FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General
How do I schedule an appointment?
Call or Text our office at (309)888-9800 to schedule an appointment. For more information click here.

What do I need to bring to my appointment?
You need to bring your insurance card and a photo ID as well as a list of medications you are taking and any X-rays, medical records, and diagnostic testing results that you have. For more information click here.

How do I get to your office?
Information on hours and location of our Bloomington – Normal office can be found here.

What kind of injuries does the doctor treat?

Dr. Li treats a wide range of orthopedic conditions including those involving the neck, back, upper extremity and lower extremity. A full list can be seen when you hover on the “Services” tab.

What insurances are accepted?
Information on insurances that we accept can be found here.

Do you treat workers’ compensation and liability injuries?
Yes, Dr. Li and his staff are highly experienced in managing and treating work injuries. We will work with your adjuster, case manager and in some cases, your attorney to make sure that you get the care you need in a timely fashion. More information on what we can do for you if you have a work or liability injury can be found here.

What happens if I can’t pay my bill right away?
We understand that some health expenses are unexpected and confusing. You may call our office at (309)888-9800 or come in to our Bloomington-Normal office to talk to our billing specialist if you have any questions about your bill or if you want to set up a payment plan. For more information on billing click here.

Medical

Should I use ice or heat for my injury?
For new injuries, use ice for the first 3 days, up to 20 minutes every other hour. After 3 days, you can alternate ice and heat every other hour if it helps ease the pain.

What is elevation?
Proper elevation involves keeping the injured body part above the heart level. This will help manage the swelling around the injured body part.

I have questions about the medication I’m taking, who should I ask?
Any questions regarding medication should be directed to the clinical team at Dr. Li’s office.

I want to renew my prescription, what should I do?
You may request a prescription renewal by phone at (309)888-9800 during regular office hours. Please have the phone number of your pharmacy available to expedite the process. More information can be found here.

Is my cast too loose?
The cast is only too loose if you can slide it off of the extremities. It is normal to be able to wiggle your extremities while in the cast.

What do I do if I have a hole in my cast?
If there is a crack or a hole in your cast, you need to make an appointment to get it repaired.

Will you provide a work status form?
You may request a work status form during your appointment.

Surgery

Will I need surgery?
Depending on the severity and nature of your injury, Dr. Li may recommend surgery. Dr. Li and his therapy staff are able to successfully treat most of their patients without surgery, but when surgery is required, Dr. Li chooses the most minimally invasive option.

What is arthroscopic surgery?
For many surgeries, Dr. Li is able to perform minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery, which produces superior results and decreased recovery time compared to traditional open surgery.

How do I schedule my surgery appointment?
If it is determined that you require surgery and you are ready for your surgery, you may schedule your appointment by calling (309)888-9800 or you may schedule it in-office.

If I’m told not to eat or drink anything after midnight prior to surgery, does this include water?
If you are told this, you cannot consume anything after midnight, including water, coffee, mints, or gum.

What time do I need to show up for my surgery?
Your surgery arrival time refers to the time you need to check in with the front desk at the surgery center.

Where is the surgery center?
Dr. Li performs surgery at the Ireland Grove Center for Surgery in Bloomington. The location can be found here.

What kind of bills will I receive for my surgery?
You will receive three bills: one from us, one from the surgery center, and one from the anesthesiologist. We can only discuss the bill from us; for information on the other two bills, you will have to contact the surgery center and anesthesiologist.

For more information on surgery and our surgery center, please click here.

Therapy
Will I need therapy?
Not every situation requires therapy, but Dr. Li often recommends in-house one-on-one therapy to help you restore function and return to your normal activities.

What types of therapy are offered?
Our in-house therapy center, Maximum Rehab Center offers physical, occupational and hand therapy. A list of services offered can be found here.

What is physical therapy?
Physical therapy is a conservative treatment method that is important in the remedy of impairments and disabilities. More information on our physical therapy services can be found here.

What is occupational therapy?
Our occupational therapy department specializes in the treatment of orthopedic injuries of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand. More information on the services provided and the conditions our occupational therapists treat can be found here.

What is hand therapy?
We have two Certified Hand Therapists on staff who have specialized expertise to treat conditions of the hand.
For more information on physical, occupational therapy, hand therapy and the services we provide, please click here.

MRI
What is an MRI?
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a radiation-free procedure that produces three-dimensional images of the body. More information on the MRI procedure can be found here.

Will I need an MRI?
Dr. Li will often recommend an MRI in order to provide an accurate diagnosis. This is on a case-to-case basis and not everyone will need an MRI, but Dr. Li will order one if necessary. We offer in-house MRI services through Open MRI Center.

Can I take medicine before the exam?
Yes, it is a good idea to take any pain or cough medicine you might need to lie still during the exam.

What kind of clothes should I wear?
It is best to not wear any clothes with metal on them. If necessary, we have clothes you can change into. Additionally, do not wear any jewelry or hair clips and no steel-toed shoes are allowed in the room.

Can I bring my phone or iPod into the room?
Electronic devices are not allowed in the room because of the magnetic field, but we can play music in the room.

Can I read during the exam?
No, however we can play music or you can bring a CD if you want.

Do you tell me the results immediately?
Before you hear the results, the radiologist has to read the images. Dr. Li will discuss you the results with you in a follow-up appointment.

Can I have a fan in the room?
We cannot allow a fan due to the magnetic field. We recommend if you have symptoms of claustrophobia to talk to the doctor about prescribing medication to help.

Can I have someone else in the room with me?
Yes, if they are screened for safety, a parent can accompany their child or if the patient needs someone to help with claustrophobia, one adult may go in with them.

For more information on MRI and the services we provide, please click here.

Office Information

Orthopedic & Shoulder Center
2200 Fort Jesse Road
Suite 250
Normal, IL 61761
Get Directions

Tel:309-888-9800
Fax:309-828-9700