Office 314-569-1881
Emergency After Hours 314-350-7600
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Patient Information

Allergy Consultants

Our goal is to provide the best possible medical care for children and adults who suffer from asthma and allergic conditions. This involves treating each patient as an individual with a unique set of circumstances, carefully educating the patient and family about the illness and its causes, and various diagnostic tests or treatment measures. Open communication and cooperation between patient, family, general physician, our office personnel, and our physicians is essential.

Important Information & FAQs about New Patient Appointments
  1. What do I need to do before the visit?
    1. Fill out our New Patient Forms. The three forms (New Patient Information, New Patient Questionnaire, & Symptoms Checklist) can be found as pdfs on the Patient Information page of our website. Bring these documents filled out to your appointment.
    2. You will receive a phone call confirming your New Patient Appointment five days beforehand. If we leave a message, please call us back to confirm your two hour appointment. Our medical receptionists need to go over important information you will need to know for your appointment. (Your New Patient Appointment is subject to cancellation if we do not hear from you two days prior to the appointment).
    3. Arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
  1. What do I need to bring with me?
    1. Current insurance card
    2. Records (any previous skin/blood tests, chest x-rays/sinus CTs, emergency room/urgent care visits, printed list of prescriptions from the past year from your pharmacy).
    3. Method of payment (New patients can speak with the Business Office up to five days prior to appointments to find out the estimated cost of their care. Patient portions after insurance can consist of copays, co-insurances, and/or deductibles.)
  1. How long is my visit?
    1. First visits can take anywhere from 45 minutes to as long as 2 hours.
    2. Especially for younger patients, please bring favorite books, video games, or use our guest Wi-Fi to pass the time during skin testing, etc.
  1. What is Allergy Consultants payment policy for new patients?
    1. New patients can submit a credit card to be charged after the first visit only. Allergy Consultants collects the estimated cost of a patient’s care (copays, co-insurances, and/or deductibles) at the end of the new patient appointment.
  1. What should I expect at a New Patient Appointment?
    1. NEVER stop taking asthma medications, inhalers, decongestants, antibiotics, or steroids
    2. First, there will be a consultation with the physician carefully reviewing your medical history and current symptoms.
    3. There will be a discussion with your physician on whether or not skin testing will be performed. Not every patient requires skin testing. Decisions for testing are individualized for each patient.
    4. No lotions or oils on arms or back the day of the appointment.
    5. If skin tested, a period of 15-20 minutes is needed after application of tests for final results.
    6. After any tests done are completed, your physician will conference with you to summarize the results and outline a treatment plan.
    7. See the section on your type of appointment for additional information: Food Allergy, Seasonal Allergy, Asthma, Hives/Rash, or Penicillin
  1. What should I expect at a Food Allergy appointment?
    1. See “What should I expect at a New Patient Appointment?”
    2. Do stop any antihistamines 7 days prior to your appointment.
    3. See “What medicines are antihistamines?”
    4. If you suspect a fruit or vegetable allergy, please bring in a fresh piece of each fruit or vegetable you want tested in individual baggies.
  1. What should I expect at a Seasonal Allergy appointment?
    1. See “What should I expect at a New Patient Appointment?”
    2. Do stop any antihistamines 7 days prior to your appointment.
    3. See “What medicines are antihistamines?”
  1. What should I expect at an Asthma appointment?
    1. See “What should I expect at a New Patient Appointment?”
    2. There will be a discussion with your physician on whether or not Pulmonary Function tests, Peak Flow tests, and/or FeNO tests will be performed. Not every patient requires each type of testing. Decisions for testing are individualized for each patient.
  1. What should I expect at a Hives/Rash appointment?
    1. See “What should I expect at a New Patient Appointment?”
    2. Do NOT stop antihistamines prior to your appointment for hives/rash symptoms. After the consultation the physician will decide whether skin or blood tests will be needed. A discussion of possible causes and a treatment plan outline will conclude the visit.
  1. What should I expect at a Penicillin testing appointment?
    1. Do stop any antihistamines 7 days prior to your appointment.
    2. If you are sick at the time of your appointment and on an antibiotic, your appointment will need to be rescheduled.
    3. For safety precautions, please bring an adult companion with you for this appointment.
  1. What medicines are antihistamines?
    1. Antihistamines block skin test responses, so they must be stopped 7 days prior to a new patient appointment.
    2. The following medicines are antihistamines:
      1. Most Common: Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec
      2. Also: Advil PM, Astelin, Astepro, Alka Selter (Plus, Night, or Cold PM), Antivert, Atarax, Azelastine, Benadryl, Carbinoxamine, Clarinex, Chlorpheniramine, Chlor Trimeton, Diphendydramine, Dramamine, Dymista, Hydroxyzine, Meclizine, Nyquil, Patanase, Patanol, Pataday, Periactin, Phenergan, Tylenol PM, Xyzal, Unisom, and Zaditor.

Telephone Calls

Please call our office if you have any questions regarding your condition, medications, or treatment. Our office number is (314) 569-1881. Our receptionists will take information regarding the nature of your problem and one of our physicians will call you back. Non-emergency calls are generally returned at noon or at the end of office hours or as indicated by their urgency. During regular office hours we have a voicemail system for when all lines are busy. For non-urgent questions, appointments, or refill requests, please leave a message with the patient’s name, date of birth, and a call back number and we will return your call within 24 hours. You may also email us at staff@stlallergy.com.

Emergency Care & Exchange

If you have a true medical emergency, call 911. If you have an urgent medical problem that cannot wait until our regular office hours resume please call our medical exchange at (314) 388-5587. If you are calling about a non-urgent prescription refill, please have your pharmacy fax or e-script the request to avoid a $10 charge.

Prescription Refills

If you need a prescription refill before your next visit, please have your pharmacy fax, call, or e-script the request to our office. Our fax number is (314) 569-3277.

Medical Forms

Work, school, or camp forms completed outside a scheduled appointment are subject to a $15 fee and have a 5-7 day turn around. Disability/FMLA forms are all subject to a $10 fee and have a 5-7 day turn around.

Missed / Cancelled Appointments

Missed appointments and appointments canceled less than 24 hours are subject to a $35 fee.

Financial & Insurance Policy

Patients are responsible for all charges, regardless of insurance coverage. It is the responsibility of the patient to make sure our business office has their most up-to-date insurance information. Out-of-pocket expenses for new patients, skin tests, and food challenges are due at time of service (copays, coinsurances, & deductibles).  Contact the business office regarding any insurance and payment questions.

Confidentiality & HIPAA

AC HIPAA Policy 2023 

Notice Informing Individuals About Nondiscrimination & Accessibility Requirements

Nondiscrimination & Accessibility Notice

Doctor-Patient Relations

The doctor-patient relationship functions best when based on mutual understanding. We make a special effort to explain everything to you regarding your condition, medicines, treatment, etc. If you ever have questions, or if something is not clear to you, please do not hesitate to ask.

We have chosen our personnel, office procedures, and medical equipment with much thought and care to provide quality medical services In a pleasant, efficient, and friendly atmosphere. If you have any suggestions or complaints regarding our services, fees, practices, or personnel, please inform us so that we may better serve you.