Allergy Testing
Allergy Injection
Initial Visit
The Nurse Practitioner
Our Physicians
Telephone Correspondence
Prescriptions
Emergencies
Appointments
Fees and Insurance

Allergy Testing
Two types of allergy skin testing are usually performed: scratch tests or multi-tests on the back, and intradermal tests on the arm. Infants and small children generally receive only limited skin testing. Immune and allergy blood test are more frequently necessary in our very young children. The number of tests will vary based on the patient's need. Currently these three testing procedures are the most accurate and reliable forms of allergy testing. If other types of allergy tests are performed, adequate explanation will be given at that time. Children are special in our practice. They are not small adults and are approached according to their appropriate developmental state. Their fears and emotional needs are given the attention they deserve. If your child is to be tested, we will be happy to demonstrate each type of test on you, if so desired. The tests are read fifteen minutes after application. Following the skin tests, a treatment conference will be held. At this time, testing results and future care will be thoroughly discussed.

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Allergy Injections
If it is necessary for you or your child to take allergy injections, the program will be outlined thoroughly for you at the time of your consultation. Allergy desensitization will benefit patients who are allergic to dust, pollens and molds. Many patients find their medication needs decrease by 90% after a year of full-strength injections. Your vaccine will be available at any one of our offices or it may be sent to another clinic for administration. After each injection, it is necessary to remain in the office 30 minutes in order to have the arm checked for possible immediate reactions. For children getting injections, a parent or guardian must be present at the time of service unless a minor accompanies the child. In this case, written or telephone permission must be obtained prior to administration or any allergy injection. Also, co-pays for each allergy injection are due at the time of service. You should check your individual insurance plan to determine if a co-pay is required to avoid unexpected account balances.

 

Allergy injection hours at our offices are as follows:

 

Regional Office/Highland Avenue

Monday & Friday 8:30am-4:45pm

Tuesday & Thursday 8:30am-5:30pm

West/Cedar Bluff Office

Monday-Thursday 8:30am-11:30am | 1:00pm-4:45pm

Saturday 8:30am-12:00pm

Emory Road/Conner Pointe 1

Monday - Thursday 8:30am-11:30am | 1:00pm-5:15pm

North Shot Office/Fountain City

Monday & Wednesday 1:30pm-4:45pm

Maryville/Alcoa Office

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 8:30am-11:45am | 1:30pm-4:45pm

Sevierville Office/Bradford Square

Tuesday & Thursday 8:30am-11:45am | 1:30pm-4:45pm

Morristown

Tuesday & Thursday 9:00am-11:45am | 1:00pm-4:45pm

Oak Ridge

Monday, Wednesday & Friday 8:30am-11:30am | 1:00pm - 5:00pm

 

Note: The second Monday of each month is designated for our monthly staff meeting. On these days, shot office hours will begin at 9:00 am.

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Initial Visit
Most patients come to our practice by referral from their pediatrician, family physician, or other specialist. The purpose of this visit is to obtain a detailed history, an adequate physical examination, and preliminary lab work necessary to establish whether allergy therapy is indicated. Allergy diagnostic tests, if indicated, will be performed at this time and can usually be accomplished in one visit. X-rays and diagnostic pulmonary function testing may also be necessary during the initial visit.

 

Your initial visit will be comprehensive and may require up to four hours. Due to the length of this visit, please make alternative childcare arrangements for other children and/or siblings. At the completion of your or your child's evaluation, a summary of our findings and recommendations will be sent to your referring physician. Problems of a general medical or general pediatric nature should remain under the care of your primary care physician. Accordingly, it is necessary for you to have a ediatrician or general medical doctor, as we limit our practice to the diagnosis and treatment of allergy, asthma, and immunology.

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The Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Practitioners are nurses with a Master's Degree or specialized training in a specialty area of nursing practice. The role of the Nurse Practitioner (NP) involves accessing, diagnosing, and applying treatment plans developed for patients and their families.

 

In our practice, the specific role of the NP involves seeing patients, ordering laboratory tests, and a major focus on educating patients and parents. Our goal is to provide patients with as much information and knowledge about their illness or problem as possible. We think of parents as partners in their child's care, and with this in mind, learning how to care for your child, and why we operate a certain way, is as important to their success as any medication we may prescribe.

 

While the Nurse Practitioner is not a substitute for your doctor, the NP has specific knowledge and skills and is a very important part of your health care team. Generally, the doctor and the NP will try to alternate your regular check ups, and when you have an appointment with an NP, the doctor is always available for consultation. (In order to facilitate flexibility to meet your sick needs, sick work-in visits are made with a NP). Written guidelines for practice, which are closely followed, have been developed for both the NP's and physicians.

 

Our Nurse Practitioners:

Megan Brumbelow, FNP

Christin C. Carter, FNP

Kristine Meade, FNP

Amanda McElmeel, FNP

Tennille Block, FNP

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Our Physicians
An allergist is a specially trained physician who has broad training in pediatrics or internal medicine and thereafter received additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases such as hay fever, allergic rhinitis, asthma, hives, drug reactions and eczema. Dr. Don Ellenburg and Dr. Tim Frazier are board certified pediatricians as well as board certified allergists.

 

Dr. Ellenburg received his medical degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. After completing medical school, Dr. Ellenburg completed three years of general pediatric training at the University of Louisville Children's Hospital. Following his general pediatric training, Dr. Ellenburg completed two additional years of allergy fellowship at the University of Louisville. During his allergy fellowship, Dr. Ellenburg was also broadly trained in pediatric chest disease. Dr. Ellenburg founded the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic in East Tennessee and acted as its Medical Director for 11 years. Dr. Ellenburg is also associated with the American Lung Association of Tennessee. He founded Camp Wezbegon, which helps aid in the transition of care from parent to youngster. As the field of allergy and clinical immunology is an ever-increasing broad span of information, Dr. Ellenburg continues to update his knowledge with yearly professional meetings as well as independent reading.

 

Dr. Frazier received his undergraduate degree at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Agriculture and further medical training at the University of Tennessee, Memphis in Pharmacy. Dr. Frazier received his medical degree from East Tennessee State University. Dr. Frazier's residency was completed at the University of Louisville, Louisville, KY in both internal medicine and pediatrics where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Frazier completed a two-year allergy and immunology fellowship at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Dr. Frazier continues to  update his knowledge with yearly professional meetings as well as independent reading.

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Telephone Correspondence
Our staff is readily available should you need to contact us regarding any matter. When calling our office, state the reason for your call to a receptionist and they will then transfer you to the appropriate staff member. If you have a health  need, a nurse will take your call, consult with a provider, if necessary, and then call you back as soon as possible. This type of management for our telephone messages will help us to serve you more efficiently.

 

Our offices are closed during the evenings and on weekends, therefore no medical personnel will be available to help you with routine and non-urgent health needs. For emergencies only, however Dr. Ellenburg and Dr. Frazier are available after hours. (See "Emergencies") All non-urgent calls will be deferred until the next office day.

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Prescriptions
It is not our policy to prescribe new medications over the telephone. Long-term, maintenance medications may  be handled over the telephone if you remain under our care, but only during regular office hours.

 

When calling for refills, please have available the  name and strength of your prescriptions and your pharmacy's name and phone number. In some instances, we request the pharmacist to call our office for medication refills. Patients with a chronic disease need good continuity of care; therefore, we can not authorize refills to patients who have not had an office visit in more than one year. A follow-up appointment must first be scheduled before any prescriptions can be authorized.

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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, Tri-Star Communications. 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. We suggest that you not go to one of the hospital emergency rooms without calling us first in order to minimize patient cost, inconvenience and lost time. In order to maintain confidentiality, after hour calls can only be returned by our provider while blocking Caller ID.

 

For your safety, no routine prescription refills will be authorized or called in after hours.

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Appointments
Check-Ups- Routine checkup visits are necessary within 3 to 6 months of each patient's visit. Those check-up visits will function to help both you and us evaluate your progress and make any changes necessary for your care. Please be conscientious about your follow up visits.

For our patients with asthma, it is critical that you are seen every three months after we establish an asthma action plan. All patients who have lung symptoms will need serial pulmonary function testing.

Sick Visits- Occasionally, problems of an allergic nature may arise between check-up appointments and demand immediate attention. We are always 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.

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.

Allergy Skin Testing- Further allergy skin testing is rarely needed, however when retesting is necessary, a provider can only order it. Appointments for repeat allergy skin testing can be made only after direct consultation with a provider.

Appointment Reminders- As an added value service, we will remind you of your appointments by mail. You will also receive a reminder call two or three days prior to your scheduled visit. If we call and leave a message, please call our office to confirm your appointment.

Note: For all patients under the age of 18, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the child during their appointment. We recommend that if the child is 18 or over and still lives at home that the parent or legal guardian continue to accompany them.

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Fees and Insurance
It is our desire to render high-quality allergy, asthma and immunology care for reasonable and competitive fees. Our fees reflect the time and specialized procedures that are necessary to optimally treat and care for our patients.

We realize that successful treatment is dependent on a clear, mutual understanding between patient and physician. Similarly, the same level of understanding must exist between you and Allergy & Asthma Affiliates concerning the payment of medical care. It is our goal that you are aware of our financial policies, as to minimize any confusion in the future. A summary of our practice's financial policies are listed below:

     1. The responsibility for payment of fees is the direct obligation of the patient/parent unless superceded by contract care.

 

     2. Please present your insurance card at each visit; verifying your insurance coverage at each visit significantly reduces billing errors. It is your responsibility to verify that your insurance plan requires a referral for each visit or pre-certification for certain office procedures.

 

     3. All co-pays and or deductibles are to be paid at the time of service. This includes office visits and allergy injections, if applicable.

 

     4. With the initial evaluation of any new patient, we ask that 20% of the total fee be paid at the time of service unless superceded by contract care.

 

     5. Our office will file all claims with your insurance plan based on information you provide.

 

     6. After an insurance payment has been received, you will be sent a statement for the remaining balance of the account. However, the receipt of insurance payment does not preclude your responsibility to make a monthly payment on the unpaid portion of your bill. A minimum payment of 10% of the unpaid monthly balance is required. Failure to make this payment will cause the account to become delinquent.

 

     7. Special allergy vaccine cannot be made for any account 60 days past due.

 

     8. In divorce situations, Allergy & Asthma Affiliates considers the guardian/parent accompanying the child to be responsible for payment. Credit can not be extended to parents not present.

 

     9. Please notify our office of 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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