Office and Appointment FAQs
Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte FAQs
Please use this quick reference guide to find answers to some of our patients' most frequently asked questions. If you cannot find an answer to your specific question, please call us and we'll be happy to assist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Insurance plans vary significantly. Coverage and benefits will be specific to your state, your employer, and your specific insurance plan.
You need to have the following to verify coverage prior to making your appointment:
- Current insurance card – make sure you have your current insurance card (from this year)
- Active plan – make sure your current insurance plan is active and ask what skin care providers are in your network
We will verify eligibility and benefits:
- Coverage will vary based on the type of service and provider.
- If you have an HMO, we will need an active referral for dermatology services.
NOTE: We can verify eligibility and some of your benefits. For all benefit information, reach out to your insurance carrier. Ultimately, you, the patient, are responsible for understanding your insurance coverage and for ensuring your services are covered and/or paid.
When you schedule an appointment with DSC, we reserve that time to provide you with the highest quality of care. If you need to cancel an appointment, please contact our scheduling office at (704) 943-3714 at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. Failure to provide 24-hour notice will result in a no-show charge and will be collected to the extent permitted by law or applicable payor contracts. Any patient who cancels an appointment without providing 24 hours’ notice will be charged a fee.
FEES: The no-show fee is $50 for a Monday-Friday regular medical visit, $100 for Saturday appointments and $250 for a surgery-related appointment. In addition, the no-show fee is $99 for a cosmetic consultation and $250 for a cosmetic procedure.
All fees must be paid in full prior to your next appointment. Patients with repeat cancellations or missed appointments may be discharged from our practice at our discretion.
At DSC, every member of our team strives to make your appointment as convenient and comfortable as possible. We are also dedicated to the highest quality skin care, and we approach your skin health holistically.
As a patient of DSC, no matter what the reason is for your appointment, we work with you to ensure the early detection and prevention of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the leading cause of cancer in the U.S., and everyone is at risk. Therefore, all our patients are given expert advice on how to safeguard your skin.
What else should you expect at your appointment? Below is a summary:
Check-in:
At check-in, we will welcome you and update any changes to your patient file. We will scan your ID and insurance card. We will also collect any applicable co-pays.
During your appointment:
A nurse or medical assistant will take your health history, and then you and our team will discuss the reason for the visit. At that time, the nurse or medical assistant will let you know what to expect when you meet with the provider. Appointment times vary, but most health histories and reviews of skin conditions take less than 15 minutes. During your visit with your provider, you will learn of various treatment options. If necessary, you and your provider will also discuss the uses and indications of any recommended medications or skin care routines.
Check-out:
At check-out, we will schedule you for your next appointment. Our team will also ask you if you need any sunscreens or skin products. As always, you can also get free shipping of sunscreens and more at shop.pinnacleskin.com. After your appointment, you will receive a text from Pinnacle with a link to provide a review of your appointment.
For billing questions or concerns, please call (704) 943-3714 and ask to be re-directed to the location where you received treatment. The local team can answer your billing questions.
At DSC, we pride ourselves on providing individualized care for your specific skin condition, skin type and skin needs. Therefore, questions about your medications are best answered by a member of your local care team. Please call us with any questions - do not hesitate - we are happy to help!
You can pay your bill on the patient portal. You will need your statement with the invoice number and amount owed.
Virtual Consultations and Telemedicine
DSC is offering virtual consultations and telemedicine appointments to our established patients. This is not available to new patients that have never been seen in our office.
This allows you to talk to us even when you cannot see us in person. You can use a phone, the internet, or other technology to talk with us.
If you have healthcare needs in the coming weeks, including routine follow-up appointments, please reach out to our office to schedule an appointment. We will first screen to see if the visit can be completed remotely. If possible, we will set up an appointment for you to video chat with a provider. For visits that cannot be completed remotely will still see patients in the office. We are working to implement measures to maintain social distancing and keep everyone safe during this time.
If you have an issue for which you are unsure if a visit is needed, you may initiate communication with our office electronically through a telephone call, email, or patient portal message. We will determine if a video or in-person visit must be scheduled.
When calling the office we ask that you leave a detailed message and someone will return your call. We ask that you not leave multiple messages, for that will delay our turnaround time.
If you have not signed in to your patient portal, now is a good time to do so. Call our office for your sign-in information if you do not have it.
Skin Care Resources and Helpful Links for DSC Patients
The American Academy of Dermatology
The American Academy of Dermatology is the largest association of dermatologists in the country. The site includes references for many common skin conditions and treatments and profiles of physicians throughout the United States.
Everything you need to know about skin cancer prevention, detection and treatment.
Society for Pediatric Dermatology
An excellent resource that provides links to patient education, support groups and medical references for dermatological conditions of all age ranges.
This site was developed by the American Academy of Dermatology to serve as a resource for patients and health care professionals that provides current information on the management and treatment of skin disease. It has links for a variety of conditions such as acne, actinic keratoses, aging skin, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, and skin cancer.
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
This site describes common dermatologic surgery and cosmetic procedures, offers before and after photographs and has fact sheets describing a variety of conditions and treatments.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Household Products Database
Great resource for ACD patients to refer to and learn about which products they can use.