Before Your Appointment
Before and during your appointment…
what you need to know!
Welcome to the Chronic Fatigue Center. You are almost there!
Before your appointment, please be sure that our office has received your written referral from your primary care physician. This referral can be faxed to us or emailed as a pdf. Fax to 305.598.4155 or email toinfo@cfsclinic.com.
Will there be paperwork before the appointment?
Yes, we will need you to fill out a number of surveys prior to your visit. Once we're fully set up, you will visit our Web site at www.cfsclinic.com and log into your secure patient account. If this is your first visit to the clinic, you will need to create your patient account. (Details to follow as this is set up.)
Once you have logged into your patient account, click on the Pre-Visit Surveys. There are three surveys that need to be completed and returned to the clinic PRIOR to your visit. In order to preserve your health and energy, please begin working on these surveys at least a week before your appointment in order to give you enough time to complete them without tiring yourself out.
The three surveys are:
•
Sleep diary
Sleep diary•36 questionnaire
36 questionnaire•CFS Checklist
CFS ChecklistThese surveys are extremely important to our evaluation process. Please complete the surveys in their entirety and submit through the web site BEFORE arriving for your appointment. If you do not have internet access, please call the clinic and we are happy to make other arrangements.
How much time will I spend with the health care provider?
For your first visit, you should plan to spend approximately two hours at the clinic. You’ll spend no more than one hour with the health care provider. An additional 30 minutes is needed as we begin to analyze your history, tests and completed surveys and begin to formulate a treatment plan.
For follow up visits, plan on spending an hour at the clinic. This includes 30 minutes with the health care provider and 30 minutes for evaluation of the treatment plan.
Will I spend other time at the clinic?
On the day of your appointment, please arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment time. There may also be diagnostics recommended by the healthcare team that can be provided in the clinic. These tests can be scheduled for the same day or a different day, depending on the patient. When the tests are scheduled, the clinic can give you a time estimate for the visit.
What should I bring with me?
If possible, bring any lab work or test results from the last six months that you have in your possession. Your medical history is a critical component to our review and assessment of your medical condition. If we don't already have it, please bring your referral from your primary care doctor. You might want to bring a sweater as well. It seems to be cool in our office and we don't want you to be cold.
Finally, you should bring a list with your top three complaints. Time is limited with the health care provided and all of your issues may not be able to be covered. Pick your top three priorities to bring to the attention of the health care provider.
Will lab tests be performed at the appointment?
How should I prepare for these tests? At the time your appointment is made, the clinic staff will advise you of any special instructions necessary for your visit. It is customary to draw blood during an initial consultation, so wear something with loose sleeves. You do NOT have to fast in advance of your appointment.
Chronic Fatigue & Immune Disorders Research and Treatment Center is located at 8720 N. Kendall Drive, Suite 108, Miami, FL 33176. 305.595.4300.
