URMC / Medicine / General Medicine / Patient Care: Strong Internal Medicine / Frequently Asked Questions

Strong Internal Medicine: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a prescription refilled?: To have a prescription refilled, please have your pharmacy fax a refill request to us at (585) 276-2684.
What should I do if I need to cancel an appointment?: If you need to cancel an appointment, please call us at (585) 275-7424.
Will I always see my own doctor?: When you have an appointment scheduled with your own doctor, that is who you will see. If you need to schedule an appointment urgently and your doctor is not available, we may ask if you would like to be seen by another doctor or a nurse practitioner. This often makes it possible for you to be seen sooner.
What is evidence-based medicine?: “Evidence-based medicine” means medical care that is up-to-date with the most current recommendations. Medical research is constantly discovering new ways to identify, prevent, and treat illness. We pride ourselves on being aware of that research so we can provide our patients with the most effective medical care.
What is a Patient Centered Medical Home?: A Patient Centered Medical Home is a model of healthcare delivery in which care is tailored to the needs and preferences of patients. The Patient Centered Medical Home model encourages active engagement of patients and families with shared decision making and practice improvement. Our goal is to provide strong provider-patient relationships, seamless care coordination, and improved access to care, all of which will result in the highest quality of medical treatment. Strong Internal Medicine achieved recognition as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home in February 2015 by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).
What is an academic medical center?: An academic medical center is a place that does three things: provides clinical care for patients, performs research on disease, and educates new doctors. The General Medicine Division and Strong Internal Medicine are both part of an academic medical center, the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). This is a great advantage to us, because it allows us to work closely with top specialists from every area of patient care. The constant feedback we get from URMC specialists helps us to know about the latest advances in every field of patient care.
My physician is a faculty member—what does that mean?: Since the Division of General Medicine and Strong Internal Medicine are part of an academic medical center—the University of Rochester Medical Center—our doctors are all faculty members. In other words, they are professors at URMC. As a result, our faculty members are all highly accomplished doctors who are among the best in the field of internal medicine.
Do you accept Medicaid?: Yes, we do accept Medicaid. For more information on using Medicaid, please call us at (585) 275-7424.
What is a resident?: A resident is someone who has completed his or her education to be a medical doctor. Many people mistakenly believe that a resident is a medical student. This is not the case. Residents are not medical students. They are doctors who are licensed to practice in New York State. Though residents are doctors, they are not yet board-certified in internal medicine and they practice under the supervision of a board-certified physician.
What is a nurse practitioner?: A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) who has completed additional nursing education and training in diagnosing and managing common as well as complex conditions. Because of their advanced training, Nurse Practitioners are fully qualified to perform many of the tasks of a physician, including the performance of physical examinations, treating illnesses and prescribing medications. Nurse practitioners have a particular focus on prevention, wellness and patient education.
What doctor will I see?: Every patient in our practice has his or her own doctor. If your doctor is a resident, you may also see a faculty member at some of your appointments. If you need to make an urgent care appointment and your regular doctor is not available, we may ask if you would like to see another of our doctors or one of our nurse practitioners.
How are residents supervised?: Our residents are supervised by faculty members, who are also called preceptors. Every visit you have with a resident is reviewed by a faculty member/preceptor. At times, this may mean that the preceptor will see you along with your own doctor. If not, the details of your care will be discussed with the preceptor at the time of your visit in a separate room. This ensures that you get the very best care.
What is a medical student?: A medical student is someone who is currently attending medical school and is not yet a doctor. Medical students are not able to diagnose or treat patients on their own.