Now accepting new patients in-person on the South Shore and virtually province-wide
Now accepting new patients in-person on the South Shore and virtually province-wide
Your initial appointment is an opportunity for me to understand what brought you in, where you would like your health to be, and what may be standing in the way. We’ll discuss your current concerns, health history, treatments you have tried, medications and supplements, and the realities of your everyday life.
Following the appointment, you’ll receive a written Naturopathic Care Plan outlining our treatment goals, recommendations and first steps.
You’ll receive a written Naturopathic Care Plan that summarizes what we are working toward, your recommendations, and the most useful place to begin. Your plan may include nutrition and lifestyle strategies, supplements, testing, referrals or questions to discuss with another healthcare provider.
Your plan is intended to evolve. At follow-up appointments, we’ll review what you have noticed, consider any new information and decide what should be continued, adjusted or simplified.
No. A long list of recommendations is rarely the most useful place to start. We’ll identify the steps most relevant to your priorities and decide what feels realistic now. Your plan can evolve over time as your needs, capacity and circumstances change.
Not necessarily. Supplements may be recommended when there is a clear reason for including them, but they are not automatically part of every plan. Recommendations may also involve nutrition, sleep and/or stress support, movement, further investigation or coordination with another healthcare provider. I’ll always explain why something is being recommended so you can make an informed decision.
Not everyone needs additional testing. We’ll begin with your history, symptoms and any results you already have. I recommend further testing only when it is likely to provide useful information or influence the decisions we make.
Most patients return for their first follow-up approximately three to four weeks after their initial appointment. During the more active stages of care, appointments may occur every one to three months as we investigate contributing factors, review new information and refine your plan.
As you make progress and feel more confident managing your health, appointments generally become less frequent. Many patients eventually check in once or twice a year, or when a new concern arises.
A longer follow-up is usually most appropriate when we have new test results to review, several concerns to discuss, or significant changes to make to your plan. A shorter follow-up may be suitable for checking progress, addressing a focused question or making a small adjustment. I generally get patients to book an extended follow-up for their second visit with me, followed by shorter follow-ups for subsequent visits.
Yes. Virtual appointments are available to residents of Nova Scotia. You will receive the same in-depth consultation, written Naturopathic Care Plan and follow-up support virtually as you would in person.
No. Naturopathic care is intended to complement, not replace, the care you receive from your family doctor, nurse practitioner or other healthcare providers. When appropriate, I may recommend that you seek medical assessment, request particular information from another provider, or share relevant parts of your care plan with your healthcare team.
I can arrange for general bloodwork through private laboratories, with the cost paid by the patient. Naturopathic doctors cannot order routine bloodwork covered by MSI. When appropriate, I may identify tests to discuss with your family doctor or another healthcare provider.
Testing is recommended only when the result is likely to provide useful information or change our approach.
In some circumstances, specialty testing may also be available. I do not recommend testing routinely; we’ll first consider whether the result is clinically useful and whether it justifies the cost.
Many extended health-benefit plans include coverage for appointments with a naturopathic doctor. Coverage varies considerably, so I recommend checking your individual plan for annual limits and the percentage covered. Direct billing is offered for appointments at Zenith Physio Pilates, but not at Marithyme Naturopathic at this time.