Frequently Asked Questions....

     We have taken the most common questions asked in our office to assist  you in understanding our office.

1.  Why do we run so far behind on our schedule?

     There is no way to predict if a patient in our office will take 5 minutes or 30 minutes or more.  A patient may
present with a lesion that the physician has not previously seen and there is no way for the staff or physician to
know before seeing the patient whether the lesion will need to be biopsied or not.  If the patient drove a great
distance or is elderly, we are not going to reschedule that patient for that biopsy if we can help it.  If it was your
parent or loved one, you would like for them to be taken care of.  We do our best to take care of the patient while
at our clinic presenting with the problem at hand.

2.  Why do you have to wait to see a physician in our office?

     We have certain days that we schedule certain types of procedures.  Those days are booked out at least a
a month in advance because of our patient base.  Monday and Tuesday are new patient and patient recheck days.
Wednesday and Thursday are surgery days and Fridays are a mixture. 

3.  Why see our Nurse Practitioner?

     Our Nurse Practitioner can see any problem that a patient presents with.  She works collaboratively with Dr.
Cleaver to take care of your needs.  Shawnee is not usually booked to far in advance and it is possible to
schedule a visit with her sooner than the phycisians in our office.

4.  What can residents do?

     Residents work under the direct supervision of Dr. Lloyd Cleaver to take care of your needs.  The residents can
treat anything that Dr. Cleaver can as they are under his direct supervision.  We currently schedule all patients
either on our residents' schedules and then Dr. Cleaver will also see the patient too before the patient leaves the
clinic.  We are a teaching facility and occassionally students will also be accompanying Dr. Cleaver.  If you do not
wish to have a student participate in your care, please notify the nurse. 

5.  Why must I call for my pathology results, lab results or xray results?

     We ask that you call for the pathology results, lab results or xray results in a couple of weeks in order to make sure that
your results have time to be read and that they get seen by a physician or nurse. The nurse will then return your 
call if not available and schedule you accordingly.   

6.  Why does it take awhile for the nursing staff to return my call?

     We have on any given day 40 to 60 calls per day requesting pathology results, lab results, xray results,
prescription refills, questions regarding medications, other medical office calls and various other calls
regarding our patients.  It is difficult for the nursing staff to keep up with these calls and usually wait until
Friday's to try to return calls as there are not always patients scheduled on these days.  Be patient the nurses
are working as quickly as they can to return your call in a timely manner.  Sometimes they may return your
call after 5 p.m.

7.  What is a locum tenens? 

     A locum tenens is a doctor that fills in for Dr. Cleaver while he is away from the office.  He/she may treat
and do every procedure that Dr. Cleaver may do.   The locum tenens will be a provider for your insurance if
Dr. Cleaver is a provider with your insurance since a locum tenens is like a substitute or stand in.  If you
have any questions, please feel free to contact our office.