Frequently Asked Questions

What is West Cecil Health Center and what does it mean to be a Federally Qualified Health Center?

West Cecil Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides our surrounding communities with affordable and quality healthcare. We currently serve you and your family with: primary care for all ages, counseling with a licensed therapist, specialized mental health support by psychiatric professionals, women’s health care including cervical cancer screening/pap smears, birth control options, menopausal treatment, and dental care. We strive towards becoming the provider of choice for your family's comprehensive health care services.

WCHC accepts most insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP. No one will be denied access to services due to an inability to pay; WCHC offers a sliding fee discount to eligible patients based on household size and income. Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based health care providers that receive funds from the federal government- specifically, the Health Resources and Services Administration Health Center Program. We provide primary care services in underserved areas and must meet a stringent set of requirements, including providing care on a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay and operating under a governing board that includes patients.

What should I bring to my appointment?

Anyone over the age of 18 must present with a valid photo ID, their current health insurance card, a medication list (with names, strengths, and how you take them), list of specialists you see, and if appropriate, your home sugar meter and home blood pressure machine.

When is payment due?

Payment is due at the time of service. We collect co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance upfront prior to seeing the provider. If there is an inability to pay, please ask us about our Sliding Fee Discount. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we offer discounts to patients based on their household size and income. We have representatives that can speak with you and discuss the eligibility requirements.

Why is it important to confirm my appointments?

To make sure everyone who wants an appointment is able to have one, all unconfirmed appointments will be marked as a no-show and be rebooked for another patient in need. You can confirm appointments by responding to the SMS (text) message or by calling the office as early as three days prior to your appointment.

What if I need to reschedule my appointment?

Canceling and rescheduling appointments should be done more than 24 hours in advance to avoid a no-show fee. You can request a cancellation via your patient portal account, respond to the SMS (text) message when it is more than 24 hours in advance, or by calling the office to speak with your care team.

How can I check-in?

The day before your scheduled appointment you will receive an SMS (text) message requesting you to complete HEALOW Check-in. This check-in consists of consent forms and questionnaires. Doing this online saves a lot of time! You may only need to complete the paper permission to release form upon arrival at the office. If HEALOW check-in is not completed (or only partially completed) you will be asked to fill out our kiosk upon arrival along with any paper forms that may need to be completed. By completing all check-in questions in their entirety, the clinical support staff is able to get you prepared to see your provider in a timely manner, in which you are able to spend more time directly with your care provider.

Please know that we also have all questionnaires and consent forms in a paper format, if preferred. If this is the option that you choose, please be sure to arrive at the office at least 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment.

When should I arrive at my appointment?

We ask that you arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment time.

Do you offer telehealth appointments?

Yes! We offer telehealth for some appointments. Not all appointment types are appropriate for telehealth. Our staff can help assist in determining what may or may not be telehealth appropriate. *Please note: For our providers to see patients via telehealth, the patient must be physically located in the state of Maryland at the time of the appointment. 

What happens if I am late for my appointment?

In-office/In-person visit: Patients that arrive late to their appointment may be asked to reschedule. If asked to be rescheduled due to lateness of arrival, the appointment will be marked a no-show and may be subject to a no-show fee.

Telehealth visits: Our staff will attempt to reach you at least 15 minutes before your appointment to set up the visit. If we are unable to reach you by your appointment time, you may be asked to reschedule.

How do I request a refill? What Is the turnaround time?

Option 1) Have your medications refilled through your pharmacy! (When you request your refills with your pharmacy, they are able to send us an electronic request and they are able to put you on auto-refill. This is a worry-free option, to ensure you are getting your mediations in a timely fashion.)

Option 2) Log into your patient portal account and request your refill from there.

Option 3) Call WCHC and ask to speak to a member of your care team. Please note that completed refill requests may take up to 3 business days.

*If you are on maintenance medications, we ask that you continue coming in for your routine care every 3 months. Many maintenance medications require us to monitor different vitals and lab levels. By routinely seeing you, we are able to ensure that we are continuing to provide you with the highest quality of care.

How do I get the results of my lab and imaging tests?

Normal lab and imaging results will be posted to your patient portal, without a phone call from your care team. If we need to further discuss your results we will reach out to you via phone and/or portal requesting that you come in for an appointment with your provider.

Do you have same-day appointments available?

Yes! All scheduled providers have a limited amount of time for same-day appointments. Times vary, so if you feel like you may need a same-day appointment, call first thing in the morning.

What if I need to reach my provider after hours?

Providers are available 24/7 for after-hours emergency consultation by calling 410-378-9696.

You will be asked to leave a message. A Provider will respond within 20 minutes. If you have an emergency that needs immediate help, call 911.

Do you prescribe controlled medications?

Controlled medications are prescription medications that are regulated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). These include various types of sedatives, sleeping aides, pain relievers, and stimulants. These medications have the ability to cause drug dependency (and even addiction) or can easily come to be misused.

To prevent this, controlled medications are only prescribed after careful consideration and under close monitoring.  Patients who have controlled medications as part of their care plans are asked to complete a controlled medication contract between themselves and their Provider, come in routinely every 3 months, and are subject to randomized medication screenings.

How do I obtain a Prior Authorization or a Referral when needed?

You can obtain your needed prior authorizations and/or referrals by calling our office at 410-378-9696 and speaking with our prior authorization & referral coordinator. With some referrals, an appointment with your primary care provider may be warranted.

Do any of your Prescribers provide Medical Cannabis (Medical Maijuana) prescriptions?

While Marijuana is legal in Maryland for medical purposes with a Medical Cannabis card and may also be used for recreational purposes in some of our surrounding states, it still remains illegal at the federal level.  At this time, no Federally Qualified Health Center Provider is allowed to prescribe Medical Cannabis. As with all substances, please share what you are using with your Provider so we can best understand how to diagnose and help you.

I need a form filled out by my Provider, how do I get that done?

There are many reasons you may need a form filled out by a Provider. Depending on the type of form you may be asked to simply send it in to us via fax/email/drop-off or make an appointment. For faster turnaround, please fill in all Patient Sections.

To email: records@westcecilhealth.org ; To fax: 410-378-9922

Form fee: $25

Turn-around: 5 business days