I'm so excited you're here!
The first step in your journey toward better health is to schedule an appointment.
During normal times, appointments are conducted in person at my home-based clinic office. However, due to COVID-19, all appointments are being conducted virtually.
But you know what? Virtual appointments are actually pretty great and probably here to stay, even though in-person appointments will also be back some day.
During normal times, appointments are conducted in person at my home-based clinic office. However, due to COVID-19, all appointments are being conducted virtually.
But you know what? Virtual appointments are actually pretty great and probably here to stay, even though in-person appointments will also be back some day.
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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 deserve. For this reason, the "first appointment" is split into two parts.
The first appointment ("Initial Appointment, Part 1"), is mainly about hearing your full story. 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.
In the second appointment ("Initial Appointment, Part 2"), I present the comprehensive treatment plan I have designed for you. We have up to 60 minutes to go over the plan in detail, and you are welcome to ask any and all questions you have. By the end of this appointment, you should feel empowered, well-informed, well-prepared, and even excited 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 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 ("Initial Appointment, Part 1"), is mainly about hearing your full story. 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.
In the second appointment ("Initial Appointment, Part 2"), I present the comprehensive treatment plan I have designed for you. We have up to 60 minutes to go over the plan in detail, and you are welcome to ask any and all questions you have. By the end of this appointment, you should feel empowered, well-informed, well-prepared, and even excited 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 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: 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!
Click the link to start the video and I will meet you online. It's like magic!
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. Right now I am following the guidelines set forth by Public Health regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and doing what I can to reduce the spread of illness. Furthermore, I work from home so I need to be more careful about keeping myself and my patients safe from illness. And since I can do almost everything exactly the same, virtual appointments just make sense. **Patients requiring nutrient injection therapies are still coming in person, as these can obviously not be administered virtually!
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 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 e-health 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 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.