Patient Information

General Information For New Patients

This information should be most helpful to New Patients, but Existing Patients may also find this general information useful.

Visit the Locations page to find the location nearest to you.

Scheduling Appointments

In the Patient Portal
Appointments can be made by logging into the MyHillChart patient portal.

By Phone
You can make an appointment by calling the location you plan to attend.

• Stockton – (209) 944-5750 Stockton location page
• Manteca – (209) 824-1555 Manteca location page
• Tracy – (209) 832-0343 Tracy location page
• San Andreas – (209) 754-1012 San Andreas location page

Our locations are often quite busy, and we do our best to manage appointments with kindness and efficiency. We kindly ask that all patients arrive on-time, and be courteous to staff and clinicians.

Virtual Appointments

While most appointments must be in-person due to the need to check vital signs, there may be occasions when a Telehealth appointment could be possible within the patient portal. Ask your doctor or the scheduling team.

Outpatient Surgery Center

National Surgical Centers – Stockton
Our doctors perform several types of cardiac procedures at the outpatient Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) we are partnered with, called National Surgical Centers Stockton (NSCS). This facility provides a convenient, comfortable, and patient-centered experience, located within the building of the Stockton Cardiology corporate headquarters and clinic at: 415 E. Harding Way in Stockton.

Hospital Affiliations

• St. Joseph’s Medical Center – Stockton
• Dameron Hospital – Stockton
• Doctors Hospital of Manteca– Manteca
• Sutter Tracy Community Hospital– Tracy
• Mark Twain Medical Center– San Andreas

Insurance

We accept most insurances, but it is necessary to verify your insurance when making an appointment. Verification determines whether coverage is active and the amount of a co-payment (if any) due at your visit.

Payments

You can make payments at the front desk or in the patient portal. Even if you do not have a password, you can “Pay as Guest” on the portal.

Initial Consultation

Your first visit with us will begin with a cardiovascular consultation from one of our cardiologists, unless you have been referred to our office for testing purposes only. You can expect to spend 30-60 minutes at this first appointment, depending on the nature of the appointment. Read more about Cardiology exam visits.

Test Appointments

Patients who are scheduled for testing only may be required to have shorter or longer appointment times and will not likely consult with a cardiologist during the visit. Stockton Cardiology has in-house cardiac imaging, and test locations are listed below.

Patient Instructions for Tests

• Echocardiography Instructions
• Nuclear PET or SPECT Scan Instructions

Testing by Location

• Echocardiography is conducted at all locations, but San Andreas does not do Stress (treadmill) Echocardiograms. Patients will be scheduled at another location.
• Nuclear Imaging (PET and SPECT Scans) are conducted at the Stockton location for patients from all locations.

Understanding Your Referral to Our Office

We look forward to welcoming you to our practice. This page explains the referral process required by most insurance plans to ensure you can see one of our cardiologists.

What is a Specialist Referral?

A referral is a formal recommendation from your Primary Care Physician (PCP) for you to see one of our expert cardiologists for a specific medical concern.

This process is important because it ensures our team has the necessary medical history from your PCP, allowing us to provide you with the most effective and personalized cardiac care. Most health insurance plans require an approved referral before they will cover the cost of your visit.

How the General Referral Process Works

1. Visit Your PCP: You first discuss your health concern with your Primary Care Physician.
2. Your PCP Sends the Referral: If your PCP determines your condition requires specialized cardiac care, their office will send the referral request to both your insurance company for authorization and directly to our office.
3. Insurance Approval: Your insurance company reviews the request. This step must be completed before an appointment can be scheduled.

Your Next Steps: Scheduling Your Appointment

Once we receive the approved referral from your PCP and insurance company, a member of our scheduling team will contact you to arrange your first appointment.

If you have not heard from our office within 3-5 business days after your PCP has sent the referral, we encourage you to call us directly to check on its status. If you have a login for the MyHillChart patient portal, you may check the status in your account.

Have Questions About Referrals?

We understand this process can be confusing. If you have any questions about your referral or scheduling, please don’t hesitate to call our office. Our team is here to help when you call the Stockton Cardiology location you plan to visit.