For our new patients and for our regular patients who are unaware, we would like to let everyone know some of the general office policies.  We ask for your understanding and assistance with these policies in the hopes that we might better provide you with a calm and serene atmosphere.

Please give us 48 hours (2 business days ) notice for all cancellations.      

Every patient should have a primary care provider. Dr. Shapiro is not a primary care physician.  She does not maintain hospital privileges, and sometimes is out of town and not in contact with us for a week or so.  In the unfortunate event that you need emergency care we want you to be taken care of, and this is best achieved by establishing a relationship as a patient with a doctor that you could see if Dr. Shapiro is unavailable.

Our priority is to take care of the patients who are being seen by Dr. Shapiro during each day.  It can often take a bit of time to get the required supplements, lab requisitions, and necessary paperwork together for the patient who is exiting, as well as tending to the needs of incoming patients.  Please be patient with us as we tend to these people in order that you may receive the same level of care when you have your next appointment!

When you want to get refills:

Many people email a list of what they know they want to refill before their appointment with Dr. Shapiro. This is very helpful, thank you!!

Plan ahead!! Please do not wait until you are out or almost out of something to call or email us. Gives us lead-time to fill your order.

‍

If you call, please leave a detailed message with your request and speak your name and phone number clearly and slowly.

‍

Shipping: We offer free shipping on orders over $350, if there are no other discounts.  However we do require a signature confirmation.  We have tried using the USPS insurance, but they have never honored a claim from us. So if something is not delivered to the right address, or if it is stolen, there is no recourse for us.  We realize this is a hardship for some people, but if you ask us to waive signature required, understand that we will not be able to replace the supplements for free! Please let us know if you want your packages delivered to a neighbor, your office or another location.

Return Policy: Returns are subject to a 10% restocking fee of the cost you paid, Must be unopened, and returned within 30 days. Please include a note as to who is returning the product! Refrigerated items must be shipped with an ice pack.

Similarly, please call your pharmacy and ask them to FAX us a prescription refill request, usually this is the quickest way to handle a refill. Otherwise you can email us for prescription refill requests, but allow plenty of time before you actually need it.  We can usually call or fax these in within 3 days, but if Dr. Shapiro is out of town, or there is a problem with the prescription on the pharmacy end, it can delay the process considerably, potentially jeopardizing your well-being.  We will do our best to accommodate you, but it is your responsibility to contact us well in advance of when you need it. I If you have not had an appointment or relevant lab work in over 2 years, please schedule a visit rather than just requesting a refill.

There is a $15 fee for each new prescription written or called in outside of a visit

Requests for copies of receipts, lab reports, medical records, special forms, etc.will be handled as soon as possible, usually cannot be done immediately.  

It is our general policy to contact you after your lab reports have come in and Dr. Shapiro has seen and commented on them.  We will contact you even if your lab reports are normal, hoorah!

Sometimes there are not new patient appointments available for a month or so, but  if we are full, new patients who need to be seen sooner can often be accommodated on a cancellation wait list if they are flexible about scheduling.  

Please use common sense when referring people to our office, and consider whether it might be better to call an urgent care center or the emergency advice nurse at a hospital.

Thank you for working with us.  We truly do want to provide you with a place where you can feel cared for and healthy!

‍

‍