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The Physicians and Staff of Neurosurgical Consultants, p.a. welcome you to
our practice and appreciate your confidence in permitting us to participate
in your Neurosurgical care. We wish to share some general information
regarding our office procedures and encourage you to call should you need
further clarification on any of these matters.
Our SPECIAL INTERESTS ARE FOCUSED ON SOPHISTICATED SURGICAL TECHNIQUES FOR
THE TREATMENT OF BRAIN, SPINAL CORD AND SPINE PROBLEMS. WE ARE NOT
INVOLVED IN THE MEDICAL TREATMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL DISEASES NOR DO WE GENERALLY
CONSULT ON CASES WHERE A STRUCTURAL NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEM HAS NOT AS YET BEEN
IDENTIFIED. Most of our patients have already undergone some diagnostic
Neuroimaging studies such as CT and/or MRI Scans that have demonstrated the
problem that we are now being asked to address.
For all new patients (Local,
Domestic and
International), we encourage you
to make the initial contact by telephone. Your first conversation with one of
our experienced Staff members will help us to guide you through the easy
process to arrange for a Neurosurgical Consultation. In the event that further
information is needed we will appreciate your cooperation in forwarding that
information via FAX. (PLEASE NOTE: Email/Electronic transmission of Medical
Information is NOT AVAILABLE since this technology DOES NOT assure the privacy
of your information.)
Our office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Our
physicians see patients at various times throughout the week, but we will
make every effort to accommodate your schedule as well.
Please have the following information available to bring with you to your
initial consultation:
- Completed Patient Information Forms
- Referral Number (where required in the case of Local & Domestic Patients)
- Insurance Card
- Driver's License
- All Neuroimaging Studies such as X-rays, MRI, CT scan, Myelogram, etc.
- Any previous medical records and tests results relevant to the current problem.
We acknowledge that your time is valuable. Our Staff makes every effort to
see our patients promptly, and we ask that you arrive at the appointment time.
Unfortunately, emergencies do arise, and occasionally, we fall behind
schedule. Your patience is greatly appreciated.
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Many of our patients live in other parts of the USA and other countries. We
have developed the "Virtual Consultation" program as a process to expedite the
evaluation of those patients who choose to visit from across the country and
around the world. This Virtual Consultation allows you to share the details
about your current condition and permits our Comprehensive Neuroscience Team
to evaluate the information, formulate opinions and make clinical
recommendations for your consideration well before traveling to Dallas for
definitive care.
We suggest that you start by either calling our office to request the
necessary forms or download our patient forms
here. After you complete the
forms, prepare a package for our team to review. This should include a letter
outlining your Neurological History from the time of the first appearance of
symptoms, any treatments (including procedures or operations) that have been
attempted as well as the results of these efforts. We will need to know about
your general medical condition as well including information about any
previous operations for other conditions, medical problems, medications and
allergies. Please advise us of your concerns and expectations of our
Treatment Team.
It is imperative that we have all of the Neuroimaging studies (MRI Scan/CT
Scan/Myelogram and Post-myelographic CT Scan/PET-CT Scan, etc.) that have
been done recently or in the past. We recommend that you obtain these studies
on a CD format. If large print images are the only copies that are available,
it would be best to have them digitally photographed and send those as JPG
files on a CD. Otherwise, feel free to send the actual large format images on
"x-ray" film.
While it is helpful to have an initial contact via email, PLEASE DO NOT
SEND ANY PERSONAL DATA VIA EMAIL. The forms referenced above are best
completed by hand and must not be transmitted electronically. We strongly
recommend that you use a shipping method with tracking capability, such as
Express Mail Service (USPS), FedEx, UPS, or DHL.
You should send your package to the following address:
Neurosurgical Consultants
Attention: Ms. Donna Wesson
"Virtual Consultation" Coordinator
7777 Forest Lane, Suite B420
Dallas, Texas 75230
That's it! Your information will be reviewed by Dr. Lazar and the other
members of our Neuroscience Team. You will usually receive a response within
a week or two from the time that your package arrived in our office.
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ARE YOU INTERESTED IN HAVING SURGERY WITH DR. LAZAR BUT ARE CONCERNED THAT
IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO MANAGE DUE TO YOUR LOCATION? FEAR NOT!
Many of our patients "Fly-In" from all over the world. We have perfected
the "Fly-In Patient" protocol, making it possible for all prospective
patients to manage.
Our Consulting Office is
conveniently located just minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International
Airport (DFW) & *Dallas' Love Field Airport (DAL). You can "Fly-In" alone or
with loved ones, and we will walk you through a process that will ensure
complete care and a comfortable, pleasant experience.
- Fly-In For A Personal Consultation and Examination.
(This is ideal for the person who can afford to travel and/or who
prefers to meet with the doctors and staff before making any
decisions.)
or
- Receive a "Virtual Consultation"
Click here to learn more about the
Virtual Consultation.
(This is a wonderful option for the person who is looking for a
cost-effective way to determine whether or not Dr. Lazar and the
Neuroscience Team Consultants feel they can achieve the results that
you seek and what options may be available.)
In either case, the doctors will assess your clinical problem to determine
if you are a good candidate for the procedure you desire. You will be
contacted by our Patient Coordinator who will arrange for a convenient time
for you to discuss your clinical problem, by telephone, with Dr. Lazar and/or
other members of our Neurosciences Team. This will be your personal time to
learn of their assessment and be advised of the treatment alternatives and
recommendation.
In the event that a surgical recommendation has been offered and you wish
to explore this further, our Patient Care Coordinator will discuss all fees
for surgery and any related expenses. She will also suggest hotel and/or
post-operative care accommodations, as well as discuss your proposed length
of stay in Dallas. Each patient's clinical problem is unique to them. We
recognize that these needs also require individualized attention. Our Patient
Care Coordinator will assist you in any way possible to make this as
convenient and pleasant as it can be.
The scheduling process begins once you have determined that you wish to
proceed with the proposed surgery. Our Patient Care Coordinator will offer
available dates (usually a Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday combination).
For INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS,
a deposit (payable by check or credit card) will be required to secure dates
and final payments will be collected at the pre-operative visit.
For DOMESTIC PATIENTS,
a deposit (payable by check or credit card) to cover your insurance company's
"Deductible" portion will be required to secure dates. In cases where there
has been a NEGOTIATED SURGICAL FEE, final payment will be collected at the
pre-operative visit.
The FIRST DAY will be spent in our office covering physical examination,
pre and post-operative instruction, reviewing and signing of all Consent
Forms. (A packet containing copies of all Consent Forms and Pre and
Post-operative Instructions is mailed to you upon scheduling, so that you can
review these at your leisure while at home, and thus be fully prepared).
These forms are also available on
this website. We usually allow up to two hours for this visit so that all
questions can be answered.
For those patients whose clinical problem will require the participation
of other Neuroscience Team Members (such as Craniofacial Plastic Surgery,
Neuro-otology, Neuro-endocrinology, etc.), our Patient Care Coordinator will
make arrangements for you to meet with these Clinicians as well. There are
circumstances where you will participate in a Clinical Consultation
Conference with the Senior Neuroscience Staff members who will discuss your
Neurosurgical problem and the proposed treatment in a comprehensive and
coordinated manner. This is often required for complex Neurosurgical issues
such as occurs in some Skull Base Tumor cases.
There are clinical situations where we may require additional Neuroimaging
studies, (such as CT and/or MRI Scans) particularly in the event that
Intraoperative Image Guidance systems will be used. These studies will be
discussed with you well in advance and conducted on either your First or
Second Day.
The SECOND DAY is spent with one of our Medical and/or Intensive Care
Consultants who will be involved in your care throughout your stay. Routine
blood chemistry, cardiac and general medical assessments will be performed
under their scrutiny. Consultations with any of the other Neuroscience Team
Specialists who may also be involved in your care (such as Craniofacial
Plastic Surgery, Neuro-otology, Endocrinology, etc.) will also occur on the
First or Second Day.
On the THIRD DAY, surgery will be performed at the Medical City Dallas
Hospital Neuroscience Center, located within the same Hospital Complex as our
office.
Many of those patients undergoing
Minimally Invasive Surgery
for Spine conditions can anticipate being discharged from the Day Surgery
facility within 6-8 hours of operation. For most others we require that they
spend at least one evening in the Hospital, or longer depending on the type
of procedure accomplished. All patients are monitored by our Nursing Staff.
This will ensure that the patient is comfortable, properly attended to and
recovering as anticipated.
Typically "Fly-In" patients with
Skull Base Tumors,
Brain Conditions or
Spinal Cord Tumors
must plan on staying in Dallas (beyond the time in Hospital) for approximately
5-10 days. (Corporate hotel rates are available for our patients.) Depending
on the extent and complexity of surgery performed, this length of stay may
be adjusted; however, it is important to allow for the proper amount of time
to ensure a healthy and safe recovery. We want your trip home to be a pleasant
one, and that means following all of our guidelines. Your post-operative
visits will be accommodated into the required post-operative
length-of-stay.
For
Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
patients, it is quite reasonable to anticipate returning home within 2 to 7
days (depending on the extent of operation required.) The same would apply to
routine Cervical Spine operations. For those patients undergoing more
extensive
Cervical Spine Reconstruction,
a longer stay may be required. We are always willing to discuss these
requirements to fit the needs of each patient.
In the event that you may feel a need for medical assistance after
returning home, we are available to discuss your care with your Personal
Physician and coordinate care with that Doctor. Your health and safety remains
as our number one priority.
For most patients, we will require some follow-up Neuroimaging studies.
In the case of Cervical Spine surgery patients, this may mean obtaining a
routine Cervical Spine X-ray over a period of several months or occasionally
a Cervical Spine CT Scan in order to monitor the healing process. For Brain
or Spinal Cord Tumor patients, this usually means obtaining serial MRI Scans
in accordance with our established post-operative routine schedule. These
studies can usually be accomplished within facilities in your home city. We
will ask that you forward the actual images to us for evaluation. There is no
additional charge for this long term follow-up which may, in some cases, go
on for some years.
We ROUTINELY communicate with our Post-operative "FLY-IN" patients by
TELEPHONE after they return home in order to assess their recovery and answer
questions that may arise. There are no additional charges for this service
or limits on the length of time over the ensuing years.
*Note: Dallas' Love Field (DAL) is a "close-in"
airport which serves regularly scheduled commercial airlines (American
Airlines, American Eagle, Southwest Airlines and Continental Express),
General Aviation and Charter services. We appreciate advance notice for
patients whose circumstances include General Aviation and Charter
transportation in order for us to assist in accommodating your additional
needs.
Medical City Dallas Hospital has a
Private Heliport.
For additional information, please contact our office.
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This page last edited on 5/9
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