Lakewood Ranch patients: our office has moved to 570 Communications Pkwy. View directions. Now accepting new patients across 5 locations. Text (preferred) or call 813-333-5080. New patient information ›
Make a Payment New Patient

Home / New patients

New patients

Everything you need to get started as a new patient

Schedule online with one of the physicians below for a sooner first visit. You can also complete our pre-registration form and have our team contact you for help choosing an appointment and location.

Sooner new patient appointments

Get seen sooner. Continue care closer to home.

If you are willing to drive up to an hour for your first visit, we encourage you to see one of the rheumatologists below. They currently have our soonest new patient availability, with appointments as early as 1–3 weeks, depending on availability.

Start your care sooner, then continue closer to home

An earlier appointment can help you begin evaluation and, when appropriate, treatment for autoimmune disease without waiting 2–4 months for a new patient opening at one of our busier offices.

  1. First visit in person: see one of the physicians above at their listed office to begin your evaluation and care plan.
  2. Second visit by video when appropriate: in many cases, your physician can follow up through a Doxy.me/televisit.
  3. Ongoing care at your preferred office: once your treatment plan is established, our team can coordinate a transfer to another physician at the location of your choice.

Appointment availability varies. Your physician will advise whether a video follow-up is appropriate for your care.

Physician speaking with a new patient during an office consultation

How to prepare for your first visit

Patient forms and medical intake documents

Useful links before and after scheduling

Your first appointment

What to expect at your first visit

Your first visit will be longer than a follow-up

We set aside extra time so your provider can review your history, examine you thoroughly, and discuss next steps without feeling rushed.

Medical history review

Your provider will review your symptoms, prior diagnoses, medications, family history, and any testing you have already had. Bringing records from your referring doctor helps us get started faster.

Physical examination

Expect a focused exam of your joints, skin, and other areas relevant to your symptoms. This helps your provider assess inflammation, range of motion, and potential areas of concern.

A clear next step

You will leave your first visit with a plan — whether that means starting treatment, ordering lab work or imaging, or scheduling a follow-up to review results and refine your diagnosis.

Why you may have been referred to a rheumatologist

If your primary care doctor referred you to a rheumatologist, it is usually because your symptoms, lab results, or imaging suggest a condition that benefits from specialty evaluation. Rheumatologists focus on autoimmune and inflammatory disease — conditions where the immune system may be attacking your own tissues, causing pain, swelling, fatigue, or organ involvement.

Common reasons for referral include persistent joint pain or swelling lasting more than six weeks, a positive ANA or elevated inflammatory markers, unexplained fatigue combined with joint stiffness, or a suspected diagnosis that needs confirmation by a specialist.

How long does diagnosis take?

Some autoimmune conditions can be identified quickly when symptoms and lab results point clearly in one direction. Others take more time because symptoms can overlap, evolve, or develop gradually over weeks or months.

Your provider may need to monitor symptoms across several visits and wait for lab trends before confirming a diagnosis. This is a normal part of the process, and we will keep you informed at every step so you understand what we are looking for and why.

Conditions evaluated

Common conditions we evaluate and treat

Rheumatoid arthritis

Chronic joint inflammation that can damage cartilage and bone if untreated. Early diagnosis and treatment help protect long-term joint function.

Polymyalgia rheumatica

Muscle pain and stiffness, most common in adults over 50, typically affecting the shoulders, neck, and hips.

SLE / lupus

A systemic autoimmune condition that can affect joints, skin, kidneys, and other organs. Symptoms vary widely between patients.

Spondyloarthropathies

A group of conditions causing spine and joint inflammation, including ankylosing spondylitis and related disorders.

Psoriatic arthritis

Inflammatory joint disease often associated with psoriasis, affecting joints, tendons, and the spine.

Scleroderma

Autoimmune hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissue that can also affect internal organs.

Sjogren's syndrome

Immune-driven dryness of the eyes and mouth, often accompanied by joint pain, fatigue, and other systemic symptoms.

Tendonitis / bursitis

Inflammation of tendons or the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints, causing localized pain and limited movement.

Osteoarthritis

Wear-and-tear joint degeneration causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility, most common in knees, hips, and hands.

Osteoporosis

Progressive bone loss that increases the risk of fractures, often diagnosed through bone density testing.

Fibromyalgia evaluation

Widespread pain and fatigue evaluated to identify patterns and rule out overlapping autoimmune conditions.

Back pain

Evaluated when inflammatory causes such as ankylosing spondylitis or sacroiliitis are suspected.

Gout

Sudden, painful joint attacks caused by uric acid crystal buildup, most commonly affecting the big toe.

Other autoimmune disorders

Including vasculitis, myositis, mixed connective tissue disease, and other immune-mediated conditions.

If you are still learning about symptoms or possible diagnoses, these trusted resources can help:

Call 813-333-5080 New Patient