Patient Appointment, Responsibilities, and Conduct Policy

Did you know that the national average no-show rate is around 23%? However, this number can reach up to 32% in subspecialties. Surprisingly, nearly 38% of no-show patients report forgetting their appointments despite receiving reminders. To address this issue, the Texas Medical Association strongly recommends that healthcare providers implement appointment policies to reduce missed appointments.

Across the medical, dental, veterinary, and hair salon fields, charging a no-show fee has become standard practice. No-shows can significantly disrupt our front office workflow, causing inconvenience and potential delays for other patients.

Terms and Conditions:

Electronic Medical Forms

Please complete all required online medical forms at least 48 hours before your appointment. These forms allow Dr. Yaker to prepare before your visit and ensure it begins promptly. If forms aren’t submitted on time, we’ll offer your appointment to a patient on the waitlist and apply a no-show fee.

Consultation Fee & Refunds

We understand that hair loss treatment is a personal and long-term investment. If you choose not to proceed after booking a consultation, please let us know 48 hours in advance to receive a full refund of your consultation fee.

Appointment Confirmation

Please confirm, reschedule, or cancel your appointment at least 48 hours before the scheduled time. Even without confirmation, we will consider your appointment a no-show. A cancellation fee will apply, and we will offer your time slot to another patient.

Please review our current cancellation fees associated with your appointment type here.

Verified medical emergencies or illnesses are exempt.

Late Arrivals & Directions

Please arrive on time and allow for potential traffic or weather delays. If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, we will reschedule your appointment and apply a no-show fee. When navigating to our office via GPS, please select Dr. Joseph Yaker, not Dr. Natan Yaker, as he is part of a different practice in the area. Alternatively, you may search for PRESTON PARKER OFFICE BUILDING.

ID Requirement

In accordance with standard medical practice, all patients must present a valid driver’s license or photo ID at check-in.

Virtual Appointments

For virtual consultations, please submit clearly lit, well-focused photos at least 24 hours before your appointment. If the images are inadequate or submitted late, we’ll reschedule your appointment, and a no-show fee may apply. Please test your computer’s audio and video before your visit, and be ready to join on time with your camera and microphone activated. Delays beyond 15 minutes will require rescheduling and incur the no-show fee.

Follow-Up Visits

All non-surgical follow-ups are $95, which is in line with the average follow-up fee for a sub-specialist. The first follow-up is typically 9 months after starting treatment, allowing time to review health conditions, repeat scalp and hair examinations, and compare photos to track your progress. Annual in-person visits or updated medical forms are required for continued medication management. If you cancel this visit and fail to reschedule, prescriptions will not be refilled after 12 months from your initial consultation.

Re-Establishing Care

If it has been more than 12 months since your last visit or medication refill, you must re-establish care via a new consultation. This is necessary to assess your current hair and health status, review any relevant medical conditions, and update lab results if necessary, to ensure we prescribe safely and comply with the medical-legal standards of care across all medical fields.

Conduct Expectations & Physician-Patient Relationship

While Dr. Joseph Yaker is responsible for providing appropriate medical care and recommendations, the patient is ultimately responsible for actively participating in their care, maintaining their health, and cooperating with the physician and staff. A successful physician-patient relationship is built on mutual respect, communication, honesty, professionalism, and adherence to recommended treatment plans.

In the event that a healthy, respectful, supportive, and therapeutic physician-patient relationship can no longer be reasonably maintained, Dr. Joseph Yaker reserves the right to discontinue care and formally terminate the physician-patient relationship in accordance with applicable medical board guidelines and standards of care.

Please be aware of the following policy guidelines regarding any decision to discontinue care:

• Decisions to terminate a physician-patient relationship are made on a case-by-case basis and are dependent upon the unique facts and circumstances of each individual situation.
• When appropriate, the physician or staff may communicate concerns to the patient prior to termination of care and may provide the patient with an opportunity to correct the issue before further action is taken.

Possible reasons for dismissal from the practice may include, but are not limited to:

• Repeated failure to keep scheduled appointments or excessive no-shows/cancellations.
• Failure or unwillingness to submit medical forms on time, follow recommended treatment plans, medical advice, or prescribed medication/treatment regimens.
• Failure to obtain recommended laboratory testing, referrals, follow-up evaluations, or diagnostic studies necessary for safe medical care.
• Disruptive, inappropriate, abusive, hostile, threatening, discriminatory, manipulative, or belligerent behavior toward physicians, staff, or other patients, including threats of violence or harassment.
• Excessive profanity, intimidation, or behavior that creates an unsafe or hostile environment.
• Failure to comply with office policies, prescription policies, communication policies, or medical-legal requirements necessary for continued treatment.
• Failure to satisfy financial obligations or agreed-upon payment policies of the practice.
• Repeated misuse of after-hours communication, excessive messaging, or inappropriate communication with staff.

To maintain a respectful and professional environment for all patients and staff, please keep phone conversations to a minimum while in the lobby area. Please also be aware that phone calls and office visits may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance, training, documentation, safety, and service improvement purposes, where permitted by law.