Welcome to Caring Family, S.C.

781 McHenry Ave, crystal lake, il 60014  (815) 459-2200

Welcome!

 CARING FAMILY, S.C.

Todd S. Giese, M.D.

Racquel N. Ramirez-Dolleton, M.D.

George B. Gancayco, M.D. 

Kevin M. Cronin, M.D.

We welcome you as a patient and appreciate the opportunity to care for the whole family in providing you with medical services.  The information that follows is designed to answer many of your questions.  We also want you to know certain things about our policies and methods of practice.

Doctors

Dr. Todd Giese was born and raised in Wheaton, Illinois.  He got his biochemistry degree at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, and his medical degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago.  He completed his training with a four-year residency in Adult Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and continues with recertification exams on a periodic basis.  He is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois and is also on courtesy staff at Children’s Memorial in Chicago.  Several years he has been listed in the Castle Connolly book “Top Doctors- Chicago Metro Area,” as well as Chicago Magazine’s 2004 “top doctors in the Chicago area.”

Dr. Racquel Ramirez-Dolleton was born in Manila in the Philippines and was raised in Chicago, Illinois.  She got her biology degree at the University of Illinois in Chicago and her medical degree at perpetual Help College of Medicine in the Philippines.  She completed her residency in Family Practice at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago.  Dr. Ramirez is a diplomat of the American Board of Family Practice.  She maintains board certification with periodic re-examinations.

Dr. George Gancayco grew up in Maryland.  He got his Biology degree at Boston College then got his medical degree at Chicago Medical School.  He then completed his training with a four-year residency in Adult Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois.  He is a board certified pediatrician as well as adult internist.

Dr. Kevin Cronin grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. He earned his chemistry degree at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and his medical degree from Rush Medical College in Chicago. He completed a four year residency in Adult Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Cook County Hospital in Chicago.  He is also board certified.  He speaks Spanish well.

We doctors are committed to Caring for the Whole Family with the best of modern technology blended with good old-fashioned compassion.   Our Catholic Christian faith supports us in our mission of healing by offering love, honesty, cooperation and respect to all who enter here.

Services

As primary care physicians, Drs. Cronin, Gancayco, Ramirez and Giese serve as your first contact with the medical system. Most medical conditions can be treated here including hypertension, asthma, arthritis, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart problems, ear, nose, sinus, and throat problems, injuries including stitches, acne, removal of minor skin lesions, gynecological services (as annual PAP smears). For pediatrics, newborn care, growth and developmental assessments, rashes, immunization, school problems (as attention deficit disorder).  Only Dr. Giese does not dispense traditional birth control but can train couples in natural family planning.

Managed Care

Many insurance programs now require an initial visit with your primary care physician prior to approval of any other medical services. Pre-approval of specialist’s visits as well as any medical testing may be required by your insurance. Emergency services may also need special authorization. Caring Family’s staff is knowledgeable and devoted to maximizing your insurance benefit. Help us to help you better by contacting us prior to incurring any expenses.

Hospital Care

Northern Illinois Medical Center (NIMC), which is part of Centegra, is fully equipped to handle emergencies and most hospitalizations. To serve you more efficiently, Drs. Giese, Ramirez, Gancayco and Cronin admit exclusively to Northern Illinois Medical Center.  Certain specialty services may require transfer to a tertiary center.

Although Dr. Giese no longer travels to others locations for direct patient care, Dr. Giese maintains courtesy privileges at Children’s Memorial in Chicago, University of Illinois in Rockford, and Sherman Hospital in Elgin. This provides Caring Family connections with these institutions in the event of the need to transfer to other hospitals and for the unique educational opportunities present there.

Laboratory

Most blood and urine test are collected here at Caring Family and sent to a reference laboratory (Quest). Results are available within the week. All results are reviewed by your doctors and are reported to you using today’s various telecommunications methods.  We make every effort to keep in compliance with the escalating federal regulations. Your insurance may put restrictions on laboratory testing elsewhere.

Other Testing

Electrocardiograms, X-rays, pulmonary function testing, prothrombin testing (INR), rapid cholesterol screening, rapid strep tests, pregnancy tests, pulse oximetry, vision and hearing screening are done here at Caring Family.  Other tests will be referred to a competent center approved by your insurance. Remember that most insurance companies now require pre-authorization for any testing not done in your primary care physician’s office.

Communication

Effective communication is vital to good health care.  Here at Caring Family we do our best to live up to our name.  Help us to help you by writing down pertinent points you wish to discuss at your medical visit.  Have all necessary documents, both from the medical end (i.e.: prescriptions taken, vaccinations given, abnormal test results), as well as from the business end (a current medical insurance card, both primary and secondary).  If you forget something, please ask!!  We hope to address every pertinent concern of yours.

Despite burgeoning technology and scientific knowledge, medicine remains an art.  More than one approach may work with an identical problem.  Or a cure that worked 99 times may not work the 100th time.  We need feedback from you when something isn't working (or if it works remarkable well!).

Telephone

Caring Family's medical assistants may help you if a medical problem does not require an office visit.  They will advise you based on what you tell them and based on their training in triage.  Between caring for patients in the office and consulting with the physician, your question may take some time to answer, so please live up to your title by being patient.  If you remain concerned about a problem, please schedule an appointment.

After Hours

The office is keeping late hours four nights a week.  We realize problems crop up that may seem urgent after the office has closed.  Please be sure your call is based on the seriousness of your medical problem and not on convenience.   The answering service triages some of the requests.  Voice mail keeps our costs down for non-emergency calls. When you truly need to speak to a doctor, whichever doctor is receiving calls that week will be paged. Modern electronics are very reliable now, but batteries still fail, and groggy doctors might just roll over! Your call to a doctor after hours should be returned within 20 minutes. If you do not hear from them within that time, CALL BACK.

Practice hours

               You may choose the doctor of your choice, or just take the most convenient time.  Four evenings a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) we keep late hours for your convenience. Please call ahead for an appointment. 

            Monday through Thursday 8:30-7:30

            Friday 8:30-5pm

            Saturday 9:30-Noon (as late as 3pm if acutely ill patients are still coming in)

Emergencies

For poison control, call 815 385-0200 (a poison control number is on the inside cover any phone book).

For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.  Even the most restrictive insurance companies will give you till the next day to seek approval from your primary care physician for what you perceive to be life-threatening.  Even if a doctor or nurse is trying to talk you out of seeking emergency care, if you feel you need urgent help, GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM!

Most medical problems will be handled efficiently by the emergency room physician, sometimes requiring a phone call to your Caring Family doctor, but more commonly with a written report sent to the Caring Family office and put in your medical file.  We encourage you to call the next working day to give us a progress report as well as to ensure appropriate insurance approval. 

If for whatever reason, you are uneasy with the care you are receiving in any emergency room, wherever you are, please page one of us from that emergency room. 

Appointments

We do our best to keep to our schedule.  Help us by calling ahead if you will be late or unable to make a scheduled appointment.  We generally can see sick patients the same day.  The first time slots of the day can generally accommodate sick 'walk-ins' without inconveniencing other patients, but at other times if you walk in you may be asked to return at a more available time.  If your doctor is running uncommonly late and another doctor is available to see you more quickly we will offer you the opportunity to “doctor-hop” at the time of the visit. 

Satisfaction

We aim to please all of our patients.  If you are very unhappy with your visit at the time of service, let us know as you check out, and we will arrange for another one of our doctors to see you that day or at the earliest availability at no extra charge.

Fees and Payments

If your insurance requires a co pay with an office visit, we are required to collect that before the visit.  By the agreement with your insurance company, we are expected to refuse to see you if you do not have your co pay at the time of the visit.  Please know your insurance plan’s coverage details so that we are not in the unhappy position of educating you about it.

We make every effort to be good stewards of your medical dollars.  Help us reduce costs by promptly paying balances due us.  Visa and MasterCard are accepted for payment.  If you are experiencing financial hardships, contact the office manager to make a payment plan. 

Educational Resources

We may be able to provide you with current educational materials (click here to see).  In addition, Drs. Giese, Ramirez, Gancayco and Cronin occasionally speak to community organizations on various health topics. 

In addition there are many useful web sites (click here to see) listed there for your use.

Updated 3-04 TSG