COMMON QUESTIONS
Appointments / Referrals
To schedule an appointment at Allergy & Asthma Affiliates, simply give us a call at anyone of our offices. Our team will guide you through the process and help you find a convenient time for your visit.
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​865-525-2640
New Patient Forms
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Preparing for your visit
Our clinic provides a range of specialized services. These treatments are designed to diagnose and manage allergies and respiratory conditions effectively. Be assured that we strive to provide the best possible medical care in a friendly compassionate manner and environment. Please know that your initial visit may take 2-4 hours for thorough testing and evaluation to be completed.
​You should STOP taking certain medications that contain ANTIHISTAMINES 7 DAYS BEFORE TESTING​
List of Meds to
Avoid for Skin Testing
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Do not stop any inhaled asthma medications or routine medications that treat blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, etc.
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Insurance Coverage
We accept a variety of insurance plans to ensure that our patients can access the care they need.
We accept the majority of Blue Cross Blue Shied, United Health Care, Cigna, & Humana Plans as well as TN Care (Bluecare, TN Care Amerigroup, and TN Care Community Plan) and Medicare plans.
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Please notify our office if you have more than one insurance plan or if your insurance policy changes. By doing this, you help us to prevent insurance payment delays and to minimize the need for account correspondence with you.
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Contact our office to verify your insurance coverage and learn more about the payment options available.
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Please present your insurance card / pharmacy card at each visit; verifying your insurance coverage at each visit significantly reduces billing errors.
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All co-pays and or deductibles are to be paid at the time of service. This includes office visits and allergy injections, if applicable.
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The responsibility for payment of fees is the direct obligation of the patient/parent unless superceded by contract care
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Follow-Up Care / Sick Visits / Cancellations
After your initial visit, our team will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. REGULAR FOLLOW-UP IS ESSENTIAL to monitor your progress, adjust medications if necessary, and address any new symptoms.
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Sick Visits- Occasionally, problems of an allergic nature may arise between check-up appointments and demand immediate attention. We try to be available through our telephone nurse to discuss and meet your allergic sick-call needs. Simply ask to speak to a nurse to schedule a sick visit.
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Cancellations- If it ever becomes necessary to cancel an appointment, we would kindly ask you to notify us at the earliest date so that we may offer that time to another patient. We make a sincere attempt to adhere to appointments scheduled. At times, emergencies arise which must take precedence and may cause some delays.
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Telephone Correspondence
If you need to contact us for any reason, our staff is always available. When you call our office, please inform the receptionist about the purpose of your call, and they will transfer you to the right staff member. In case of a health-related issue, a nurse will attend to your call, consult with a provider if required, and get back to you as soon as possible. This approach to managing our telephone messages will enable us to serve you more effectively.
What is a Board Certified Allergist
An allergist is a physician specifically trained, skilled, and experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of allergies, asthma, and related immunologic disorders. All allergist are either board certified pediatricians and / or internists who then decide to pursue an additional 2-3 years of specialty training in allergy and immunology. The effective treatment of allergic and immunologic disorders must be solidly based upon intense study and advanced medical training. Did you know that the training of a board certified allergist involves at least 9 years of schooling and training after graduating from college? As a result of this extensive study and training, an allergist is the best qualified to effectively manage the comprehensive needs of patients with allergic diseases.
Emergencies
​​In the event that you experience a medical emergency due to your allergy or asthma condition or due to treatment given in our office, please call us at (865) 525-2640. During office hours, our staff will respond promptly, giving you instructions as to what action to take.
After hours, our phone is automatically answered by our answering service. They have been given instructions to relay your emergency call to us. We will then call you back, assess your situation and give proper instructions. In order to maintain confidentiality, after hour calls can only be returned by our provider while blocking Caller ID.
No routine prescription refills will be authorized or called in after hours. This needs to be addressed during normal operating hours
Patient Resources
Our website offers a variety of resources to help you better understand your condition, treatment options, and general health tips. Below are listed several well respected and recognized websites in regards to allergy, asthma, and immunology.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology​​
American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology​
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network​​
Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics​​
Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America​​
Volunteers Educating for Food Allergy​​
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases​​
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