How long has Dr. Stadnyk been in practice?

Since 1988 in Houston and since 1990 at the present location.
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How far in advance should I call to make an appointment?

Please call at least 1-2 weeks in advance for routine appointments so that you may obtain a time convenient for you. We will try to fit you in sooner if your condition is urgent and the circumstances permit or may request that you go to an Emergency Department, depending on the situation.
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My family doctor referred me to Dr. Stadnyk for a sleep study. Why do I have to consult with Dr. Stadnyk before having a sleep study?

A consultation is required in order for Dr. Stadnyk to order a sleep study for you as there are several variations of sleep studies, one of which may be better suited to your individual circumstance. At times, a consultation will determine that your symptoms are the result of a different problem and a sleep study may not be useful.
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Do you offer sleep studies in the office?

No, we are not a sleep study facility; sleep studies are done by appointment overnight at other facilities. You may request to have your sleep study done at a St. Lukes Facility or at a preferred Facility close to your home or workplace.
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Does Dr. Stadnyk accept Medicare assignment?

Yes he does.
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Does Dr. Stadnyk accept Medicaid or Medicaid HMO?

Sorry, not at this time.
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Does Dr. Stadnyk accept Workers Compensation?

Yes, but only for patients that are undergoing treatment in the hospital at the time of service.
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Does Dr. Stadnyk accept "XYZ Insurance"?

We accept multiple insurance plans, please call for confirmation that we are on your plan.
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My insurance plan has changed, what do I need to do?

Please bring in your new plan information so that we may update your records. In the unlikely event that your new plan coverage is limited and Dr. Stadnyk is not a Participating Physician, we will assist you in contacting your new plan for assistance, refer you to another physician of your choice or continue your care but bill you directly for services, which you would then submit to your new plan.
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Why do I have to come back and see Dr. Stadnyk after one year for a prescription refill? Nothing has changed with me.

Patients are advised to return for reassessment annually, at the very least, if they have had a cancer or chronic illness diagnosis or if they regularly use medications prescribed by Dr. Stadnyk. This allows any interval changes to be assessed and prescriptions re-evaluated for continuation, discontinuation or modification, perhaps to newer and more effective treatments. Please be aware that Dr. Stadnyk will NOT authorize refills on prescriptions if he has not seen you within the past year. After all, if the State of Texas requires that your car have an annual safety check, it seems reasonable that the same apply to you.
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Does Dr. Stadnyk see children? If not, whom does he refer to?

Dr. Stadnyk sees children 16 years of age or older; children that are younger than 16 years of age are referred to Texas Children’s Hospital Pulmonary Service (main phone number 832-824-1100)
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What should I bring with me to my first appointment?

Please bring with you or arrange for us to receive your pertinent medical records, sleep study reports, PFT reports, as well as your actual Chest x-rays and/or CT scans. Dr. Stadnyk prefers to personally examine your x-rays, therefore the actual images are required. A list of current medications (prescription, non-prescription and supplements) as well as your insurance information should be brought to your first appointment and to any subsequent appointment if there is a change. Please refresh your memory as to illnesses that run in your family and be prepared to discuss any hospital stays longer than several days and any surgery that you may have had in the past.
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What Hospital will I be admitted to if Dr. Stadnyk needs to treat me in a Hospital?

Dr. Stadnyk admits his patients to St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital and the Texas Heart Institute in the Texas Medical Center.
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Can I have my tests done on the same day that I see Dr. Stadnyk?

Certainly, for those tests that do not require special preparations or a scheduled appointment, such as most blood tests and regular x-rays. Other tests usually require an appointment to be scheduled and would include CT scans, any biopsy procedures, sleep studies and bronchoscopy.
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How will I learn the results of any tests or x-rays that are ordered for me by Dr. Stadnyk? Can I have copies of my tests?

Dr. Stadnyk will discuss the reasons for ordering any particular test with you before it is ordered. He prefers that each and every test result ordered by him be communicated to you, whether that test is normal or abnormal, and therefore YOU are requested to CONTACT our office several days after your test has been done in order to learn your result. In general, a normal test or x-ray will need no further intervention nor prolonged discussion. If your test is abnormal, then you may be instructed to have other (confirmatory) tests, be observed over a period of time or asked to return to the office. If you wish, we can send copies of your test reports via fax, mail or email to you or a person that you designate to receive these results, or you may pick up these paper copies at your next visit. If you want copies of your x-ray images, then you should contact the location or facility where they were done.
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How can I get copies of my old x-rays or scans for my appointment with Dr. Stadnyk?

You should contact the location or facility where your prior x-ray or scan was done in order to obtain image copies or to have these images sent to Dr. Stadnyk. Please note that we want the actual pictures, not just the paper report. If you cannot recall where the x-rays were done, then you should contact the office of the doctor that ordered them and obtain this information from them. You may be asked to sign a release authorization. Dr. Stadnyk prefers that you check-out and obtain your x-rays beforehand and bring them with you to your appointment, since it is more likely that your x-rays will arrive with you if they are hand-carried by you rather than mailed. It tends to frustrate everyone if you are to be evaluated for an x-ray abnormality and your x-ray is unavailable because its "in the mail".
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I just had some tests done – how long must I wait until I have the results?

Test results may take several days to become available. In general, common blood tests (blood counts, chemistry levels) are available the next working day and x-ray reports are similar. Be aware that some unusual blood tests may need to be processed at a special laboratory and this delays their results. Any results looking for infection (such as "cultures") may require waiting a period of time to see if any germs grow in the lab sample. It may take several days for bacteria germs and up to 42 days for slow-growing germs such as TB (tuberculosis). Finally, any tests that require a tissue sample (lung "biopsy" or FNA) may require for the biopsy tissue to be prepared in such a way to allow it to be thinly cut and stained to permit examination under a microscope by a pathologist. Such biopsies also take several days to become available.
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Why does Dr. Stadnyk want me to come to the office to learn my test results?

There are some tests that require evaluation, explanation and/or discussion of either further follow-up tests or different treatments or interventions. You will be asked to return for such results in order to make the most productive use of your time. You will not be recalled for test results that do not require such interventions.
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How may I obtain oxygen at home?

Home oxygen is prescribed by a doctor, just like a drug, and requires the patient to have a low oxygen level in order for insurance to pay for the cost. Oxygen can be obtained from a special machine that concentrates it from room air (an oxygen concentrator), a compressed gas system or a liquid system. There are pros and cons to each system and it is best to discuss these with your doctor.
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I have sleep apnea and use nasal CPAP/BiPAP every night. Do I need a repeat sleep study?

I recommend a sleep study be done at least every second year, even if your condition has not changed. Certainly, a sleep study should be done earlier if you have a weight change of more than 15 pounds or a change in your sleep.
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I feel fine but Dr. Stadnyk has advised me to have a repeat x-ray; why so?

I often advise repeat x-rays to follow a suspicious lung abnormality and make sure it does not change or enlarge, at which time additional tests, such as a biopsy may be indicated, even if you feel fine.
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I feel fine but Dr. Stadnyk has advised me to have repeat lung function (PFT) tests; why so?

Some people with lung conditions may develop a gradual and imperceptible decline in their lung function tests before they develop symptoms of lung disease, therefore, repeat lung function tests are done in order to diagnose lung conditions at an earlier stage.
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Why does Dr. Stadnyk ask me to come into his office - I just have a list of questions that I want to fax or email to him?

I have no problem answering simple questions, such as "do I take this medicine in the morning or evening" from established patients without requiring a face-to-face discussion, however, there are some people (YOU know who you are…) that are "fax-a-holics" and send me lists of multiple "what-if; then what?" questions. It would be best in such situations to get together and discuss things in-person rather than talk over machines.
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How do I contact Dr. Stadnyk by email if I am sick?

Note that we may or may not check our email every day and would encourage patients to think of the email much like sending a postcard in the regular mail. It would be unwise to mail us a postcard stating "CAN’T BREATHE, PLEASE CALL" and the same is true for email communications. If you have an urgent issue, please contact us by telephone or go to the nearest Emergency facility.

Where can I park?

Valet and self-parking is available at 6624 Fannin. In addition there are several Parkades located nearby in the Texas Medical Center or you may park along the MetroRail line and take the train in. We are located at the DRYDEN/TMC stop.
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