Located at St. Thomas West Hospital
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM Call Us: (615) 297-5551

Patient Information

Mark Houston M.D., M.S., MSc, ABAARM, FAARM, FACP, FAHA, FASH, FACN, FAARM, DABC
Hypertension Institute
St. Thomas West Hospital
4230 Harding Pike, Suite 400
Nashville, Tennessee 37205
Phone: 615-297-5551
Fax: 615-467-0365

Hypertension Institute of Nashville

Dr. Houston and his staff are pleased that you have chosen us to care for your medical needs. This page will provide some essential patient information on how his medical practice operates providing you with efficient, high quality medical care. Please read all of this carefully.

In this packet you will receive information on:

  • Physician Appointments
  • Meet the Staff
  • Office Hours
  • Urgent Work-ins
  • What to Expect at Your Appointment
  • Obtaining Lab and Test Results
  • Telephone Calls
  • Prescriptions
  • Financial Counseling/Insurance
  • Facial Rejuvenation Center
  • Personal Medical History Questionnaire (required at initial visit)
  • System Review Questionnaire (required at initial visit)

Physician Appointments

Appointments to see Dr. Houston are scheduled on Monday, and Thursday from 6:15 a.m. 1:45 p.m. Tuesday from 6:15 AM till 11:30 AM. and on Friday from 6:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Please call for an appointment between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. on Friday at (615) 297-5551. When calling for an appointment, be sure to give the receptionists your full name, date of birth, whether you are a NEW patient, returning for an annual physical, or a return check-up visit.

Arrival

We ask that you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your appointment time to allow for parking and registration. If you arrive late, you will have to reschedule your appointment for a later date. A 24-hour cancellation notice is required for a new patient appointment or you will be billed a charge for the missed visit.

Urgent Work-ins

If an urgent matter arises, Dr. Houston will do his best to see you that same day or refer you to the closest E.R. if considered an emergency. The E.R. physician will contact Dr. Houston regarding your medical condition.

What to Expect At Your Appointment

When you are called back to the examination room, you will be weighed, your vital signs will be taken, and the nurse will ask you a series of questions about your medications, medical history, etc. Bring all prescription medications; including vitamins and supplements, you are taking in their original container. After the nurse has finished, Dr. Houston will shortly enter the room and begin his examination.

When Dr. Houston has completed his exam with you, he will order tests depending on your medical history and age. For all new patients and annual physicals, Dr. Houston is very thorough and usually orders a series of tests.

For Women

Depending on age, a mammogram, breast thermography, and bone density tests may be ordered. Dr. Houston does not perform pelvic examinations, or Pap smears and requests that you establish a medical relationship with a gynecologist for those procedures.

Obtaining Lab and Test Results

If you would like a copy of your test results, please bring a self-addressed, stamped envelope with you on your visit. The lab results will be mailed to you in the envelope you provided. If you have any abnormal tests, Dr. Houston’s nurse will contact you or mail you the information. We DO NOT report normal labs by phone. Please DO NOT call to request normal labs. If you receive information in the mail and have any questions, please call the office and speak to one of Dr. Houston’s nurses. All tests will be reviewed with you on your follow-up visit.

Family Consent

If you would like for Dr. Houston’s staff to give medical information about you to a family member, you will need to give us written consent to speak with that person. Please list all names with whom we are allowed to speak. When checking in for your appointment, ask to complete a medical release form and you will be provided one.

Telephone Calls

Any calls after 4:00 p.m. will be handled the following business day. If you reach our voicemail, leave a DETAILED message, including your name, date of birth, phone number, and a pharmacy number if needing a prescription refill. Emergency calls will be taken care of immediately. Non-emergency calls will be returned by the end of the day. If you are calling for a prescription refill, leave a message including the name of the medication needed. Check with your pharmacy at the end of the day to see if your prescription has been filled. We will call you only if we are unable to process your medication request. Please do not call and leave the same message multiple times. Be assured we received your message, and leaving multiple messages will only delay our efforts to help you.

Telephone Calls

Please DO NOT call the office or answering service after 4:30 p.m. or on weekends for NON-EMERGENCY situations. Only emergency calls will be handled by the on-call physician after hours and on weekends. The office is also closed all day on Wednesdays and daily for lunch from 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. We appreciate your courtesy and understanding in this matter.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions will be phoned in ONLY during office hours. Controlled substances prescriptions will NEVER be phoned in on a weekend. Please DO NOT call for refills after hours or on weekends. If you have a mail-order pharmacy, please tell Dr. Houston’s nurses at the time of your visit, so a short-term prescription can be written for you to use locally until your mail order arrives. All prescriptions are now generated from the electronic medical record system.

Financial Counseling / Insurance

We appreciate your timely payment of all medical charges. Patients are responsible for all charges not covered by their insurance plans. Patients are expected to pay co-payments at the time of service. Payments may be made in cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard at the registration desk.

Facial Rejuvenation Center

The Facial Rejuvenation Center is a premier Nashville cosmetic and anti-aging facial rejuvenation practice dedicated to delivering truly transformative results. Our goal is to renew and energize your mind and spirit to make you look and feel vital and youthful. Our Medical Director, Mark Houston, M.D., is a leader in the fields of age management, and wellness. Dr. Houston, and Co-Directors, Laurie Hays, R.N. and Sissy Denton, R.N. are dedicated to the advancement of groundbreaking cosmetic procedures and anti-aging treatments. We guide you with safe and effective solutions, blending the best anti-aging treatments and non-surgical cosmetic procedures available.