Clinic Principles and Policies (updated March 2024)
Partnership: I partner with you and approach you as a whole person. I expect you to be engaged in your health and open to considering all aspects that affect your wellbeing.
People often ask what to call me. You can call me Dr. Lubinski, Dr. L, or Dr. Lissa. My last name sounds like “Loo-BIN-skee.” My first name sounds like “Melissa” without the “Me.”
Annual visits typically last an hour. Visits for ongoing health issues are typically 30-40 minutes. For unplanned illness/injury, 20-minute visits are available typically the same day or next day—please call/text to request if needed. We will be happy to help if you need any help with scheduling.
Please cancel visits 24 hours in advance to allow for other patients to be seen.
Communication: Call or text my clinic number for any medical needs or questions you have as my patient. HIPAA-compliant texting is available through the Spruce Health app at no extra cost. Voicemails and text messages are answered within 2 business days, typically before 1 pm. Response times vary with inclement weather, school closures, community health outbreaks, or family illness. You will be notified as quickly as possible if such delays are expected. Whenever you contact the Practice, if you don’t get a response when you expect to, it is your responsibility to contact us again.
Patient Portal: Once you become a patient, you will be invited to your private patient portal, which is called Elation Patient Passport. In this portal, you can book 40-minute clinic visits when needed. Shorter visits (20 minutes) and longer visits (60 minutes), including annual exams and new patient visits, are booked by calling or texting the clinic. You will also receive messages here from me about your test results. For any questions or new medical problems, schedule an appointment (self-book or reach out to us).
Emergencies: Call 911 or go to the nearest ER. You may alert me so I can help the doctors with your care. If you ever experience thoughts of self-harm, please call Peninsula Behavioral Health at 360-457-0431 or Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Urgent Issues:I cannot guarantee urgent care services, though I do my best to address unplanned illness/injury when it comes up. There may be times when you need to seek urgent care at another facility, such as a local walk-in clinic. If you have a non-emergency medical problem that cannot wait until the following weekday, please call and press 1 to leave an urgent voicemail with a typical response time of 3 hours or less between the hours of 5 am - 9 pm. For health reasons, I do not answer or return phone calls of any kind after 9 pm.
Medication Refills: The problems we take medications for are addressed at scheduled visits. Medications will be refilled until we need to have another visit for that problem. If you are running out of medication, it’s time to schedule a visit. To avoid medication errors that often come from pharmacy refill requests, I do not refill requests that come from pharmacies.
Controlled Substances: Long-term controlled substances for pain or anxiety are typically not prescribed. Buprenorphine is an exception to this policy. Long-term use of controlled substances requires a signed Patient Agreement and periodic urine drug testing unless the situation involves end-of-life care. Typically for any opioid use that is 50 morphine milligram equivalents or higher, patients are required to consult with a pain medication specialist and may transfer pain medication management to that specialist.
Medical Records: Please request your records to be faxed to me at 360-775-2125 from previous doctors and all specialists you see. Medical record request forms are available at any medical facility and on my website under the tab for Current Patients.
Paperwork: Letters, forms, and other paperwork required for work, school, disability, or legal purposes will be completed together at a scheduled visit to ensure this is completed accurately and promptly. Some forms can be completed in a 20 minute visit, even over the phone, and some take longer or require a physical exam.
Prior Authorizations: This happens when an insurance company, to save money, does not pay for a test or medication I order. In order for the insurance company to consider if a test or medication will be covered or apply towards a deductible, the doctor goes through extra clerical steps that can take the time that 2 or 3 clinic visits would take. Once the doctor goes through the process, the insurance company may still “deny” the test or medication. When they “authorize” the order, they may allow it to count toward the deductible and still not even pay for the test or medication! In order to maximize my availability to my patients, this practice does not engage in the authorization process. What we do is help you identify the most cost-effective way to get the care your insurance company doesn’t wish to pay for.
When you join this practice, you will have unlimited access to your own health record through the patient portal called Elation Passport. Once you are invited to log on for the first time, you will have the ability to log in (and reset your password) anytime you want. Through Elation Passport, you can self-book appointments, review your health information, and receive messages from Dr. L about your test results. This patient portal is private and follows the HIPAA laws for privacy of patient health information. Secure zoom connection through a booked appointment in Elation is the main way that video visits take place.
How do I contact Dr. Lubinski?
You can call or text us anytime. Routine messages are returned by Medical Assistant, Hailey, or Dr. Lubinski, within 1-2 business days.
Medical questions, problems, and prescriptions are addressed in visits (in person or telehealth). You can book your visit through your Elation Passport, or you can call/text to request a visit.
For an urgent health problem (response needed same day), CALL and press 1 for an urgent message, so we can address your need as quickly as possible.