You can plan to leave your first ND visit feeling: understood, informed, and optimistic.
At Anchor Health Co., initial ND visits are one hour long. This provides an opportunity for you to share your health concerns, goals, and relevant medical history in detail. If you have an in-person visit, your ND will perform brief, relevant hands-on physical exams as needed, to better understand your health concerns and guide treatment. Examples include:
vitals, like blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature
abdominal or cardiovascular or nervous system or pelvic exams as relevant to your concern(s)
Your ND will let you know what she thinks is going on (the most likely diagnosis and contributing factors). She’ll recommend laboratory testing to confirm the diagnosis, rule out alternative causes, and/or help determine which treatment options are most needed or likely to be successful for you. A lab requisition* for testing through LifeLabs will be provided as indicated.
Before wrapping up your initial visit, your ND will share your introductory treatment plan with you, ensuring it suits your goals and feels doable. Treatments often include: nutritional guidance, lifestyle recommendations, targeted nutrient (and sometimes herbal) supplements, and prescriptions for medications (as indicated). You’ll receive a digital copy of your individualized, evidence-based recommendations with clear instructions on habit timing, supplement or medication dosing, and follow up timing.
At the end of your visit, you’ll have a clear idea of expected improvements (both magnitude and timeline), and next steps.
*In BC, labs ordered by naturopathic doctors are not eligible for MSP coverage, and are instead paid privately by the patient. Many extended benefits plans offer reimbursement, with coverage varying between individual plans.
