We provide general medical and gynecologic care for women. We provide special care for bladder problems and the most modern minimally invasive surgery in the area. We provide blood testing for HIV in office. We send routine lab tests to Lab Corp. This is a solo office so that you see is the doctor you requested. I do not deliver babies or provide prenatal care. If you think you are pregnant we will do the appropriate tests and help you make an appointment with an obstetrician. A detailed CV with my qualifications, training, and publications is available on request or on the website. There are articles on the website that I have written about various women’s medical problems which may be helpful to you. I try to answer email questions but this cannot substitute for an office visit and evaluation.  

Office Hours:  8:30 to 5:00 Monday to Friday, excluding holidays.  

Appointments:  Visits are by appointment. Walk-ins and emergency visits are accommodated as possible and necessary. We only double-book for emergencies and at the last moment. Your appointment time is reserved for you alone. If you don’t come to your appointment you have deprived someone else of an opportunity to be seen. Because of abuses by some thoughtless people we will apply a $25 No-show charge. Repeat no-shows will be notified and if the problem continues you may be asked to find another medical provider.  

After hours: The office phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days each year. I will try to answer calls promptly. I am a solo practitioner but I try to be available for emergencies at all times for the safety of my patients. On the rare occasions I am out of town another physician will respond for emergencies. I encourage people to call for emergencies or postoperative problems. Bladder infections, yeast infections and other things occur on the weekends and at nights and I will be happy to try to call in medicines as it seems appropriate. This service should not be used to avoid an office visit. If there is any doubt about the problem I will recommend that you go to an urgent care or to the emergency room. There is no way I can see patients after hours except through the ER and this will involve an ER charge and usually an ER physician visit for screening and triage, as well as an extensive wait on your part. I will do my best to help you avoid this inconvenience but if I think it is not appropriate to call in medicine I will insist you go to the ER.  

Prescription Refills: If you run out of medicine, please call during the day. We will try to have the refills called in the same day. This is usually done electronically. If the pharmacist tells you that we have not called, ask them to check for a fax.  Lack of foresight on your part does not make it an emergency on my part. In general it is good medical practice not to refill prescriptions for patients who have not been seen in a year, and in some cases it is illegal. I will try to keep necessary prescriptions open for the year after your annual physical and for a short time afterwards until an appointment can be made. Please do not abuse this. Pain medicines will only be called in for legitimate emergencies and only in very limited quantities. This is a Federal Legal requirement.  This is not my personal judgment. It is a law.

Surgery: I do general gynecology operations but specialize in minimally invasive procedures. Over 90% of my procedures can be done laparoscopically and on an outpatient basis. My operating day is usually Thursday but we will accommodate  emergencies and special needs. I consult and operate with other surgical   specialists in oncology, urology and general surgery as is necessary.  

Second opinions: If you want a second opinion-please ask. It will not hurt my feelings. Anything that improves your care is to the better. I will help you to make the appointment. If I feel that a case is particularly difficult, or has several possible treatments I will suggest that you get another opinion. Please feel very free to discuss this with me.  

Termination from the practice: If I feel that I cannot provide the best care for you, either because of my expertise, problems with accommodating your needs or because of repeated non-compliance with office policies, we will recommend that you seek care from another doctor. We will send a certified letter stating that after 30 days we will not provide medical care for you. We will be happy to send your records and do whatever we can to get you established with another doctor. This is for your benefit as well as the smooth running of the practice. You should have a doctor you can work well with and have confidence in. I have realized that I cannot please everyone.  

Finances: I do my best to provide affordable, accessible medical care. I have payrolls, rent and expenses to meet and cannot work for free. I will make every effort to work with your insurance company, managed care and your own financial problems. We do make arrangements for payments for people with problems. I will see Medicaid patients on referral but, unfortunately, cannot do Medicaid primary care. If someone cannot make a good faith effort to respect my charges and take care of their bills we will assist them to get care at another facility. I have a relationship with UNC-NC Memorial Hospital. Their financial needs are partly covered by state funds and they can frequently be more accommodating that we can.  

Records: The information on your records belongs to you. I own the paper. You may see your records at any time you want and I will send copies or give you a copy. I do not hold records hostage for payment of a medical bill but if there is a large outstanding bill we may ask you to pay a reasonable copy fee. Lawyers pay a copy fee. There may be a fee for filling out long, detailed or complicated insurance forms.

John L. Washington, MD FACOG  

Central Carolina Gynecology & Urogynecology  

336 584 6868

Fax:    336 584 3211

Email: info@washingtongyn.com