1. RHN is always Accepting New Patients.
2. Most Major Insurances, Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare are accepted at RHN.
3. I don’t have insurance but RHN has a Sliding Fee Scale that determines my Out-of-Pocket costs.  My income determines which scale I qualify for.  
4. I can get my Annual Check-Up and Work Physical.
5. If I am a Part-Time Resident in the Keys, I can establish care with one of the RHN Providers to manage my healthcare while I reside in the Keys.
6. RHN offers Tetanus, Flu, and Covid Vaccines.
7. I always feel like the Staff at RHN actually care about my wellbeing and always give the local touch to me and my family.  

You thought you were prepared. You had several questions ready to ask your healthcare provider during your in-person or virtual visit — but when the time came, you couldn’t think of a single one. (Or maybe you totally forgot what you even talked about with your provider !)

If this happens to you after your appointments, you’re not alone. But please don’t worry too much about it. There are several things you can do to make your visit more effective and help you get the most out of your one-on-one time with your provider (even when you’re connecting through a screen).

Here are some tips about how you can prepare and feel more at ease during your appointments. Plus, your provider will appreciate that you’ve done your homework and have come for an honest conversation about your health.

1. Be on time to your appointment. Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early for your appointment (or know how to connect and sign in ahead of time if it’s virtual). Doing so will give you plenty of time to check in and have your vitals monitored (like your height, weight and blood pressure). Arriving early will also help you get as much time with your provider as possible as it will allow them to remain on schedule. Being on time may also help you feel less rushed or stressed about the appointment.
2. Write your questions down at home. Before your appointment, write down any questions or concerns you want to talk about. It’s easy to forget if you try to rely on your memory alone and sometimes your nerves can make it harder to remember. Writing them down also helps you prioritize your questions so you’ll know what to ask first. Also, bring a list of all of your current medications, including herbs, vitamins and other dietary supplements – those count as medications too.
3. Share your family health history. Be sure your family health history is up-to-date. Share any changes or new conditions of your family members with your provider. (Hint: go ahead and write down any family health changes with your list of questions.) Your family history is a very important tool for predicting your risk factor for many diseases and conditions. 
4. Try to relax. It’s natural to be nervous or anxious when visiting a healthcare provider, but remember that they are here to try to help you.  Try to relax as much as possible (some patients even suffer from white-coat hypertension, which means their blood pressure actually rises higher than normal when they are in the provider’s office). When you arrive or sign on, take a few deep breaths and remember that your provider is on your get-well and stay-well team. Also, remember that arriving early for your appointment will usually allow you to sit quietly for a few moments to center yourself.
5. Be honest with your provider. Let’s be honest — many medical conditions are uncomfortable to discuss, especially in-person. But you should not feel embarrassed or ashamed  to talk about anything with your provider. (Trust us, providers have heard it all!) Actually, leaving out details or lying to your provider can be bad for your health because it affects your care, so tell your provider everything. Honesty is definitely the best policy — especially for your health.

Yes, RHN offers COVID-19 Vaccines by Appointment only.  Please bring your ID to your appointment.  

PCR Swab Testing:

• Do you use the oral swabs?
  • RHN does not perform any ORAL swab tests, only nasal swab testing.
• Is this test Free?
  • Yes for symptomatic patients.  
  • There is a charge for travel needs.  
• What is the turn-around time for my result?
  • 3-5 days
• Do most airlines accept this result for my flight?
  • Yes
• Is this test uncomfortable?
  • The swab enters the nasal nares and the tech will do a swirl of the swab of the nasal cavity for 10-seconds.  It may induce coughing, eye-watering, and/or sneezing.  
• What is the difference between this PCR test and the Rapid Antigen test?
  • This PCR test result is verified through an off-site laboratory.

Rapid Swab Testing:

• Do you use the oral swabs?
  • RHN does not perform any ORAL swab tests, only nasal swab testing.
• Will you bill my insurance for the Rapid Antigen Test?
  • No, RHN will not bill your insurance company.  RHN will give you a receipt for the amount paid for the test and the paperwork you will need to submit to your insurance carrier.  
• How long does it take to get my result?
  • 15 minutes
• Will an airline accept this Rapid Antigen test result?
  • Check with your airline website to see what is accepted.  Most airlines require the PCR swab test result for admission on the flight.
• Is this test uncomfortable?
  • The swab enters the nasal nares and the tech will do a swirl of the swab of the nasal cavity for 10-seconds.  It may induce coughing, eye-watering, and/or sneezing.  
• What is the difference between this Rapid Antigen test and the PCR swab test?
  • This result is only verified with the Clinic Lab Tech.
• What if my Rapid Antigen test comes back positive?
  • RHN recommends using the PCR swab test to verify your result through an off-site laboratory.  PCR swab results take 3-5 days to return. 

Your doctor or healthcare provider just ordered blood work and, if you’re like most people, you’re ready to get it over with. Whether having your blood drawn is no biggie or it’s something you dread; some preparation can help make the process easier.

To make sure your lab test goes as smoothly as possible, follow these nine tips:

1. If you’re unsure of any requirements (such as fasting) of your lab test, confirm with your doctor or healthcare provider beforehand.
2. For cholesterol and glucose tests, you must fast for at least eight hours before having your blood drawn, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. So, no eating and don’t drink anything but water. After your blood is drawn, you are free to resume your regular diet.
3. Drink plenty of water before your blood test to keep your blood pressure from dropping (and to plump up your veins). Avoid coffee and other caffeinated drinks.
4. Unless fasting is required for your test, eat a good breakfast to keep your blood sugar up. This will help prevent lightheadedness. If you think you might become nauseous when your blood is drawn, don’t eat immediately before your appointment.
5. If you take blood-thinning medication, such as heparin or warfarin (Coumadin), tell the phlebotomist before your blood is drawn. They’ll want to make sure bleeding has stopped before you leave the lab.
6. If you’re anxious about your test, ask the person drawing your blood to explain exactly what they’re doing. Or, better yet, think about something else. Take a deep breath and relax — in a few minutes it’ll all be over.
7. Be honest with your nurse or phlebotomist. If you know that you have fainted in the past during blood draws, speak up. The person drawing your blood can position you differently to reduce your risk of falling.
8. Reward yourself with a snack after having your blood drawn. This will help keep your blood sugar up. Bring your snack to your appointment so you can eat it right away.
9. The bandage put on after your blood is drawn can be removed in an hour. If bleeding resumes, apply slight pressure until it stops and put another bandage on the site. Don’t worry if some bruising occurs, it’s normal and should go away after a few days. 

• CBC– is a blood test used to evaluate your overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection and leukemia
• CMP– is a blood test that gives doctors information about the body’s fluid balance, levels of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and how well the kidneys and liver are working.
• Complete Cholesterol Panel (also called a lipid panel or lipid profile)- is a blood test that can measure the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. 
• TSH– is a blood test that measures the thyroid stimulating hormone. 
• Urinalysis– is a urine test that is used to detect and manage a wide range of disorders, such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease and diabetes.
• PSA– is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood.  This test is used primarily to screen for prostate cancer.
• Hemoglobin A1c– is a blood test that evaluates the average amount of glucose in the blood over the last 2 to 3 months by measuring the percentage of glycated hemoglobin in the blood
• Stool Analysis– is a series of tests done on a stool (feces) sample to help diagnose certain conditions affecting the digestive tract. These conditions can include infection (such as from parasites, viruses, or bacteria), poor nutrient absorption, or cancer.
• Hepatitis Panel– is a blood test used to find markers of hepatitis infection. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver. 
• HIV–  a blood test screening for the human immunodeficiency virus, the cause of AIDS
• Pregnancy– can tell whether you are pregnant by checking for a particular hormone in your urine or blood.
• Drug Testing– looks for the presence of one or more illegal or prescription drugs in your urine, blood, saliva, hair, or sweat. Urine testing is the most common type of drug screening.
• Alcohol Testing– is a blood test that measures the level of alcohol in your blood.

What determines if I should get blood work done? 

Blood can tell you about your organ function, diet, metabolism, illnesses, and if you have certain diseases. It can tell you hundreds of things about your lifestyle and habits. That’s why doctors encourage their patients to get routine blood work done.  By analyzing the blood, scientists can detect illnesses before it’s too late. Or, they can explain why you’ve been “feeling off” for the last few months.  Getting blood taken can be scary for those who’ve never done it, especially children. You likely have lots of questions about the process and results.  Here, we’ll answer all your questions about getting blood taken. Keep reading for everything you need to know about blood tests.

How Often Should You Get Routine Blood Work Done?

For routine blood work when no health issues are present, your doctor will likely request one once a year. This is often done at the same time as your annual physical.  The purpose of this test is to ensure your levels are still healthy. If something comes back abnormal, your doctor will want to investigate further.  But, if they come back normal, you’re good until next year.

Result Times

For some blood tests, you’ll get the results shortly after. Others, you have to wait.  In general, you’ll get the results for a CBC, BMC, and CMP within 24 hours. For a Lipids Panel, it could be closer to 72 hours.  But, just because you have the results data doesn’t mean you personally know the results. Often, you need your doctor to translate what the data says for your health. That depends on when your next appointment is after the results are in.  

What About Fasting?

Some blood tests require you to fast 8-12 hours beforehand. Often, you can only consume water.  The reason for fasting is that eating can dramatically alter the chemicals in your blood. It can affect your cholesterol levels, glucose levels, and more.  Expect to be required to fast for cholesterol tests, glucose tests, blood sugar tests, and BMPs.

An ultrasound test is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is also called ultrasound scanning or sonography. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation (as used in x-rays). Because images are captured in real-time, they can show the structure and movement of the body’s internal organs. They can also show blood flowing through blood vessels.  Ultrasound imaging is a noninvasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

• Thyroid Ultrasound-

  An ultrasound of the thyroid produces pictures of the thyroid gland and the adjacent structures in the neck. The thyroid gland is located in front of the neck just above the collar bones and is shaped like a butterfly, with one lobe on either side of the neck connected by a narrow band of tissue. It is one of nine endocrine glands located throughout the body that make and send hormones into the bloodstream.

  The thyroid gland makes the thyroid hormone, which helps to regulate a variety of body functions including how fast the heart beats. It is very common for patchy areas or nodules to develop in the thyroid that may or may not be felt on the skin surface. About five to 10 percent of adults will have lumps in their thyroid that a doctor can identify on an exam. These are called palpable nodules. Ultrasound is very sensitive and shows many nodules that cannot be felt. In some age groups, nodules are seen on ultrasound in as many as 70 percent of adults. The vast majority of these are benign regions of thyroid tissue that pose no health risk. The minority of these are true tumors of the thyroid and may require further diagnosis or treatment.

• Pelvic Ultrasound-
  

  Ultrasound imaging of the pelvis uses sound waves to produce pictures of the structures and organs in the lower abdomen and pelvis. There are three types of pelvic ultrasound: abdominal, vaginal (for women), and rectal (for men). These exams are frequently used to evaluate the reproductive and urinary systems. Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive and does not use ionizing radiation.

  This procedure requires little to no special preparation. You may be asked to drink water prior to the examination to fill your bladder. Leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.

• Scrotal Ultrasound-
  

  Ultrasound imaging of the scrotum uses sound waves to produce pictures of a male’s testicles and surrounding tissues. It is the primary method used to help evaluate disorders of the testicles, epididymis (tubes immediately next to the testicles that collect sperm) and scrotum. Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive, and does not use ionizing radiation.

  This procedure requires little to no special preparation. Leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.

• Abdominal Ultrasound-
  

  Ultrasound imaging of the abdomen uses sound waves to produce pictures of the structures within the upper abdomen. It is used to help diagnose pain or distention (enlargement) and evaluate the kidneys, liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, spleen and abdominal aorta. Ultrasound is safe, noninvasive and does not use ionizing radiation.

  This procedure requires little to no special preparation. Your doctor will instruct you on how to prepare, including whether you should refrain from eating or drinking beforehand. Leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.

• Venous Doppler Ultrasound-
  

  Venous ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of the veins in the body. It is commonly used to search for blood clots, especially in the veins of the leg – a condition often referred to as deep vein thrombosis. Ultrasound does not use ionizing radiation and has no known harmful effects.

  On occasion, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything but water for six to eight hours beforehand. Otherwise, little or no special preparation is required for this procedure. Leave jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.