HOW TO USE OUR TOUCH TELEPHONE PROVIDER LOCATOR

The locator is a computer program that is available 24 hours a day, and is accessed by you from anywhere there is a touch tone telephone. You enter your ID number, the type of provider you need, and the zip code you need the provider in. The computer will read back all providers that match your specifications. If there is no match, the computer will search the surrounding area for you.

If you're uncomfortable with this system, or are having problems, you can always call our Provider Relations Department, on business days from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The following descriptions seem complicated on paper, but the system is really very simple to use, and prompts you at each step. This part of the manual is just to familiarize you with the many choices, and allow you to move through the menus faster.

To access the system, dial 212-494-9861 or 1-888-DOC-LIST (1-888-362-5478). You will hear a welcome message, followed by a request for your identification number. When your identification number is validated, you will be given a series of menus, with each decision leading to more choices.

Step I. Your first choice is type of provider: 

    For a doctor, press 1
    For a dentist, press 2
    For tests, press 3
    For a hospital, press 4
    For a chiropractor, press 5
    For a podiatrist, press 6
    For home care, press 7

    Step IA. If you select 1, (doctor) your next choices will be 
    For primary care, press 1
    For specialties, press 2
    To return to the previous menu, press star (*)

    Step IA1  If you select primary care, your next choices will be:
    For a general practitioner, press 1
    For an internist, press 2
    For a pediatrician, press 3
    For a gynecologist, press 4
    For family practice, press 5
    To return to the previous menu, press star (*)

    Any selection from this menu will bring you to step II, language preference.

    Step IA2  If you select specialties, you will be advised that specialties are listed in alphabetical order. Your choices will then be: 
    For specialties beginning with the letters A through F, press 1
    G through M, press 2
    N through Pathology, press 3
    For Pediatrics, press 4
    For Physiatry through Social Work, press 5
    For Surgery, press 6
    For specialties beginning with the letters U through V, press 7
    To return to the previous menu, press star (*)

    Step IA2a  If you select any of the above numbers, you will move to submenus listing all of the available specialties that are participating. There are over 100 different specialties, but you can jump ahead of the voice if you know what number you want. Just press that number, and youíll move to the next level.
    After you select a specialty, youíll come to Step II, language preferences.
    Step IB If you selected 2, (dentist), your next choices will be:
    For General Practice, press 1
    For Specialties, press 2
    To return to the previous menu, press star (*)

    Step IB1 If you select General Practice, youíll come to Step II, language preference.

    Step IB2 If you select Specialties, your next choices will be:
    For oral surgery, press 1
    For orthodontics, press 2
    For periodontics, press 3
    For endodontics, press 4
    For prosthodontics, press 5
    To return to the previous menu, press star (*)

    Any of the number selections will bring you to Step II, language preference.

    Step 1C  If you selected 3, (tests) your next choices will be:
    For a laboratory, press 1
    For radiology, press 2
    For mammography, press 3
    For an MRI press 4
    For a CAT scan, press 5
    To return to the previous menu, press star (*)

    Any number selection will bring you to Step III, zip code entry.

    Step ID  If you selected 4 (hospital), your next choices will be:
    For acute care, press 1
    For mental health, press 2
    For subacute care, press 3
    For long term care, press 4
    For drug and alcohol rehab, press 5
    To return to the previous menu, press star (*)

    Any number selection will bring you to Step III, zip code entry.

Step II  Language Selection: For those providers for whom a choice of languages is available, the computer will offer you a menu of available languages, starting with English. After you have selected a language, you will go to Step III, zip code entry.
Step III Zip code entry. The computer will ask you to enter the five digit zip code you wish to search, followed by the pound (#) sign. (The pound sign is required on all variables you enter, such as id number and zip code.) 

If the system does find a match (the provider you want in the area you want), it will tell you how many there are, and then offer to read the names, three at a time. You can select a name for more information, go forward or backwards in the list, or escape to the previous menu.

If the system does not find a match, it will offer you the choice of either searching adjacent areas for the provider you want, or allowing you to enter a new zip code, or allowing you to search for another provider.

If information is missing, as is possible in the beginning, as we build the program, the system will tell you so. Don't forget, you can always call our Provider Relations Department for help (they have the entire database at their fingertips) - but only during regular business hours.

REMEMBER:

  • You can enter a command before the IVR finishes reading.
  • The pound sign must follow all user information (ID number, zip code) (#).
  • Computer instructions (1 for doctor, 2 for dentist) do not need a pound sign.
  • The computer will read back all of your entries.
  • You can always return to the previous menu by pressing star (*).