Patient Information

General Information For New Patients

This information should be most helpful to New Patients, but Existing Patients may also find this general information useful.

Visit the Locations page to find the location nearest to you.

Scheduling Appointments

In the Patient Portal
Appointments can be made by logging into the MyHillChart patient portal.

By Phone
You can make an appointment by calling the location you plan to attend.

• Stockton – (209) 944-5750 Stockton location page
• Manteca – (209) 824-1555 Manteca location page
• Tracy – (209) 832-0343 Tracy location page
• San Andreas – (209) 754-1012 San Andreas location page
• Lodi – (209) 334-3278 Lodi location page

Our locations are often quite busy, and we do our best to manage appointments with kindness and efficiency. We kindly ask that all patients arrive on-time, and be courteous to staff and clinicians.

Virtual Appointments

While most appointments must be in-person due to the need to check vital signs, there may be occasions when a Telehealth appointment is possible. Ask your doctor or the scheduling team.

Outpatient Surgery Center

National Surgical Centers – Stockton
Our doctors perform several types of cardiac procedures at the outpatient Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) we are partnered with, called National Surgical Centers Stockton (NSCS). This facility provides a convenient, comfortable, and patient-centered experience, located within the building of the Stockton Cardiology corporate headquarters and clinic at: 415 E. Harding Way in Stockton.

Hospital Affiliations

• St. Joseph’s Medical Center – Stockton
• Dameron Hospital – Stockton
• Doctors Hospital of Manteca– Manteca
• Sutter Tracy Community Hospital– Tracy
• Mark Twain Medical Center– San Andreas

Networks

Health networks we are contracted are below. If you do not see your network listed, contact us using the website contact form or phone.

• AllCare IPA
• Community Medical Centers
• Health Plan of San Joaquin
• Hill Physicians
• P3 Health Partners

Insurance

We accept Medicare and most insurances, but it is necessary to verify your insurance when making an appointment. Verification determines whether coverage is active and the amount of a co-payment (if any) due at your visit.

Payments

You can make payments at the front desk or in the patient portal. Even if you do not have a password, you can “Pay as Guest” on the portal.

Initial Consultation

Your first visit with us will begin with a cardiovascular consultation from one of our cardiologists, unless you have been referred to our office for testing purposes only. You can expect to spend 30-60 minutes at this first appointment, depending on the nature of the appointment. Read more about Cardiology exam visits.

Test Appointments

Patients who are scheduled for testing only may be required to have shorter or longer appointment times and will not likely consult with a cardiologist during the visit. Stockton Cardiology has in-house cardiac imaging, and test locations are listed below.

Patient Instructions for Tests

• Echocardiography Instructions
• Nuclear PET or SPECT Scan Instructions

Testing by Location

• Echocardiography is conducted at all locations, but San Andreas does not do Stress (treadmill) Echocardiograms. Patients will be scheduled at another location.
• Nuclear Imaging (PET and SPECT Scans) are conducted at the Stockton location for patients from all locations.

Referral to Our Office and Authorization

We look forward to welcoming you to our practice. This page explains the referral and authorization process required by most insurance plans to ensure you can see one of our cardiologists.

What is a Specialist Referral?

A referral is a formal recommendation from your Primary Care Physician (PCP) for you to see one of our expert cardiologists for a specific medical concern.

Most health care networks or insurance plans require an authorization to approve the referral before they will cover the cost of your visit.

This process is important because it ensures our team has the necessary medical history from your PCP, and the authorization should assure that your visit will be covered by your insurance, allowing us to provide you with the most effective and personalized cardiac care.

How the General Referral Process Works

1. Visit Your PCP: You first discuss your health concern with your Primary Care Physician.
2. Your PCP Sends the Referral: If your PCP determines your condition requires specialized cardiac care, their office will send the referral directly to our office, and an authorization request is sent to your care network or insurance company for authorization.
3. Authorization: Your care network or insurance company reviews the request they receive from your PCP. They must enter or send an authorization before an appointment can be scheduled.

Your Next Steps: Scheduling Your Appointment

Once we receive the authorization from your care network, a member of our scheduling team will contact you to arrange your first appointment.

If you have not heard from our office within 3-5 business days after your PCP referred you, we encourage you to call us directly to check on the status. If you have a login for the MyHillChart patient portal, you may check the status in your account.

Have Questions About Referrals?

We understand this process can be confusing. If you have any questions about your referral or scheduling, please don’t hesitate to call our office. Our team is here to help when you call the Stockton Cardiology location you plan to visit.