April 2, 2010
Good morning Joleene,
Sounds like you are well on your way.
Taking your thoughtful questions in the order posed.
Do you have an updated FAQ? I have the FAQ from a year ago, but if you have a more recently updated FAQ I would very much appreciate seeing it.
Attached.
Is your clinic outpatient certified?
Quad A, and also registered with the Florida Board of Medicine.
Who regulates your clinic?
Regulations of of Quad A (The American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc.
http://www.aaaasf.org/ and Florida Board of Medicine. We were built to HRS specifications. The inspectors were all over the place checking out every physical aspect, fire walls, air exchanges per hour, filters, you name it.
Who does the anesthesia?
Anesthesia is provided usually by a licensed CRNA (“Uncle Bob”) who has hospital privileges, and has been with us for
over 20 years. Anne our office manager and assistant has been with me for 28 years.
I understand that if I do need to go to a hospital due to complications after the surgery that you would accompany me and handle the situation. Is this still correct?
Yes..
Are you allowed to perform any needed corrective surgeries in that hospital? Life threatening surgery could be performed, but cosmetic revisions are reverted to our facility. So far, the reasons for transfer have included an occasional need for transfusion and one patient I had a psychotic break.
How often do you visit the hotel that I will be staying at?
Daily and more often if needed. It is an easy 8 minute drive away from our office.
Does your clinic staff visit the hotel as well, and how often do they visit?
No, the staff does not visit the hotel. The RN for your overnight stay and I do bring you to the hotel the morning after surgery. Christina, the amiable hotel manager will show you an unusual amount of attention. We also recommend
a friend or loved one be with you for a few days. In that you live in Boca, chances are you could return home by or around the 4th post-operative day.
I understand that touch ups are done at no extra charge 3 months after the surgery.
After complete wound healing, usually 3 the 4 months after surgery. That is true, but if you need a general anesthesia allow an additional 600 to cover the costs of anesthesia.
Is this something you recommend even if what needs to be touched up is minor?
Yes, I am all for touch ups, because I want you to have an excellent result, that a patient from any other office would be envious of.
I intend on getting a loan to have my surgery completed before the end of this year. Is there any specific source that you would recommend to get the medical loan?
For a line of Medi-credit, please try
Reliance Finance Company, LLC
http://www.reliancemedicalfinance.com/
1-888-502-8020
or
Chase Health Advance, USA only
www.unicornfinancial .com
or
Medicard Finance, Canada only.
http://www.medicard.com/
or
www.carecredit.com
automated phone application # is (800) 365-8295
If a service charge is imposed on the doctor, often 3 to 5% that fee which is taken out of my check is passed back to
you. Ask, as not all loan companies impose a service fee.
If you believe I am the doctor for you, please initiate a consultation with our office by sending us your name, address, and phone number in an envelope along with a check for 250 and you will receive a call ASAP. We’ll have a lot to talk about.
There is a lot of information we need to put out to you, as well as answer your all questions and concerns. This fee provides for followup discussion and covers your first visit at the office excluding laboratory work.
Anticipate we will show you every courtesy.
With kindest regards,
Harold M. Reed, M.D.
305-865-2000
1111 Kane Concourse, Suite # 311
Bay Harbor Islands, Fl 33154-2041
At 10:30 PM 3/31/2010, you wrote:
Hello Dr. Reed,
We spoke a little less than a year ago, and my situation since then has changed drastically. I am now intending on having my vaginoplasty completed before the end of this year. I am still considering coming to you for my surgery due to how close you are (I live in Boca Raton) as well as thanks to how much you charge. Some really quick basic information:
I am 22 years old.
I have been on hormones since August 21st, 2008.
I have been full time female since December 1st, 2008.
I have legal proof of being full time female (name change court order) since February 11th, 2009.
I am slim, and while I may not be in the best physical condition I am actively working on that now and by the time I have my surgery I expect to be physically fit.
I have never had any surgery before in my life.
Please answer the following questions as they will have a drastic weight in my decision to come to you for my surgery or another doctor:
Do you have an updated FAQ? I have the FAQ from a year ago, but if you have a more recently updated FAQ I would very much appreciate seeing it.
Is your clinic outpatient certified?
Who regulates your clinic?
Who does the anesthesia?
I understand that if I do need to go to a hospital due to complications after the surgery that you would accompany me and handle the situation. Is this still correct?
Are you allowed to perform any needed corrective surgeries in that hospital?
How often do you visit the hotel that I will be staying at?
Does your clinic staff visit the hotel as well, and how often do they visit?
I understand that touch ups are done at no extra charge 3 months after the surgery. Is this something you recommend even if what needs to be touched up is minor?
I intend on getting a loan to have my surgery completed before the end of this year. Is there any specific source that you would recommend to get the medical loan?
Thank you for your assistance, and I look forward to eventually meeting you in person for my consultation.
Joleene