Question 1

Where is the office located?

Accepted Answer

Rochester Hills Clinic
Address:  1701 East South Boulevard, Suite 110
 Rochester Hills, MI 48307

Please Note:
Services provided by Dr. Tower, Dr. Syed, PA Siso, PA Brady

Hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Troy Clinic
Address: 3150 Livernois Road, Suite 275
 Troy, MI 48083

Please Note:
Services provided by Dr. Czubatyj, Dr. Rockwell, PA Ewalt, NP Aman

Hours:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Greenville Satellite Clinic
Address:

705 S. Greenville West Drive, Suite 102

Greenville, MI 48838

Please Note:
Open on select Fridays only (1st and 3rd Friday of the month)
Services provided by Dr. Tower only

Hours:
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: Closed
Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Question 2

Is the office accepting new patients?

Accepted Answer

Yes, our office is currently accepting new patients. In an effort to manage wait times, most new patient appointments are scheduled with our advanced practice providers (PAs/NPs). Patients seen by our PA/NP team will also be evaluated by a physician on the same day; however, we are unable to guarantee a patient's choice of physician. These visits are currently being seen by Dr. Czubatyj, Dr. Rockwell and Dr. Syed.

Dr. Rockwell is accepting new patients directly on her schedule on a limited basis, while Dr. Tower is no longer accepting new patients.

Question 3

Why does it take so long to get an appointment?

Accepted Answer

Why Does It Take So Long to Get an Appointment with a Rheumatology Clinic?
Rheumatology appointments often take longer to schedule than other types of visits. This is due to several factors related to both patient demand and the complexity of care.

Common reasons include:
High demand and limited specialists
 Rheumatologists are in short supply nationwide, while many conditions (such as arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and chronic pain disorders) require their expertise. This high demand can lead to longer wait times. Michigan is expected to face a physician shortage, consistent with broader national projections, and the rheumatology shortage nationally is projected to be severe.

Complex conditions require longer visits
 Rheumatology appointments are often more detailed and time‑intensive than standard visits. Providers need time to review symptoms, labs, imaging, and medical history carefully, which limits how many patients can be seen each day.

Prioritization of urgent cases
 Patients with more urgent or severe conditions may be scheduled sooner, which can extend wait times for routine or non-urgent appointments.

Referral and review process
 Our visits require a referral from another provider.

Insurance and authorization requirements
 Some appointments require insurance approvals or referrals before they can be scheduled, which can add additional delays.

What You Can Do to Help

You may be able to reduce delays by:
Making sure your referral and medical records are sent promptly
Confirming your insurance requirements (such as referrals or authorizations)
Asking to be placed on a cancellation or waitlist for earlier openings

We understand that waiting for care can be frustrating, and we are committed to scheduling you as soon as possible while ensuring you receive the time and attention your condition requires.

Question 4

Why did I receive a no-show / cancellation fee?

Accepted Answer

No‑Show & Late Cancellation Policy
We understand that schedules can change. If you are unable to keep your appointment, we kindly ask that you give us advance notice.

Why We Have This Policy
Missed appointments and late cancellations can make it difficult for other patients to receive care in a timely manner. When an appointment is reserved for you, that time is set aside specifically for your care.
Providing notice allows us to offer that time to another patient who may be waiting to be seen.

No‑Show & Late Cancellation Fees
A no‑show occurs when a patient does not arrive for a scheduled appointment.
A late cancellation occurs when an appointment is canceled with little or no advance notice.
In these cases, a fee may be applied.

Established patient no-show / late cancellation (within 24 hours of appointment): $50
New patient late cancellation (within 24 hours of appointment): $100
New patient no-show: $150

How to Avoid a Fee
Please contact our office as soon as possible if you need to cancel or reschedule.
Giving advance notice helps us better serve all of our patients.

We’re Here to Help
If you have any questions about this policy, our front office team is happy to assist you. Thank you for helping us provide timely care to everyone!

Question 5

How can I prepare for my appointment?

Accepted Answer

How Can I Prepare for My Appointment?

To help us provide you with the best possible care, there are a few important steps to complete before your visit:

Complete all required paperwork in advance
 New patient forms and questionnaires give us essential background information. Completing these ahead of time helps your visit run smoothly and allows us to focus on your care.

Arrive on time for your appointment
 Each patient is scheduled for a specific amount of time. Arriving on time ensures you receive the full attention and care planned for your visit.

Bring any outside records, labs, or imaging results
 If you have had testing done with other providers, please bring copies (reports or discs) to your appointment. Having this information available at the time of your visit is essential, especially for new patients, so we can review everything together and make informed decisions about your care.

Wear loose fitting clothes
We recommend wearing loose, comfortable clothing so we can perform a thorough joint examination during your visit.

Question 6

Why can't I switch physicians?

Accepted Answer

Each patient establishes care with both a physician and a PA/NP to support continuity of care, particularly when the physician is temporarily unavailable. While the office will make every effort to accommodate physician preferences at the time of establishing care, your physician may not always be available for urgent or short-notice appointments. In those instances, you may be scheduled with a PA/NP. Because most rheumatologic conditions require long-term management, maintaining ongoing relationships with consistent members of your care team helps ensure high-quality, continuous care.

Question 7

Why can't I see my physician?

Accepted Answer

Why You May See Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)

To ensure timely access and maintain the highest quality of care, our office includes Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) as part of your care team.

Who Are APPs?
APPs include:
Nurse Practitioners (NPs)
Physician Assistants (PAs)
These are highly trained, licensed medical professionals who work closely with your rheumatologist.

What Do APPs Do?
APPs are qualified to:
Diagnose and treat rheumatologic conditions
Prescribe medications
Monitor chronic diseases
Coordinate testing and follow-up care
Collaborate directly with your physician

Your care remains team-based, with physician involvement in:
New or complex diagnoses
Significant treatment decisions
Specialized or advanced care needs

How This Benefits You
Incorporating APPs into your care team allows us to:
Reduce wait times for appointments
Provide faster follow-up after medication changes
Improve access for urgent concerns
Allow physicians more time to focus on complex cases

This team-based approach is widely used across specialties and is supported by organizations such as the American College of Rheumatology.

Our Commitment to You
We understand that continuity and trust are essential when managing chronic autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Our goal is to provide you with consistent, high-quality care every step of the way.

Our Promise to You
We are committed to:
Maintaining physician oversight of your care
Providing safe, evidence-based treatments
Keeping you informed about any changes in your care model
Preserving access to high-quality rheumatology services within our community

Adapting to Changing Healthcare
Healthcare is continually evolving, and private practices must adapt to meet new challenges. By using a collaborative, team-based care model, we are able to:
Continue serving our patients effectively
Manage increasing healthcare costs
Navigate changes in reimbursement

This approach allows us to maintain the level of care you expect while ensuring long-term sustainability of our practice.

Partnering in Your Care
Your involvement is an important part of your health journey. If you have any questions about your care team or treatment plan, we encourage you to ask—we are here to help.
We value your trust and look forward to continuing to care for you.

Question 8

Why is my physician running late?

Accepted Answer

Why Timeliness Matters

We carefully schedule each appointment to give every patient the time they need. In some cases, visits may run longer due to more complex or serious medical conditions.

To be fair to all patients:
We do our best to stay on schedule
When medically necessary, we do our best to extend visit times to ensure patients receive thorough care but this may occasionally result in longer wait times as the day goes on
However, we are generally not able to extend appointment times for patients who arrive late

If you arrive late, we may need to shorten your visit or, in some cases, reschedule your appointment.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation — these steps help us provide safe, thorough, and timely care for every patient.

Question 9

How can I get in touch with my doctor?

Accepted Answer

Patients with questions or concerns between visits are welcome to communicate with our office by phone or through messaging within our electronic medical record (NextGen) portal.

Patients may contact the office at (248) 853-0803, where they will be directed to the medical assistants who support each provider. Depending on call volume, responses to phone messages may take up to 24–48 hours. Please be sure to leave your full name, date of birth, and a call-back number when leaving a message.

Portal messaging is intended for brief, non-urgent communication and should not replace office visits. More complex questions or concerns are best addressed through a scheduled appointment to ensure they are thoroughly evaluated. Please do not use the portal for urgent or emergent issues. While we strive to respond to portal messages within 24–72 hours, responses may take up to 7 days. If you have not received a reply within this time, please call the office to confirm your message was received.

If the office is closed and you are experiencing urgent or emergent symptoms, please call 9-1-1.

Arthritis Physicians, LLC

Frequently Asked Questions