Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

 

Do I have to be 65 or older to be a patient?

 

Though our focus is 65 to 105, we do provide selected neurocognitive services to younger patients. If you're underage and believe our diagnostic and treatment options may be relevant to you or a family member, please Contact Us, email us at Hello@AndrewSchechterman.com, or call us at 303-242-3150, we're happy to learn more.  

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Do I have to be ambulatory?

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We see patients who walk fully unassisted (and intend to keep doing so), some who sport a cane or walking stick (self defense, or possibly James Bond), some who use a walker (with live tennis balls), and some in wheelchairs (basketball, anyone?). 

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Our office and building is 100% ADA Accessible. Our goal is to be fully accomodating of your individual needs; please let us know ahead of time if there's anything we can do to help.  

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Do you make house calls?   

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Yes, but just for established patients. A combination of we come to you and you come to us provides a 360-degree view of your everyday, while also giving us access to the latest technologies. So in addition to our friendly office, we may also do a consult in your home or the caregiver family home, at an independent or assisted living location, etc. 

 

How long does a consult last? 

 

We take our time and hope you will too. Brief visits are twenty to forty minutes, intermediate visits can be sixty to one hundred twenty minutes, extended visits may be spaced to occur over several days or weeks. Where extra time is indicated, we'll outline the details and make sure you're comfortable with the plan.  

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Do you need my records -before- I can see you?

 

A detailed review of relevant healthcare records, prior to seeing you for an initial consult, allows time and cost savings (ever met a provider who didn't read your records and then asked you a lot of questions that were already answered in your patient file? Ugh). This does not preclude us from going over your records during your initial consult or any visit thereafter. Please Contact Us if you need help in getting copies of your records to our office. 

 

Do neurocognitive procedures hurt?  

 

Well, maybe just a teeny-tiny bit, but way less than knee replacement, cholecystectomy, or angioplasty. Most patients say things like ". . . it really don't hurt too awful" and ". . . soon after I was done crying, I started laughing."

 

Does Dr. Schechterman accept assignment of my Federal Medicare™ plan?     

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Yes. Please contact our team with your questions regarding your Medicare plan (or any other plan). We'll help you make sense of your many options.

 

Please note we no longer participate in "medicare primary replacement or advantage plans" which are not Federal Medicare™ plans but for-profit HMOs.     

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Will you prescribe or refill my medications?

 

This needs to be done with your primary care physician (PCP), however, we're happy to discuss with any of your providers the pros and cons of past, current or potential medications per your neurocognitive health.    

 

How long does it take to get results and/or recommendations?

 

Once all records have been reviewed, authorized contact with providers and collateral has been accomplished, and all clinical consults are complete, usually 5-7 business days. Please note that one or more follow-up visits are common to review and amend all the above and to define treatment options.  

 

Can I bring my spouse, children, or other trusted companion with me? 

 

Of course! And this is encouraged. We learn from those closest to you and those who know you. Taking the time to do this offers extraordinary diagnostic value and enhances clinical outcome. 

 

A Collateral to Patient Agreement form will need to be signed for each person. Exceptions to this are, e.g., Spouse, Legal Guardian, Durable Power Of Attorney, Durable Medical Power of Attorney. In some circumstances, it may be necessary for us to have legal documents in place, as part of your clinical record, prior to you being seen. If you have questions about who could or should join you in a consult, or be available to meet at a later time, please ask.

 

Please note: By law, all persons age 18 and older, including persons who are 98, have complete Confidentiality (privacy) rights, and no information about their healthcare can be shared with anyone, including a spouse or adult children, without the patient's Fully Informed Consent. Aging and Legal issues can be confusing for lots of people; to learn more, see for example, this joint American Bar Association and APA publication. Need us to consult with your attorney or CPA? We're happy to! 

 

Are you LGBTQ+ and partner friendly as well? 

 

Yes. Please come by and say hello. 

 

What about referrals? 

 

In most cases you do not need a referral to be seen. With your signed authorization we'll communicate with your healthcare provider (e.g., Internal Medicine, Neurology, Cardiology, Surgery, Rheumatology, etc.). We can also coordinate referrals to the very best in Physical and Occupational Therapy, Speech-Language, and other helpful professionals.

Are you owned by one of the big hospital chains or an insurance company and board of directors? 

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We are a self-owned healthcare LLC. We are not owned by a corporation, a hospital chain or an HMO or an insurance company. This means our only customer is you, our patient.

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The photos on your website, are those your patients?  

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Pretty cool pix, eh? While they're not our patients, our patients did help pick them out from a wide selection. We were most interested in those images that best represented the lives of patients, many who were born in the 1920's, 1930's, 1940's and 1950's (1960's coming soon). 

 

I don't know this Andrew Schechterman. What's his reputation? 

 

Word of mouth and talk on the street says he's a regular Joe, but you can also Google him at "Andrew Schechterman Neurogeriatrics" for all the sordid details (please, however, ignore that pesky felony back in '68).