Qualify A Practitioner
One of the most important things you can do for yourself is seek out practitioners who put you first, treat you with respect, and encourage you to play an active role in your wellbeing. The more information you have, the better decision you can make regarding your care.
You have a right to ask as many questions as needed to feel comfortable before scheduling an appointment or at any subsequent visit. Be aware that you have the right to interview any practitioner before making an appointment or beginning treatment. The ultimate success of treatment is dependent upon your level of comfort with-- and trust of--the practitioner and staff.
With that in mind, we have prepared a draft list of questions that you may wish to ask when interviewing your health care provider.
- What is your healing philosophy?
- How long is an average session or appointment with you?
- How much time will you spend informing yourself about me and educating me about my wellness needs?
- What is your training?
- What credentials do you have?
- What is the average wait time to get an appointment?
- What is the average wait time once I come to your office?
- Will I need follow-up sessions?
- How much do your sessions cost?
- Do you take insurance?
- Do you process insurance forms for clients?
- Does insurance cover my diagnosis or symptoms?
- Can you provide references? (This may not be a regular practice due to confidentiality.)
Eventually, we will develop questionnaires like this for each specific modality. To cite an example, additional questions one might ask of an acupuncturist would include:
- Do the needles hurt?
- What happens to the needles?
- Are they used over again?
- Are there different kinds of needles?
- Will I experience any kind of treatment other than needles?
- How will I feel after the treatment?
- Is there anything I can do to increase the benefits of the treatment?
