foods
• Exercise habits and diet
• Substance use (including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and any other drug use)
• Factors or events that have a major effect on your life, such as stress at work, getting married, or moving
• Family history of disease (including aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, and children)

There are two ways we can get your medical records. First, your doctors usually can send your health records to us.

The second option is for you to bring your records to us. Your doctor can give you any past medical records, X-rays, and test results, a fee may be charged for this service.

Sometimes you may be able to print them from an online patient portal.

Ask our office before your visit if you can bring people with you. Policies may be in place to limit visitors at certain times, especially during this COVID-19 and Delta Variant pandemic.

If you are able to bring a friend or relative with you, this person can act as your advocate—someone who knows you and has your best interests in mind. This person may help you remember something during or after the visit. Make sure that you are comfortable sharing private information with this person.

If you need to bring young children with you, it may help to also bring someone to take care of them while you are with your doctor. Ask our office how many people you can bring with you.

You may need an interpreter if your doctor does not speak your preferred language. Ask our office staff whether we can translate or if we can find an interpreter who is familiar with medical terms. Be sure to give them enough notice.

Friends or family members may not make the best interpreters. They may not understand medical terms. Also, you may be discussing sensitive issues with the doctor that you want to keep private.

If you use glasses, remember to take your eyeglasses with you. If you use a hearing aid, remember to wear it and make sure that it works. Let Dr. Roman-Pavajeau know if you have trouble seeing or hearing. Feel free to ask him to speak slowly and loudly. You also may request a sign language interpreter; this will be at your expense.

Dr. Roman-Pavajeau may have a chaperone in the exam room if needed. This person may be a nurse. You can ask for a chaperone if the doctor does not offer one. You also can have a family member with you during the exam. Make your wishes known.

You should be given a gown or sheet if you need to remove your clothes, if not please request it. If the gown or sheet is too big or too small, let the doctor know. Be clear about your modesty needs. If you prefer a female presence, discuss this before your visit or when you make your appointment. Doctor Roman-Pavajeau will make your physical exam as comfortable and modest as possible, but if there is something that bothers you, do not hesitate to tell the doctor or any of the people on the staff.

Dr. Roman-Pavajeau and all personnel in the staff will wash their hands before and after touching you, but they can forget. If you want to be sure, you can ask, “Have you washed your hands?” We won't be mad at you for that because the office staff is aware that handwashing or hand sanitizing are the best ways to prevent the spread of infections.

If you have questions, ask them. You have a right to ask questions of anyone who is involved in your health care. Feel free to ask anything about the health care process.

If the doctor asks you questions, answer them as best you can.

It is important to make sure you understand everything the doctor says. Ask for simple, clear explanations. Usually Dr. Roman-Pavajeau draws pictures or shows pictures to explain in detail the procedure or the medical plan. Take careful notes. If you have a friend or relative with you, ask that person to take notes so you can listen more closely to what is being said.

Dr. Roman-Pavajeau is very good at answering questions after his complete explanation of his diagnosis, but If you need surgery or treatment for a medical condition, and you feel that he hasn’t answered you what you want or need to know, you can ask about your options. When you know all the options, you are more likely to make a good decision. You may want to ask the following questions:

• What might have caused this condition?
• What are the treatment choices?
• What are the benefits and risks of each treatment option?
• How might the treatment affect my life?
• Why is it important that I follow the treatment plan?
• What might happen if I do not get treated?

If you need a test, procedure, or surgery, you may want to ask the following:

• What does it involve?
• What do I need to do to get ready?
• What should I expect after the test, procedure, or surgery?
• What are the side effects?
• How will I find out the results?
• How long will it take to recover?

• What is the brand and generic name of the drug?
• When should I take the drug?
• Should I take it with food or on an empty stomach?
• Should I avoid alcohol?
• How much of the drug should I take?
• For how long should I take the drug?
• What are possible side effects?
• What should I do about any side effects?
• Is the drug safe to take with other drugs I take?

At the end of your appointment, repeat what you have learned to the doctor. This recap will give your doctor a chance to clarify any misunderstandings. Tell the doctor if you need more time to talk about something.

What should I do if I am diagnosed with a medical condition?

If you are told that you have a medical condition, learn as much about it as you can. The more you know about your condition, the more likely you will understand what Dr. Roman-Pavajeau recommends. Make sure you have all the necessary information before choosing what procedures to have or what medications to take.

The internet offers a lot of health information. When you use the internet, be careful about the websites you use. Some sites have confusing or false information. Websites made by nonprofit organizations (“.org”) or government agencies (“.gov”), or medical schools or hospitals are best. Also look for a date on the web page to make sure the information is current. Good websites to visit include the following:

• medlineplus.gov (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
• health.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
• www.acog.org (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists)
• www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society)

Contact our office if:

• you are confused about something
• you have more questions or concerns
• you start to feel worse
• your treatment/medicine does not seem to be helping
• you have had a test or procedure and have not received the results. Do not assume that “no news is good news.” Sometimes our office has not received it either or we don’t have full information for you.

There are several ways you may be able to contact us. You can call our office and say you want to talk with Dr. Roman-Pavajeau.

Ask if you can send the doctor an email. Sometimes other staff members in the office may be able to answer some of your questions by email

This is a website where you can contact us. Ask the office if this is an option.

If you are not comfortable with the diagnosis or the treatment that Dr. Roman-Pavajeau recommends, you can certainly see another doctor. This is called getting a second opinion. Getting another opinion can help you make a more informed decision about your care, and it is something that Dr. Roman-Pavajeau gladly accepts from his patients, if they are not completely satisfied or sure.