Frequently Asked Questions
General information about Avance Care
Yes, we would love to see you, your friends and family.
No. But, with our convenient evening and weekend hours, we are an economical alternative to Urgent Care. We provide the convenience of Urgent Care without the higher cost or copays!
Avance Care is a Family Medicine practice – a medical home for your family. We have board certified Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and Physician Assistants that strive to provide you with a continuity of care for both your acute and chronic medical problems as well as check-ups. For your convenience, most of our locations are open 7 days a week, we have convenient same-day and next-day appointments, and we perform many outpatient procedures in our office which are pre-scheduled including laceration repair, and drainage of simple skin abscess.
Urgent care centers traditionally see patients only for acute illness and injuries and will refer you to a primary care practice for follow up. At Avance Care, we do provide many of the services found at Urgent Care centers with the added benefit of being your medical home. In some instances (such as suspected fractures, major burns and other major injures), it will be necessary for you to be seen at an Urgent Care or Emergency Department. Avance Care will always refer you to the most appropriate facility or provider for evaluation of acute injury or illness when it is medically necessary.
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MD, or Doctor of Medicine, is one of the physician designations (like DO) that identifies a physician who has completed medical school and appropriate advanced training. MDs complete four years of medical school and at least three additional years of residency training and then may be certified as specialists in fields such as family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics and so forth.
DO, or Doctor of Osteopathy, is fully trained in all aspects of medicine, just like an MD. DOs receive additional training in structural medicine, and are certified as well to do manipulation. They take a holistic approach to medicine, looking at the whole patient to determine the best treatment plan. DOs, like MDs, complete at least three years of residency and obtain certification in all medical specialties including family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, orthopedics and so forth.
PA, or Physician Assistant, is a health care professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery and in virtually all states can write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA’s practice may also include education, research and administrative services.
NP, or Nurse Practitioner, designates a Registered Nurse with advanced education and training, who practices in all specialty areas to assess, diagnose, and treat patients of all ages and with all types of health needs. NPs have a minimum of a Masters Degree in Nursing and National Certification to practice in an advanced role.
Yes. In most cases, if requested before noon, we provide same day appointments.
We see all ages of patients, from newborns to seniors. We manage a wide variety of medical conditions from chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disease, coronary artery disease, asthma, etc.) to acute problems (such as respiratory infections, musculoskeletal injuries, rashes, headaches, etc.).
Yes. We love to see entire families. In fact, we believe that knowing the whole family and understanding family dynamics is invaluable to provide comprehensive care to the individual.
- Pediatrics
Yes, most* of our practices treat patients of all ages from children to seniors. We treat acute medical problems in kids (such as colds, rashes, ear infections, broken bones, etc.) as well as well-child care and are able to administer all recommended immunizations. In addition to our Family Medicine locations, we also have a practice that specializes in pediatrics and board-certified pediatricians in other practices. Find a convenient Avance Care pediatrician here.
*The North Durham practice specializes in providing care for children ages two and older.
The RTP, Rea Farms, and Mallard Creek locations see patients 18+. Sports, camp, and daycare physicals can be completed as part of an annual physical (well visit). We will complete the sports physical form at that time, at no charge. If a sports physical form is needed within 6 months of a completed annual physical, please contact your provider.
Yes. We provide a full spectrum of well-woman care, including pap smears, pelvic exams and breast examinations. We do not perform obstetrical care. If you become pregnant, we can refer you to a local obstetrician.
Yes. We do comprehensive medical exams on males and females of all ages.
Yes. We provide all standard immunizations including: pediatric immunizations, tetanus shots, and travel vaccines.
Flu Shots are offered to all, including children over the age of 6 months. No appointment necessary.
We provide vaccinations for Hepatitis A and B, meningococcal, and tetanus. In addition, we will provide you with appropriate medications (including anti-malarial and anti-diarrheal medications as indicated). Some immunizations require 2 or more doses several months apart so please make an appointment with us as soon as you know you are going to be traveling.
Yes. Typically, a total body skin check is part of your comprehensive medical exam. If we detect a worrisome skin lesion or mole, we will often recommend a skin biopsy. We routinely perform these skin biopsies in our office.
Yes. For your convenience we have an on-site laboratory. We do a variety of rapid return labs in our office, such as rapid strep throat screens and cultures, blood glucose testing, influenza testing, urinalysis, pregnancy tests, mono tests, and more. Further labs and blood work are drawn on-site and are processed by LabCorp.
A new patient is one who has not received any professional services from any Avance Care physician within the past three years. An established patient is one who has received professional services from an Avance Care physician within the past three years.
Yes, however prescriptions written by another provider cannot be refilled without an appointment. We will also need medical records sent directly from the previous provider and the patient must come in to see one of our physicians or nurse practitioners before a prescription is refilled. Prescriptions last written over one year ago also cannot be refilled without an appointment. We may not write a prescription for controlled substances (including narcotic pain medicines and stimulant ADD medicines). Please see our Policy on Controlled Substances for more information on this topic.
Yes. Most major insurance plans are accepted. We will also file your claim for you; however, any co-pays, deductibles, or non-covered services must be paid at time of services rendered. We also accept Cash, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard.
Yes. In almost all cases, some payment is required at the visit, whether it is a deductible, a co-pay, or payment for any non-covered services. Patients with high deductible plans, who have not met their deductible, will be charged $150 at the time of service.
Avance Care has an in-office clinical laboratory that provides testing for some lab tests your physician will order. However, we are not able to provide many other tests. For these tests, we send the specimen to LabCorp and LabCorp will file your insurance. If your insurance does not pay the balance in full then LabCorp will bill you for the balance due.
Life is better with our affordable, professional and convenient service. We are board certified physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and your neighbors.
We understand the need of cost-effective medical care with cost transparency. Our healthcare providers will work with you to make your visit as cost effective as possible. We also publish our fee schedule so you can make an informed decision.
We understand that a higher cost can be incurred if acute and chronic medical care is delayed or if preventive medical care is skipped. That is why we make it easy to obtain care – we are affordable, we are convenient, and we take into account the complexity out of your decision making when seeking medical care.
We understand that lower cost should not mean lower quality of care. That is why all of our services include on-site consultation with one of our medical providers for personalized care. We employ state of the art technology to make delivery of medical care efficient.
We have negotiated discounted lab charges with a outside lab for the most common lab tests. We pass on these savings to you.
A self-pay patient is either uninsured or has an insurance plan we are not in-network with.
Self-pay patients pay in full at the time of visit for our services and we are not required to file claim or submit any documentation on his/her behalf to a third party.
For common illness, allergies, and minor injuries, your visit cost starts at $150. Total cost of the visit depends upon problem severity and if diagnostic tests are ordered. Typical cost for such visits often fall in the range of $150 – $200. Because we believe in price transparency in healthcare, our common self-pay fees are published on our Self-Pay Fees page.
Our healthcare providers understand the need to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses and will work with you to make your visit cost-effective.
For disease management consultations (such as hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypothyroidism, asthma, etc.), the visit cost starts at $150 and the total cost of the visit depends upon problem severity and the complexity of the medical condition(s). Typical cost for such visits often fall in the range of $150 to $200.
Our comprehensive physical evaluation (annual physical, well child exam) and wellness screening packages are priced at a highly competitive rate, especially when you factor in the included medical provider consultation and convenience of our services.
Yes and No.
Yes, if you do not require us to file a claim to your insurance plan and you pay in full at the time of your visit for our services. You are then considered a “Self-Pay” patient and you are eligible for prompt-pay discount. We will provide you with a super-bill (itemized charges for our services) at check out, which you can use to submit a claim to your insurance carrier or justify funds drawn from HSA account.
No, if you require us to file a claim to your insurance plan (in which we participate). In such case, our insurance contracted negotiated rates apply and the prompt-pay discount does not apply. We will still collect estimated charges for the visit and settle the charges upon insurance claim processing. See our Billing FAQ for more information.
General
Insurance and Billing
Uninsured Patients
Don't delay the care you need.
Open 7-days a week with same-day appointments.