A. The alphabet soup of letters following nurse practitioner Peggy Francis' name are acronyms for the various nursing degrees and certifications she has earned. Here's a breakdown.
DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice, a doctoral degree conferred by an accredited educational institution
RN: Registered Nurse, a license granted by the state to work as a registered nurse
BSN: Bachelor of Science in Nursing, an undergraduate degree conferred by an accredited educational institution
MSN: Master of Science in Nursing, a graduate degree conferred by an accredited educational institution
CS: Clinical Specialist, a certification granted by a national certifying body
CUNP: Certified Urologic Nurse Practitioner, a certification granted by the Certification Board for Urologic Nurses and Associates to individuals who demonstrate knowledge of the practice of urology
FNP-BC: Family Nurse Practitioner- Board Certified, certification to practice as a Family Nurse Practitioner. The state recognizes this certification and classifies this RN as an Advanced Practice Nurse.

A. Surgical treatments involve the coordination of at least three parties – your Urology San Antonio physician, the anesthesiologist, and the hospital or treatment facility. Sometimes other specialists such as pathologists or radiologists are needed to interpret X-rays and lab tests. Each of these parties functions as a separate business and will invoice you separately for their services.

A. Every Urology San Antonio clinic and department has bilingual (English and Spanish) staff members who are eager to communicate with patients in the language that the patient prefers. In addition, many of our urologists are fluent in Spanish. For information about the languages spoken by a specific doctor, vist that doctor's profile page or ask our team members when you call to schedule your appoinment.

A. Because urologists and nephrologists both treat kidney problems, knowing which type of doctor to see can be confusing. Urologists are surgical specialists who focus on anatomical or structural disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract. They treat problems such as kidney stones, kidney blockages, and kidney cancer. Urologists are qualified to perform surgery and outpatient medical procedures to correct such conditions.
Nephrologists are medical specialists who focus on disorders that affect the way the kidneys work such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Nephrologists prescribe nonsurgical medical treatments for these disorders.
The roles of nephrologists and urologists often overlap and they work together on conditions having both medical and surgical requirements.

A. To protect your privacy, there may be times when a Urology San Antonio caller does not leave a detailed message. Instead, the caller will identify the doctor or department and provide a phone number where you can return the call. Or, if the caller does not leave a message, he or she will try again later that day.
If you were expecting a call from our clinic, please know that the number displayed for all outgoing calls is a universal number. Dialing it will get you to the telephone operator. When you reach her, please be prepared with the name of your physician so that she can transfer your call. Or, use the phone directory to find the direct number or extension you need.

A. We are always adding content and improving our website, but sometimes we have not added the specific information you are looking for. In that case, another credible and accurate information source is the American Urological Association Foundation's patient education website, www.urologyhealth.org. This website also contains information in Spanish.

A. Urology San Antonio has chosen to focus its corporate financial support on health care and medical initiatives that benefit South Texans. Individuals seeking support for these types of non-profits, may submit a letter outlining their request to the finance department at 7909 Fredericksburg Rd., Ste. 110, San Antonio, TX 78229. Request are reviewed monthly by our governing board of physicians.

Individual Urology San Antonio physicians may, at their discretion, personally contribute to non-health care causes, and, as a courtesy to the doctor, Urology San Antonio will facilitate the donation process. If you are a patient or friend of one of our physicians, we encourage you to share your request with your doctor in person or by sending him or her a letter.

A. You can find information about urology-related education and support networks on the Support Groups page of our website. Urology San Antonio sponsors some of these groups. Others are run by non-profit community organizations.

A. In most situtations, your urologist will notify you of your test results by phone or postal mail within five business days. If, after this amount of time, you have not receieved your results, please call your urologist's clinic.

A. Each of our urologists is trained to evaluate and treat all conditions of the genito-urinary tract. For straightforward medical situations, you may wish to select your urologist based on the convenience of his or her clinic location.
If you feel your case is more complex, you might prefer the expertise of a doctor whose clinical interests align with your area of concern. To learn  about a doctor's clinical interests, click his or her photo of the Provider Directory page. Alternately, you may call our main appointment desk at (210) 614-4544,  and a representative will assist you in selecting a urologist for your individual medical needs. 

A. We are always eager to have dedicated and patient-focused individuals join our team. Visit the Careers page of our website for more information and instructions on how to submit your resume by email or fax.

A. At any given time, Urology San Antonio has approximately two dozen clinical trials or research studies, in progress. Each trial has specific criteria for participation. You may review a list of current trials at the Enrolling Trials page of our website. Health insurance is not necessary to participate in a clinical trial, and most trails include compensation (stipend) for the patient's participation.

A. Patients may request a copy of their medical records for their personal use or for delivery to a physician outside of Urology San Antonio by submitting the Medical Records Request form found on the Medical Records page of our website.

A. Urology is a surgical specialty that deals with diseases of the urinary tract and sexual function concerns in men and women.

A. A board-certifed urologist is one who has met the stringent educational, practice and peer review requirements set forth by the American Board of Urology or ABU.
To become board certified, a urologist must have graduated from medical school, completed an approved urologic residency program, and passed the ABU Qualifying Examination (Part I). After eighteen months in practice and submitting documentation of professional character and competencies, the urologist is eligible to take the ABU Certifying Exam (Part II). Upon passing the Certifying Exam, the doctor is declared board certified and admitted as a Diplomate to the American Board of Urology.
To maintain board certification, urologists must complete a recertification process every ten years unless the urologist was certified prior to 1985, in which case he or she is "grandfathered in" and excused from recertification.
Certification by the ABU does not guarantee competence in practice but does indicate that the physician has met certain training requirements and, at the time of examination, has demonstrated knowledge and competence in the care of patients. Certification by the American Board of Urology is voluntary and is not a requirement for practicing urology. 

A. Patients with HMO types medical insurances must contact their family doctor to obtain authorization before scheduling an appointmet with a medical specialist such as a urologist. PPO insurances permit patients to self refer or an schedule appointment directly with a urologist and do not require a authorization from a family doctor.

A. To become a urologist, an individual must graduate from medical school, then complete two years of general surgical training, followed by four years of speciality training in urologic surgery.

A. Private or cash paying patients without health insurance should be prepared to pay $350 at the time of their first appointment. Then, if additional costs are incurred (for special testing or more extensive evaluations), the patient can make payment arrangements before leaving the office.
Please feel free to call our Billing and Insurance representatives at (210) 731-2050 if you have additional questions or need more specific information.

A. In general, the doctor should be able to see you within a week of scheduling an appointment.
For urgent or acute needs, call our appointment desk at (210) 614-4544, and we will arrange for you to be seen the same or next day.

A. Our practice focuses exclusively on adult urologic care. None of our urologists treats young children; however, some treat post-pubescent young adults. For more information, contact our appointment scheduling desk at (210) 614-4544 Option 2.
For a list of pediatric urologists in South Texas, visit the Find A Doctor section of the Bexar County Medical Society website or call the Society at (210) 301-4391.

A. Bexar county residents who need assistance paying for medical care and who do not have health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid, may be eligible to receive medical services at low cost by joining CareLink, the county's financial assistance program for healthcare services delivered by approved CareLink providers. Contact CareLink at (210) 358-3550 for more information.

A. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance serves as a clearinghouse for public and private patient assistance programs. By calling the Partnership for Prescription Assistance at (888) 477-2669 or accessing www.pparx.org, patients can quickly determine whether they qualify to receive free or reduced cost medications and enroll in appropriate assistance programs.

A. Please send change of address notifications to our Central Business Office at
7909 Fredericksburg Rd., Suite 110
San Antonio, TX 78229
or call (210) 731-2050.

A. Each of our clinics is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, individual physician schedules vary. You may view each physician's appointment (clinic) and surgery availability on his or her profile page.

A. A patient's insurance may change many times so to be sure we have current information, we ask to see your card each time you arrive for an office visit. This practice helps us avoid submitting inaccurate insurance information, which can delay payment and may lead to increased medical costs for all patients.

A. For questions regarding your bill or medical insurance benefits or to pay an invoice, please contact (210) 731-2050.

A. Ample and convenient parking is available at all our clinics. Parking is free at each of our locations, except the downtown clinic, where there is a small fee.
Learn more about parking options at the downtown clinic.

A. Each of our clinic locations is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with rotating physician schedules to accommodate surgery days. Each provider's appointment (clinic) and surgery availability is posted on his or her profile page.

A. We do not charge a fee for missed or cancelled appointments; however, if you need to cancel, please call our appointment desk 24 hours in advance so that we can accommodate other patients.

A. To schedule an appointment, call the clinic location of the urologist you would like to see. If you need help selecting a urologist for you specific medical concern, call our main appointment desk at (210) 614-4544, and our team will assist you. Learn more at the Appointment Scheduling page of our website.