Patient Information
The materials included here are meant to help you prepare for your diagnosis, procedure and recovery. We can't think of every question you might have about spine care and surgery, but we invite you to submit a question or suggestion if you think something's missing here. We'll do our best to provide an answer.
Clinic policies for patients
In order to best serve you, please come prepared for your clinic appointment by doing the following:
The Spine Center office hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. The office is closed on weekends and holidays. If you call while the office is closed, your message will not be taken off until the next business day.
Please complete the entire new patient questionnaire and bring the completed forms with you for your appointment. Do not mail the forms. If you need to complete forms after your arrival on the day of your appointment, your appointment will be delayed.
If you have not had previous x-rays, or if you have had surgery, and you are coming for your follow-up appointment, you will likely need to have x-rays at the time of your appointment. Please plan to arrive at least 20 minutes prior to your appointment time to have x-rays completed. If you need a wheelchair for transport to x-ray, please let the receptionist know, and we will contact transportation for assistance.
We do our best to accomodate scheduling appointments in a timely manner. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please contact the clinic at 573-884-2225 or 1-877-701-2225 at least 24 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule.
If your insurer requires a co-payment, please come prepared to pay at the time of serivce. We accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover card, personal check or cash. If you are self-pay, the payment of $250 for first visit and $87 per follow-up visit is required at the time of service. The patient accounts office is available for financial counseling at 573-884-3300. We do not accept third party payers.
Please bring your insurance card with you for the appointment.
Please hand-carry all outside films (including MRI, CT, plain films) with you for the appointment. Do not rely on the imaging center to send or mail your films. If you do not bring your films, or they are not available for review at the time of the appointment, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
If you have had previous surgery or procedures performed at another facility, please bring the operative reports with you for review at the time of the appointment.
For the courtesy to all of the patients, and for your own privacy, we ask that you do not use cell phones in the waiting room. If you must take a call, please do so in the main lobby. Please turn off your cell phone while in the exam room.
Columbia Regional Hospital and the Missouri Spine Center are completely smoke-free environments. Smoking is strictly prohibited in all areas.
Regarding prescriptions
Please understand that the Missouri Spine Center does not provide long-term pain medication prescriptions. If you need medications for chronic pain, you will need to obtain these from your primary care physician. If you have had surgery with either Dr Kuhns or Dr Choma, and were given discharge prescriptions, please contact your pharmacy at least 72 hours in advance of running out to request a refill. Do not wait until you are out of medication to notify the office. Prescription refills are handled through the Spine Center only during working hours, and will not be refilled by the on-call resident on off-hours, weekends or holidays.
For referring physicians
Please inform your patient that the Missouri Spine Center does not provide narcotic prescriptions for chronic pain. Prescription refills for post-operative patients are handled through the Spine Center only during working hours, and will not be refilled by the on-call resident on off-hours, weekends or holidays.
Forms for new patients
Pre- and Post-operative instructions
Exercise protocols
