FAQs:
Is
Naturopathic Medicine covered by OHIP?
No,
Naturopathic Medicine is not covered by OHIP. However, most extended
health care plans do cover visits to Naturopathic Doctors. Check with
your insurance provider to determine the details of your coverage.
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I have never seen a Naturopathic Doctor before, what can I expect
from a visit, and how much will it cost?
The goal of
naturopathic medicine is to treat the whole person using individualized
care. This means your ND needs to spend a lot of time understanding your
medical history and current health concerns. Before the first visit you
will be asked to fill out our intake/history forms. Your ND will spend 90 minutes with you
to do a full assessment, including a detailed medical history and
physical exam. You will discuss all aspects of your health during this
visit, including your medical and family history, nutritional intake,
stress levels, and daily lifestyle and exercise regime. The first visit may also include a selection of in-house lab tests which are relevant
to your health concerns. Your ND will discuss any further lab testing
which is relevant to your case. We then discuss treatment options and
begin to implement them
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What
does a physical exam involve?
The physical exam
involves investigation of the heart, lungs, abdomen, musculoskeletal,
head and neck, skin, hair and nails. This reveals information regarding
your general health and nutritional status, and serves as a screening
total for medical conditions you may not be aware of.
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How
often will I have to come back?
Follow up frequency
will vary for every patient, but are often booked every four to six
weeks. If your ND recommends a series of acupuncture treatments, these
are booked once or twice a week for a series of six to eight weeks.
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If
I have any questions about my treatment plan, can I call my ND?
Yes,
your ND is available for telephone consultations. For telephone
consults longer than 5 minutes, a fee may be charged, or he will
suggest booking an appointment in order to better address your questions.
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Can
an ND only treat chronic conditions?
No, Naturopathic
Doctors can also treat acute conditions such as colds, flus, ear
infections, sports injuries, etc. After an acute treatment, your ND will
recommend a follow up visit or phone consult within the first 48 hours in
order to assess your progress.
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What
about supplements? Will they be expensive?
The cost of
supplements will depend on the individual treatment plan for each
patient. Your ND will recommend specific supplements which she knows to
be of high quality, and to produce reliable results. Richard Vuksinic, ND carries professional quality supplements, which may
be difficult for you to locate elsewhere. Other supplements may be purchased at
your local health food store. Save your receipts – supplements may be
eligible as a tax deduction!
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How
are Naturopathic Doctors Trained?
Naturopathic
Medicine is licensed under provincial law in Ontario, and is regulated
by the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy – Naturopathy under the
Drugless Practitioners Act. Registered Naturopathic Doctors must first
complete a minimum of three years of pre-medical training at a
recognized university. They then enter the Naturopathic Doctor Diploma
program, a full-time four year program at an accredited Naturopathic
College, which includes a year long clinical internship. At the present
time there are only two such schools in Canada: The Canadian College of
Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, and the Boucher Institute in
Vancouver. After successfully completing the ND program, they must pass
both North American and provincial board-licensing exams. At this time,
NDs are eligible to be licensed by their regulating bodies.
All
NDs are required to carry malpractice insurance. Other holistic
practitioners may not be trained, regulated or insured, and we encourage
you to investigate this before choosing a practitioner.
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How
do I know if a Naturopathic Doctor is licensed?
In
Ontario, Naturopathic Doctors are regulated by The Board of Directors of
Drugless Therapy – Naturopathy (BDDT-N), under the Drugless
Practitioners Act. To determine if an individual calling themselves an
ND is licensed, call the BDDT-N at 1-877-361-1925
(www.boardofnaturopathicmedicine.on.ca), or the Ontario Association of
Naturopathic Doctors at 1-416-233-2001 (www.oand.org).
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