1. What are your office hours?

We are open Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. We are closed 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. for lunch. For your convenience, we have extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings until 7 p.m.

2. How soon can I be seen?

Appointment slots are reserved daily for acute illnesses and minor emergencies. Most other appointment requests can easily be accommodated within days and often within 24 hours.

3. When should I arrive for my appointment?

We request that new patients arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled appointment to complete their necessary insurance and medical history forms. (Please click here to download some of these forms to your computer.)

We request established patients arrive 10 minutes prior to their appointment in order to confirm insurance information.

4. What should I bring to my appointment?

In order to make your appointment as efficient and beneficial as possible, we encourage you to bring:

• Your insurance card
• A list of current medications (including over-the-counter medications, supplements and vitamins). Many patients find it easier to actually bring a bag containing their medications.
• Pertinent information about your medical and surgical history. This includes old medical records, lab or imaging tests.
• Copay/coinsurance payment

5. What is your cancellation policy?

Someone from our office will call you the day before your appointment as a reminder. If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please call our office at 214-576-2227 at least 24 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule. This is important in helping us provide continuous care to all of our valued patients, and we appreciate your cooperation. If you fail to give us advanced notice, you will be subject to the following cancellation fees:

• First missed appointment: No charge
• Second missed appointment: $25.00 charge
• Third missed appointment: $25.00 charge and possible dismissal from our practice

6. What if I need help after hours?

If you need assistance during non-office hours, the on-call physician can be reached through our answering service by calling our office at 214-576-2227. The on-call physician will contact you and attempt to assist you with your problem. If you believe you have a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

To help determine if you have a true emergency, the American College of Emergency Physicians recommends that any of the following conditions be evaluated in the nearest emergency room:

• Loss of consciousness
• Fainting, sudden dizziness and weakness
• Sudden or severe pain
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or choking
• Sudden changes in vision
• Unexplained confusion
• Chest pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Coughing up or vomiting blood
• Severe or persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Severe abdominal pain
• High fevers
• Head injuries
• Ingestion of a poisonous substance
• Severe eye injuries
• Complicated or deep cuts
• Deep or large wounds

7. How do I get my medication refilled?

In order to avoid gaps in your medications, we request you contact your pharmacy at least 4-5 days prior to your medication running out. The pharmacy will contact us and we will review your chart to ensure your medical care is current. Your doctor will determine if it is appropriate to refill the medication and/or he may request a follow up appointment.

If a patient has not been seen in the office in the past 12 months, we will require a follow up appointment be scheduled before providing any medication prescription refills. Since we don’t have access to your medical records during non-business hours we are unable to refill medications on weekends or after hours.

8. What insurances do you accept?

Click here to see a complete list of insurance plans that we currently accept.

9. Why is it important to have a physical?

Your checkups can help your doctor screen for illnesses, determine your health risks, and recommend steps to prevent health problems later in life. It’s your responsibility to understand what screenings and tests are covered by your health insurance as part of your annual physical. Your health is our upmost concern, but we will try to work within your insurance guidelines to maximize your wellness benefits.

10. What is a family physician?

Family physicians are trained in most aspects of medicine and can diagnose and treat both children and adults, regardless of age or gender. We are experts in prevention, treating most acute illnesses, and helping patients manage chronic medical conditions. Click here to see a list of our services. When necessary, we can refer patients to the appropriate specialists.

11. Why is having a family physician so important?

Your primary care doctor can help you maintain exceptional health throughout the course of your life and partner with you to meet your long-term health goals and needs. Over time, this relationship can translate into continued good health and enhanced quality of life. 

12. Will my primary care physician care for me if I am in the hospital?

Dr. Flaming and Dr. Sackrison do not actively care for patients during their hospitalization. We enlist the support of several well qualified hospitalists at Methodist Richardson Medical Center to help take care of our patients during their hospital stay. We are in communication with these hospitalists regarding treatment plans during and after discharge from the hospital to help provide the best care.