What to expect

Before your first visit

• Your photo ID and insurance card
• A list of your medicines, including doses
• Any recent spine imaging. Bring the images on a disc or a link, not only the written report, if you can.
• A referral, if your insurance plan requires one
• Notes on what treatments you have already tried, such as therapy or injections

When you schedule, our team will send your new patient forms so you can fill them out before your visit.

At your visit

Dr. Higginbotham will ask about your symptoms, examine your strength, reflexes and sensation, and review your imaging with you. If you need more tests, we will explain why. You will leave knowing what we think is going on and what the options are, including options that do not involve surgery.

If surgery is part of the plan

Getting ready for surgery can make a difference. Depending on the operation, we may check your bone health, nutrition, blood sugar and other health conditions, and ask you to stop smoking before surgery. Dr. Higginbotham has published research on how spine surgeons prepare patients in these areas (JAAOS, 2024).

Referrals

Patients: some insurance plans, including many HMO plans, need a referral from your primary care provider before a specialist visit. Please check with your plan or ask your doctor's office.

Referring providers: call the office to send a referral. Please include recent notes, imaging reports and insurance information. Questions: call (559) 758-7119.

Insurance

Insurance plans change often. Please call us at (559) 758-7119 to confirm that we are in network with your plan before your visit.

Please call the office before your visit so we can confirm coverage for your plan.

Privacy

Please do not send medical details, test results or insurance ID numbers through this website or by regular email. We will collect what we need by phone or in person.

Our Notice of Privacy Practices is available at the office and on request.