FAQs

Procedures
What should I do when I arrive?

Arrival Information

Patients are expected to make the required payment (either co-payment, co-insurance or the entire procedure) at the time of check-in. Some procedures are a considerable amount and on these occasions will be discussed with the patient prior to arrival. Please bring a government issued form of identification.

Please be aware that transportation from the clinic post procedure will be required if you have chosen to be sedated. Please arrange transportation with a family member, friend or taxi (patient responsible for taxi fees) to drive you home safely.

Each of these areas play an important role in your overall and everyday health. We can provide educational information if requested. Our RestorePDX team will work diligently for you and we expect each of you to play an active role in your own health.

What do I need to know during my visit?

Our team members are dedicated to communication and caring throughout your experience with the clinic. During each interaction, RestorePDX team members strive to set clear expectations and make sure patients are informed about what we will be doing and actions they may need to take. Compassion and competency are the foundation of our team member’s professional standard.

Is there a limit to how many locations you can treat in one session?

Yes. It is important to allow your body to heal after each treatment. Treating too many areas at one time may overload the body’s ability to heal.

Why do I need a driver for certain procedures if I’m not getting sedation?

We want to make sure of your safety and the safety of others on the road. Your ability to drive might be affected by a nerve block, for example, which we might use for a sciatic or cortisone injection. If an injection is painful, that may be distracting. We don’t take safe driving lightly.

How many days will I need to take off work?
Your time off depends on where the treatment is directed, whether it’s cellular or PRP, and of course the nature of your work.
When can I start walking/exercising again?
That will depend on your procedure and the state of your overall health. Please consult with your provider at the time of your injection and again at your follow up visit.
What medications can I take over the next day or week or month?
Please be sure to speak to your provider after your procedure. You will leave with specific instructions that must be followed. For example, over the counter pain relievers may impair your healing. It may seem counterintuitive, but inflammation HELPS the healing process.
General
Do I call RestorePDX when I need a prescription refill?

Please contact the pharmacy that filled the prescription and they contact us for verification.

Who calls me to schedule my MRI?
MRI’s require RestorePDX to contact your insurance provider. Some insurance plans require a pre-authorization number to proceed. A RestorePDX team member will contact you with imaging center information. At that time, it is your responsibility to schedule the MRI. Once the MRI is scheduled please contact RestorePDX to schedule a follow-up appointment to review the MRI results.
Will you contact me after my procedure when I need to schedule my follow up visit?

The follow-up visit should be scheduled at the time of the procedure or when the procedure is schedule. If the procedure is ordered by an outside provider, you will follow up with your ordering provider.

Do I need to sign a release to forward my records to another medical provider?

No. The law permits providers who are involved in specific care to exchange your medical records.

How do I get a procedure?
RestorePDX: This question has two parts: 1) RestorePDX providers perform diagnostic procedures when ordered by medical specialists: Neurosurgery, Orthopedic, Sports Medicine, etc. 2) A RestorePDX provider will order a procedure based on an in-depth review of history, physical exam/provocative testing, advanced diagnostic imaging (MRI, Ultrasound, CT) and interpretation of the imaging. The correlation of history, physical exam, advanced diagnostic testing and interpretation will guide our providers to the most effective procedures and outcomes.
Do you send my records to all my doctors?
No, we send records to only the doctors you have requested and/or approved.
Why do I need to have a driver for sedation or epidural procedures? Can’t I just sit in my car/lobby for an hour?
This is for the safety of the patient. For sedation patients, we do not recommend they drive for the rest of the day. For any patient who receives an epidural, we also require a driver, because occasional numbness down the leg could occur. For any patient who has a cervical procedure, we also require that they have a driver, thus avoiding sharp head movements that occur while driving.
Billing
Who can I call with billing questions?

Please call 503-616-7012 to speak with our billing department.

How much will I owe for my visit?
For office visits, the patient responsibility is usually your Co-Pay and depends on your specific insurance Co-Pay amount. However, some insurance plans are applying office visits to patients deductibles. It is always best to check and verify your responsibility with your insurance plan. Procedures are generally co-insurance and applied to your deductible.
What is a deductible?
A deductible is the amount that each patient must pay out of pocket each calendar year prior to the insurance provider paying for treatment.
What is co-insurance?

Co-Insurance is based on each patients individual insurance plan. This is the amount that is the patient responsibility based on an allowed amount, after your deductible has been met for the calendar year. For instance; a common co-insurance plan is 80/20. The insurance will pay 80% of the allowable and the Patient is responsible for 20%.

What is a co-pay?
A co-pay is the designated amount that a each patient pays for an office visit. This can vary between Primary Care and Specialists.
What is an allowable?
An allowable is the contracted amount that the practice has agreed to accept from insurance and the patient, with the understanding that the difference between the amount and the amount charged will be written off.
Does RestorePDX accept patient payment plans?
In some circumstances RestorePDX will allow a patient to make payments. However, if a payment is missed, the plan is cancelled and full payment will be expected.
What are my payment options?

We accept cash, checks and all major credit cards. We offer Advance Care as a solution as well. Payments can be sent via mail or phone.

What if my insurance does not cover the procedure?
We will help to determine your benefits but it is the patient’s responsibility to understand and verify insurance coverage. Patients are responsible for any balance on the account. Insurance may or may not cover all procedures.
How long do I have to pay my bill?
Within 30 days from receipt of the bill.
What happens if I don’t pay my bill?
Patients are submitted to collections after 30 days of non-payment.
If I’m paying out of pocket, is there a guarantee?
Your success is incredibly important to us. We’re happiest when you’re happy. Unfortunately, we cannot offer any guarantees. We do everything we can, using the best-available treatments, to produce the best-possible outcomes. We educate and equip you with whatever it takes to ensure that you heal. The source of your payment does not does not influence our commitment to helping you.
Musculoskeletal
Why choose RestorePDX to improve and optimize your health?

RestorePDX works with you to get your health back where you want it. We start with a thorough, accurate diagnosis. We integrate a range of healthcare disciplines – allopathic, osteopathic and naturopathic – into a comprehensive approach to your treatment.

Since a healthy body heals faster, we collaborate with you to determine healthy lifestyle choices that fit your needs and goals. We expect that you will fully participate in your body’s healing and strengthening process.

We use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools to determine both the exact nature of your symptoms and the root cause. Our multidisciplinary team will work out your most effective treatment path.

Our practitioners bring deep experience and their wide range of perspectives, curiosity and knowledge to improve your whole body’s health.

What’s my role? What can I do to accelerate my healing?

Our regenerative medicine will set you up to heal. We do everything we can to maximize your body’s healing power. We will do our part; however, YOU are the critical factor.

We help you to understand your role in helping your body heal. We guide you through the activity, diet, sleep and ‘life balance’ adjustments that may be needed. We expect you to commit to implementing recommended changes as part of your recovery. Change is not always easy, so we have staff members and/or partnering providers, coaches, and nutritionists who are ready to support you.

What is PRP?

PRP is platelet-rich plasma. Platelets are a form of white blood cells; they are containers of growth factors. Growth factors facilitate cellular growth, proliferation, healing, and differentiation. A growth factor is typically a protein or steroid hormone. Growth factors are important for regulating a variety of cellular processes. In this case, the growth factors are natural ingredients that promote healing. They work as biologic glue, and they help build new blood vessels into the injured area.

To create regenerative PRP, your own blood is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate your platelets 5 to 10 times the ratio that would be found in your bloodstream. Injecting platelets directly into injured tissue (rather than waiting for cells to move in on their own) can aid in the recovery of cartilage, tendons and ligaments that don’t have a good blood supply of their own, so they do not mount their own healing response as effectively.

What is Cellular Therapy?

Certain cells in your body carry the ability to transform themselves into the specific cell type needed for regenerating damaged tissue.  These cells can differentiate into cartilage, ligament or disc material. We isolate them from your own bone marrow or fat cells.

How do you decide whether to use Bone Marrow/Adipose Cell Therapy (BMAC) or PRP?
To determine if PRP or BMAC is an appropriate approach, a consultation with a regenerative medicine specialist is recommended. If the harvesting effort was the same and the cost was no different, we would always use BMAC. We often start with PRP because it is much less invasive, complex and expensive than harvesting bone marrow and adipose tissue. Where patients have more severe disease, meniscal tears, tissue or labrum or disc injuries, BMAC injections work as seeds, and often produce better results. Because of this more challenging process, cellular treatments cost more than PRP.
How is RestorePDX different from other clinics offering PRP?

Unlike most pain-treatment clinics, we are deeply committed to building a precise diagnosis before we decide on a treatment path. RestorePDX is the only clinic with a full staff of multidisciplinary providers who embrace the philosophy of whole-body health: the healthier you are, the faster you will heal.

RestorePDX was founded by a radiologist who has learned how to identify pain in medical imaging. Without that specific radiology expertise, other clinics may miss the complexity of what’s causing your pain; it’s often not where you feel it. With our expertise in radiology, we can identify contributing factors – and be sure we are treating the cause(s). We want to solve your whole problem.

RestorePDX approaches spine diagnostics with advanced imaging, deep experience in radiology, and a solid history of providing successful treatment. The spine is far more complex than a knee or hip. Detailed MRI, ultrasound and x-ray diagnostics allow us to identify hidden causes and guide our treatment, improving the prospects for resolving your pain. To build our range of treatment options, we are continuously learning from universities and clinical sources around the world. We do careful follow-up evaluations with MRI, ultrasound and functional evaluations after your pain has subsided to learn more about how our treatments are working for you.

And, unlike other clinics, RestorePDX has an experienced sedation nurse on staff to address any discomfort associated with the treatment.

Where in the process does it hurt, and for how long?

Our staff sedation nurse takes the necessary steps to mitigate pain with local anesthetic and anything else that’s needed. We provide personalized instructions (and prescriptions, if needed) for you to mitigate your own pain for the first 1-2 days to several weeks, depending on the procedure. This is rarely needed longer than 2 weeks.

Regenerative injections trigger your healing response, which starts with inflammation. After injections, many people feel an increase in their pain that typically lasts from 2 days to 2 weeks. Some people have prolonged inflammatory phases, up to 6 weeks. As this first phase inflammation subsides, so does the pain. In the second healing phase, the tissue proliferates: the body assembles “scaffolding”, which takes from days to months. The third phase of healing is maturation: with the scaffolding in place, the tissue fills in, which may take from weeks to years.

What is the rate of success?
The definition of “success” varies. For some patients, a significant pain reduction is a success, and sometimes a completely regenerated joint is the success. With this in mind, our patients consider over 70 percent of our treatments to be successful.

The patient’s overall health is one of the main factors. If you are generally healthy, if your blood sugar is under control, and you have a normal BMI, your chances are at their best. Of course, the severity of your injury is a factor too. Age is less of an issue; patients of all ages can benefit. Our biggest concerns – the red flags – come up when a patient is diabetic, a smoker, overweight, or if they have problems with multiple joints and back pain. How long you’ve had restricted range of motion is also a factor.

Healthy patients may see pain reduction or full restoration of the joint.

Get Answers From an Expert

We actually do things a little differently here at RestorePDX. Rather than waiting on hold for long periods of time or not getting called back at all, have us call you!

We have a new patient coordinator that you can schedule a 10-minute call with.