Medical Records and Confidentiality

Information about your condition, treatment, or diagnosis might be requested by family, friends, attorneys or insurance companies. Your records are strictly confidential and we will only release them with your written consent, no matter what the circumstance. This policy is consistent with our desire to earn your trust and confidence.

What are the office hours and how do I schedule appointments?

Our office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5 PM. You may schedule an office visit or routine follow up by calling (717) 637-1202 during these hours.

We try to see all patients on an appointment basis and we request that you call well in advance so that we can reserve time for you. If you are unable to keep an appointment, we would appreciate at least 24 hours notice of cancellation. This courtesy will allow us to schedule another patient who has been waiting to see the surgeon. We will also do our very best to honor scheduled appointments, however in those instances when a patient emergency causes a delay, we will inform you as soon as possible.

What do I do in an emergency?

If an emergency medical situation arises during office hours, call us at (717) 637-1202. Your call will be put through to a member of our nursing staff.

At night or during the weekend, call (717) 637-1202 and our answering service will contact Dr. Harden. He will return your call and instruct you where to meet if immediate treatment is necessary.

Will the doctor accept telephone calls during office hours?

Dr. Harden generally does not have sufficient time to receive telephone calls during patient office hours. By minimizing disruptions to the appointments scheduled, your waiting time in the office is reduced and the doctors have more time to see patients needing immediate care.

If you are calling about a problem which you think requires attention the same day, please give the receptionist clear, concise information about the nature of the problem. Your call will be returned by a member of the nursing staff who will then consult with Dr. Harden as soon as he is available. The doctor will return your call if needed or see you in the office if an appointment becomes necessary.

How do I pay my bill?

After each visit to Dr. Harden, you will receive an itemized bill which shows all charges for your care, along with insurance codes. For office visits, either payment or co-payment is due at the time of service. We make every effort to keep down the cost of your medical care.

We will automatically file claims with your insurance company for all surgical procedures no matter which insurance company you may use. Please keep us informed of the insurance plan you have, and be sure to let us know if your insurance or insurance coverage has changed since your last visit. Notify the office if your insurance company has special requests such as second opinion, or pre-certification prior to your surgical care.

Please remember that insurance is considered a method of reimbursing you, the patient, for fees paid to your physician and is not a substitute for payment. Some companies pay fixed allowances for certain procedures and others pay a percentage of the charge. It is your responsibility to pay any deductible amount, co-insurance or other balance not paid by your insurance company.

Dr. Harden participates in quite a few insurance plans, and it is the patient's responsibility to see if he participates in your specific plan as well as to obtain the necessary referral form from your Primary Care Physician, if one is required, and bring it with you to our office at the time of your scheduled appointment. Please bring your insurance cards to the office with you so that we may make a copy of them for our files. If you should have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to contact our office. (717) 637-1202.

To whom do I express suggestions or concerns?

Should you have any questions, or ever feel you are not receiving the best care, we want to know! Please discuss any questions, concerns, or compliments with any member of our staff. With your feedback, we can continue to provide you and all our patients, with the very best in surgical care.

What is Board Certification and the Fellowship in the American College Of Surgeons?

The term "General Surgery" is a discipline having a central core of knowledge embracing anatomy, physiology, metabolism, immunology, nutrition, pathology, wound healing, shock and resuscitation, intensive care and neoplasia, which are common to all surgical specialties. A General Surgeon certified by the American Board of Surgery is one who has acquired during training knowledge and experience related to the diagnosis, preoperative, operative, and postoperative management, including the management of complications.

Once he/she is certified by the Board, he/she is eligible to become a member of the American College of Surgeons. Members of the American College of Surgeons are referred to as "Fellows." The letters FACS (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon's name mean that the surgeon's education and training, professional qualifications, surgical competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation, and have been found to be consistent with the high standards established and demanded by the college.