Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below for answers to commonly held questions concerning the MHFP and the Section of Neurosurgery.

About the Program

Where is the MHFP located?

The MHFP is housed within the Section of Neurosurgery at the University of Chicago. We are an active part of the office of Neurosurgery and have established relationships with all staff and providers within the office. We do not have in-person office visits available to our patients, but we can be mailed items to: Margaret Hackett Family Program, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., J-341/MC 3026, Chicago, IL 60637. You may also contact us via phone at 773-795-0622, and via email at mhfcp@bsd.uchicago.edu.

How can I contact the MHFP?

You may contact the MHFP in a variety of ways. We have a line dedicated to helping patients. Please feel free to call us at 773-795-0622. We can also be contacted via email at mhfcp@bsd.uchicago.edu. Visit our contact us page to learn more about how you may reach us. 

How can the MHFP help?

We have direct contact to the office of Neurosurgery at the University of Chicago and have significant experience in each of the Neurosurgery providers’ clinics and specialties. We can help you:

  • understand which provider may be best for your condition
  • understand the process of scheduling an appointment with a provider
  • understand who may be best to contact for what in each situation
  • contact the provider’s team and/or establish a relationship with the provider’s team
  • connect your neurosurgical care to the care provided by your other physicians
  • obtain your neurosurgical reports in preparation for your other appointments, or for your own personal records
  • answer any questions or concerns you may have and more

Department of Neurosurgery

Why do I need imaging and a diagnosis before an appointment?

Our providers are specialized in their care, meaning their schedules can be heavily booked. For this reason, many of our providers do not perform “work ups”, which is the preliminary appointment providers use to attempt to diagnose a patient. During the work up, providers will perform multiple exams, testing, and may request additional information or images to properly diagnose a patient. This takes time, and there is no guarantee that the diagnosis is something that a neurosurgeon may be best to treat. For these reasons, most of our patients call our office already having a diagnosis and the proper imaging (CT, MRI, xrays, etc.) that will establish the diagnosis. 

What if my images (MRI, CT, Xrays, etc.) are over a year old?

Typically the more recent the imaging, the better off you are. This is because recent imaging will give a better picture of your condition at its current state. If you have imaging that is over a year old, it may be an inaccurate representation of your current condition. Feel free to contact us to dicuss any of the concerns you may have.