I'm so excited you're here!
The first step in your journey toward better health is to schedule an appointment.
You can have your appointment just how you like it: in-person at my office, in-person in your own home, or virtually using a secure video chat platform!
**Please Note**: At my home-based office, there is a dog, Rosie the friendly labradoodle!
You can have your appointment just how you like it: in-person at my office, in-person in your own home, or virtually using a secure video chat platform!
**Please Note**: At my home-based office, there is a dog, Rosie the friendly labradoodle!
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How do virtual appointments work?Virtual appointments offer almost exactly the same experience as in-person appointments.
Virtual appointments allow us to:
Plus, you don't have to leave the house (or your bed) and you can stay in your pyjamas (if you want to). |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What takes place during the initial appointment?
A: Most people who come see me have had a frustrating or complicated health journey so far and it is important to me that we have enough time so that I can give you the care and attention you need.
The first appointment is mainly about hearing your full story and establishing our goals of treatment. I collect your medical history, which involves asking a lot of questions! I will ask about your current health concerns in detail, your past medical history, social history, family history, allergies, medications, supplements, and conduct a thorough head-to-toe review of systems. I may ask you to complete additional health questionnaires for even more information. If you have obtained your lab reports or shared them with me in advance, we will also review these. If time allows, an initial physical exam is performed. If we are meeting virtually, I will arrange for you to come into the office in person on a separate occasion at no charge if I feel I need to conduct a physical exam for any reason. Often it is not necessary. Even in the first appointment, I often recommend several treatment tools and action steps you can take right away, or I sometimes order laboratory testing to better understand the cause of your health concerns.
My goal in working together is to empower, inform, prepare, and even excite you to get going with treatment.
It's very important to me to honour and respect your preferences, values, and financial constraints when I develop your plan. I want you to be happy, and if you aren't on board with the plan for any reason, I invite you to be open and honest with me. The good news is that "there are many reads that lead to Rome," as they say, so you really do get to choose.
The first appointment is mainly about hearing your full story and establishing our goals of treatment. I collect your medical history, which involves asking a lot of questions! I will ask about your current health concerns in detail, your past medical history, social history, family history, allergies, medications, supplements, and conduct a thorough head-to-toe review of systems. I may ask you to complete additional health questionnaires for even more information. If you have obtained your lab reports or shared them with me in advance, we will also review these. If time allows, an initial physical exam is performed. If we are meeting virtually, I will arrange for you to come into the office in person on a separate occasion at no charge if I feel I need to conduct a physical exam for any reason. Often it is not necessary. Even in the first appointment, I often recommend several treatment tools and action steps you can take right away, or I sometimes order laboratory testing to better understand the cause of your health concerns.
My goal in working together is to empower, inform, prepare, and even excite you to get going with treatment.
It's very important to me to honour and respect your preferences, values, and financial constraints when I develop your plan. I want you to be happy, and if you aren't on board with the plan for any reason, I invite you to be open and honest with me. The good news is that "there are many reads that lead to Rome," as they say, so you really do get to choose.
Q: I've heard that naturopathic doctors just sell you $300 of supplements.
Is that going to happen to me?
Is that going to happen to me?
It's very important to me to honour and respect your preferences, values, and financial constraints when I develop your plan. In general, I take a minimalist approach to supplements, but there are times when taking a few products at once is helpful for getting you where you want to go faster. That said, you ALWAYS have choice. I want you to be happy, and if you aren't on board with the plan for any reason, I want to know. The good news is that "there are many roads that lead to Rome," as they say, so you really do get to choose your treatment. It is often possible to achieve wonderful health without supplements when we are willing and able make other necessary changes.
Q: Do I need to download any special software for my virtual appointment?
A: No! 30 minutes before your appointment start time, you'll receive a link by email.
Click the link to start the video and I will meet you online. It's like magic! The video chat platform I use does require you to have installed certain browsers. You can view the browser requirements here.
Click the link to start the video and I will meet you online. It's like magic! The video chat platform I use does require you to have installed certain browsers. You can view the browser requirements here.
Q: What if I prefer to come into the office in person?
A: I get it. In-person meetings allow you to get a sense of me in a different way than you get in an online appointment. There are currently two face-to-face options: we can meet in person at my office or in your own home. While these two types of in-person appointments are available, I continue to encourage virtual appointments, which allow for the same quality of care without having to leave your home or workplace. Other benefits of virtual appointments are that they require less time (no commuting required), and they reduce the spread of illness.
Please be advised that there is a dog on the premises.
Please be advised that there is a dog on the premises.
Q: How do I receive prescriptions and lab tests?
A: Lots of ways!
- Prescriptions can be faxed directly to the pharmacy of your choice.
- Lab tests can be ordered by fax to the lab location of your choice. Specialty lab kits can be shipped directly to your door.
- Supplements can be picked up from my curb-side self-collect bin OR ordered online and shipped directly to your home.
- Custom herbal formulas can be picked up from my curb-side self-collect bin or shipped directly to your home.
Q: How should I prepare for my first appointment?
A: The only thing you need to do is complete the intake and consent forms online. Other things that help me are:
**Please note: New Patient Intake Forms must be completed in time for your initial visit. These are sent to you by email when you schedule your first appointment and should be completed online, if possible. Allow about 20-30 minutes to do this.
- have with you all current medications and supplements for me to review.
- obtain copies of any recent or past labs or imaging results, as they can be valuable for your health assessment. In British Columbia, recent lab results can be accessed by registering for My Care Compass or contacting your doctor's office.
**Please note: New Patient Intake Forms must be completed in time for your initial visit. These are sent to you by email when you schedule your first appointment and should be completed online, if possible. Allow about 20-30 minutes to do this.
Q: What's the cost?
A: Current appointment fees are listed on the appointment scheduling page.
Q: What about taxes?
A: All naturopathic appointment fees are GST exempt. Recommended treatments involving natural health products are not tax exempt.
Naturopathic appointment fees are eligible to be applied to your medical tax credits in BC. Retain your receipts for services provided in order to claim them on your annual tax return.
Naturopathic appointment fees are eligible to be applied to your medical tax credits in BC. Retain your receipts for services provided in order to claim them on your annual tax return.
Q: Are you covered by my Extended Health Plan?
A: Most extended health plans now cover naturopathic medicine, although the amount of coverage varies between individual plans. Be sure to check with your specific insurance provider to understand your coverage. I offer direct billing for most insurance companies and can provide patients with an itemized receipt that can be submitted for reimbursement when necessary. Currently able to bill directly through:
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Q: Are NDs covered by the Medical Services Plan of BC (MSP)?
A: Generally speaking, ND’s are not covered by MSP unless the patient qualifies for MSP premium assistance.
Here is an excerpt from the Ministry of Health website:
“For MSP beneficiaries receiving premium assistance, MSP contributes $23 per visit for a combined annual limit of 10 visits each calendar year for the following services: acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry. For specifics on eligibility call Health Insurance BC at 1-800-663-7100.”
Here is an excerpt from the Ministry of Health website:
“For MSP beneficiaries receiving premium assistance, MSP contributes $23 per visit for a combined annual limit of 10 visits each calendar year for the following services: acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry. For specifics on eligibility call Health Insurance BC at 1-800-663-7100.”
Q: How often are appointments scheduled after the initial appointment(s) are complete?
A: The duration of treatment and timeline for follow-up visits is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the complexity of your health concerns as well as your values, preferences, and any financial constraints.
If you have any other questions not answered here, please contact me.