PainCare - the leading Pain Management specialists in NH

What needs to be done before my appointment?

When you or your referring provider's office make an appointment over the telephone at PainCare, our "new patient coordinator" will begin to collect very basic but necessary information regarding your medical history and reason(s) for seeking help at PainCare.  PainCare must generally receive medical records from your referring health care provider (if you have one) prior to your first visit.

Please help us gather the following types of information relevant to your pain issue. Some may already have been forwarded by your referring provider. Our “new patient coordinator” will review exactly what you need to bring:

• Insurance card
• Pertinent medical records
• A list of all medications you are currently taking or have taken in the past year
• X-ray reports (or disk copy - preferable)
• MRI reports (or disk copy - preferable)
• CT reports (or disk copy - preferable)
• EMG reports
• Lab results
• Anything else you feel is important for your consultantation

If you would like to further expedite the check-in process you can print and complete the registration and patient history forms available on our web site and fill them out prior to your appointment day.

What is my first appointment like?

You should plan to spend approximately TWO HOURS in our office for your initial consultation. When you arrive, check in with our receptionist to the left of the main lobby/waiting room.  She will assist you in completing the new patient paperwork and take your photo for our confidential electronic records.

Some additional brief forms you will be asked to fill out are:

• Registration information - name, address, contact numbers, insurance coverage
• Medication agreement  - only necessary if you are, or might be, prescribed narcotics
• Medical records release

You will then be escorted to an examination room where the medical assistant will take your vital signs, collect a preliminary urine specimen (only if you already take, or may be prescribed, a narcotic medication), and input some basic information on the computer record, such as your primary complaint, any medical problems that may be related to your pain or future treatment, and a review of your overall health.

What happens during the consultation

• an extensive review of your pain history and prior treatment(s)
• a focused physical exam
• a discussion of the treatment plan
• addressing your questions or concerns

The treatment plan developed from this initial meeting will be used to guide your future course. It is not set in concrete, and may change slightly or even dramatically as treatment responses are assessed or new technologies are indicated or become available.  Evaluations and treatments (injections and medications) are conducted at all three facilities in Somersworth, Newington and Merrimack, New Hampshire.

It is possible that no formal treatment may be started on the first visit.  This decision is based on a number of factors, such as:

• Need for a specific injection which must generally be scheduled for another day

• Availability of adequate past records

• Possibility of illicit drug use

• Need for urine, blood or further radiologic tests prior to starting new therapy