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Check Out Some of the Useful Links

We understand you might have many questions before undertaking any treatment or surgery. Check out the links before that might be useful for you. 

 

Call (678) 284-4000 to set up a quick initial consultation with the Center for Pain and Rehab Medicine.

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Patient Forms (Click to download)

• NEW PATIENT FORMS

• Download Referral Form

• Download Release of Medical Records Form

 

Refer a Patient (Click below)

Download Referral Form

Download Release of Medical Records Form

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To refer a patient to our office:

1. Have the PCP or Referring Physician get approval from your insurance company if required.

2. Fax all relevant records pertaining to consultation to 678-284-6500.

One of the challenges you will face is determining which patients will need to be evaluated by a Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation doctor. Here are some common reasons for referral.

 

1. Referrals for General Consultation

    Some of the conditions for which consultation or therapy may be provided by our office are:

• Musculoskeletal Injury/Sports Injuries/ Orthopedic Injuries

• Automobile Related Injuries

• Intervertebral Differential Dynamics (IDD) Therapy – for back and neck pain

• Back and Neck pain from any cause

• Workers' Compensation /Occupational Medicine

• Independent Medical Examination (IME)

• Arthritis (rheumatoid, degenerative, others)

• Strokes/ Neuromuscular Disorder

• Spinal Cord Injuries

• Pain management

• Tendonitis

• Spasticity Management

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in any part of the body

• Cervical and lumbar radiculopathy

• Polyneuropathy (including diabetes and other metabolic causes)

• Neuropathy (any nerve)

• Myopathies

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2. Referrals for an EMG/NCS

The following are some of the conditions for which patients often need an EMG/NCS:

• Numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in any part of the body

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Cervical Radiculopathy

• Lumbar Radiculopathy

• Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (a foot pain syndrome)

• Polyneuropathy (including diabetes and other metabolic causes)

• Neuropathy (any nerve)

• Peripheral Neuropathy

• Spasticity Management

• Musculoskeletal / Sports / Orthopedic Injuries

• Back and Neck Pain

• Work-Related Injuries

• Automobile Related Injuries

 

3. Referrals for Pain Management

We treat a wide range of pain-related conditions. Some of these are:

• Neck or Back Pain

• Joint Pain

• Epidural Steroid Injections

• Nerve Blocks

• Spasticity

• Trigger Point Injections

• Fibromyalgia

 

Alternative Medicine (Please visit our Pain Management Page for more details.)

• Medical Acupuncture – primarily for musculoskeletal disorder pain management

 

Suboxone Therapy

We are a Certified Suboxone Facility. In addition, we provide many other services, including but not limited to IDD ( Spinal Decompression Therapy) and Hydromassage Therapy.

Our General Office Hours are Monday – Thursday from 8:30 – 5:30 p.m. and Friday from 8:30 – 4:00 p.m. Saturday appointments are sometimes available.

 

You may call for an appointment at 678-284-4000.

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Procedure Documents for Download

Please click the title to obtain your download

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• Cervical C1-2 Injection

• Cervical C01 Injection

• Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection Interlaminar

• Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection SNRB

• Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection TF

• Cervical Facet Injection

• Cervical Medical Branch Block

• Cervical RFA

• Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Caudal

• Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection Interlaminar

• Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection SNRB

• Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection TF

• Lumbar Facet Injection

• Lumbar Medical Branch Block

• Lumbar RFA

• Pain Log

• SIJ Injection

• Discography Lumbar

• Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection Interlaminar

• Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection SNRB

• Thoracic Facet Injection

• Thoracic Medial Branch Block

• Thoracic RFA

• Thoracic Epidural Steroid Injection TF

 

Billing/Insurance

Our office will assist you in providing the information required for your insurance claims where possible. However, you are responsible for payment of your own medical expenses if your insurance does not pay. Please bring your current insurance card(s) to all appointments and notify us if there has been any change. 

 

Co-pays will be expected before seeing the doctor each visit. Any cancellations or reschedules need to be done 24 hours in advance, or there will be a $35 fee. The same applies to missed appointments. This fee is not covered by your medical insurance. Our office accepts major credit cards, checks, and cash. 

 

We also accept various insurance plans. Please contact our office to verify if we accept your insurance plan if you do not see your insurance company on the list below. For any questions regarding your billing or any charges, please contact our billing department at 678-284-4000 or email us at Billing@cparm.com.

 

Accepted insurance includes:

• Aetna (all products)

• Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO, HMO

• Cigna

• Coventry Healthcare

• Humana

• Wellcare -Medicare

• Medicaid

• Medicare Part B, Rail Road

• Tricare (Prime and Standard)

• VA/ Triwest

• United Healthcare (all products)

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***Please note that all services are provided pending approval by your insurance company. Please be aware that your insurance plan may require a referral from you primary care physician prior to being seen in our office. You will need to provide this.***

 

Professional Associations

Please click the title for more information

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• Academy of PM& R (AAPM&R)

• American College of Sports Medicine

• National Stroke Association

• Neurosurgeon.com

• American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine

• Academic Orthopedic Society

• American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

• American Academy of Family Medicine

• International Spine Intervention Society

• American Academy of Pain Medicine

• National American Spine Society

• American Academy of Pediatrics

• American Academy of Neurological Surgeons

• American Medical Association

• American Society for Surgery

• American Society of Internal Medicine

• Society of General Internal Medicine

• Radiological Society of North America

• American Academy of Neurology

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News About Our Practice

The Board of Directors of the Center for Pain and Rehab Medicine congratulates Dr. Foster and The Rehabilitation Center at Southern Regional Health System in celebrating their fifth-year anniversary as a premier acute rehabilitation facility of the southern crescent.

The Rehabilitation Center at Southern Regional with Dr. Foster as the medical director opened July 1, 2004. The fifth year anniversary celebration took place September 24, 2009.

 

Dr. Foster appeared on television on ABC News Affiliate Health Break on September 23, 2009. To view  the video, visit: www.youtube.com/srhsatlanta and click on “The Rehabilitation Center at Southern Regional“.

 

Dr. Foster was named top rehabilitation doctor in Life Styles Magazine in May 2007 as voted by his peers.

 

Rehab Success Stories

• Rehab Patient Story Nilsa Scott – Southern Regional Hospital

• Rehab Patient Story Pamela Newby – Southern Regional Hospital

Newspaper articles – Rehab Press Release

Healthy Matters Staff ” Fast-Acting Treatment” Healthy Matters - Spring 2008

Hospital Boasts Inpatient Rehab Center — Clayton News Daily June 2005

 

Patient Education Videos

• About Pain Management

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Cervical Radiculopathy

• Fibromyalgia

• Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)

• Post Laminectomy Syndrome

• Spinal Stenosis

• Whiplash (CAD Syndrome)

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Search Medline

Check out the MedlinePlus website for health information.

 

Spine Universe

Check out the SpineUniverse website for spine health data.

 

Physiatry

The specialty of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) is called Physiatry (pronounced fizz ee at’try), and the doctors who practice in this specialty are called Physiatrists or “Rehab doctors.” They are typically MD’s or DO’s who have had four years of medical school training, a year of internship and three years of specialized training as a resident in the field of PM&R. This type of training is similar to other areas of medical specialties that other doctors received.

Sometimes there is some confusion between physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine. It is important to note that Physical Therapy is not Rehabilitation Medicine (PM & R) but is a discipline of it just as are Occupational or Speech Therapy to name a few. Hence sending a patient for rehabilitation is not the same as sending them for Physical Therapy. PM & R encompasses a wider spectrum of disciplines.

 

The Working Physiatrist

 

The physiatrist often works closely with other health care professionals, such as other MD, DO, DPM, Psychologists, Chiropractors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Recreational Therapists, Speech Language Pathologists, Social Workers, Orthotists, Pedorthists and others.

 

Physiatrists may work in freestanding rehabilitation hospitals, general hospitals or private practice. Most physiatrists will have a diverse practice while others will focus on a few selected areas of interest such as strokes, spinal cord injuries, sport medicine, traumatic brain injuries, musculoskeletal injuries, pediatrics and electromyography (Needle EMG, Nerve Conduction Studies, Evoke Potentials) , interventional pain medicine/ spine disorders to name a few. There are fellowships offered in some of these areas.

 

The Physiatrist Evaluation and Treatment

 

The Physiatrist takes a non-surgical management approach to pain and injuries. Each patient’s evaluation begins with a complete medical history (including social and functional/home situation) and physical examination. The Physiatrist evaluates and treats patients with a wide range of medical presentations. Some of them are listed in this web site.

 

The role of the Physiatrist may be consulting, interdisciplinary team leader, in an outpatient setting or inpatient management of patients with any of the above presentations. Treatment goals focus primarily on restoring, improving or maintaining functions enabling the patients to have the best possible functional life. They may require outpatient or inpatient therapy and hospitalization for an appropriate time.

 

Therapy may involve exercises, hot or cold applications, ultrasound, electrical stimulation or acupuncture and others. Patients may also receive medications including injections if warranted. In addition, various assistive devices (e.g. cane, reacher) are available to facilitate the rehabilitation objectives. Laboratory tests, blood tests, X-ray, MRI/CT -scan and EMG are sometimes ordered or performed if determined to be necessary.