Preparing For Your Initial Medical Visit

Allow Plenty of Time

While your initial visit with us is usually scheduled for 90 minutes, plan to spend at least two hours to allow for check in time.

Information and Paperwork onation and Paperwork

When you make your initial appointment, a member of our staff will explain the paperwork we ask you to submit prior to your visit. Any necessary forms will be sent to you in advance.

What to Bring

Please bring the following to your initial visit:

• All of your medications and supplements in the original bottles.
  If possible, we appreciate a typed list of these items to keep with your medical records.
• Your questions and concerns.
  These are of primary importance to us. If they are not adequately reflected on your completed questionnaire, it might be helpful to write a small list of primary concerns to bring with you.
• A support person (if you'd like).
  We recognize and value the support of people who are important to you.

What to Expect During Your Visit

Once you have arrived at the Center and checked in, we will:

• Introduce you to your care provider and review your primary concerns. For your initial visit, you will meet with a physician and members of our treatment team. This initial consultation is a time for:
  • careful review,
  • understanding of your primary concerns,
  • your health history, and
  • your medical records.
  This visit will provide us with the opportunity to get to know each other and begin the process of outlining how we can work together to fulfill your health needs.
• Assess your condition. During this initial consultation, we may determine that laboratory or other specific diagnostic tests are needed to assess your condition.
• Develop a personalized health plan. Over the course of several visits, we will work together to build a customized health plan for you. During the initial visit, we will begin to outline the plan, but please be aware that our larger, multidisciplinary team may wish to discuss your particular concerns and conditions.
• Help you schedule your follow-up visit. After your initial visit, we suggest that you schedule your follow-up visit with your care provider according to your convenience.
• Discuss next steps. At your follow-up visit, your provider will discuss the input from the larger team and collaborate with you in finalizing your health plan.

Financial Responsibility and Insurance Coverage

Deposit, Reservations, and Cancellation Policies

Because integrative medicine services are based in a model of care that prioritizes more time intensive patient/provider encounters, the services often are not fully covered by health insurers. For this reason, Duke Integrative Medicine does not participate in any managed care contracts or covered health plans, with the exception of certain services covered by Medicare.

Duke ntegrative Medicine is a part of Duke Medicine; however, it is not part of the Private Diagnostic Clinic, PLLC (PDC) at Duke University Medical Center. As such, Duke Integrative Medicine does not participate in any of the PDC's health insurance assignment agreements or managed care contracts.

We will not file for health care provider charges with any health care insurer, other than certain services covered by Medicare. In order for you to seek reimbursement available under your health care insurance plan, you will be provided with an itemized statement.

Please be aware that many commercial health insurance payers do not cover preventive or non-medical services such as massage, acupuncture, nutritional consultation, or various other services that Duke Integrative Medicine may provide. However, many of these same insurance payers may reimburse you for some portion of charges for your initial and follow-up clinic visits with your Duke Integrative Medicine physician or provider.

Since Medicare will not cover some of our services, all patients with Medicare will be required to sign a waiver explaining this fact. Laboratory tests, X-rays, or other medical testing performed by those other than Duke Integrative Medicine (the Private Diagnostic Clinic, PLLC and/or Duke University Hospital) may, in many cases, be billed to the patient's health insurer.

Consultative Services

Integrative Medicine consultations do not replace the care of a primary care physician and appropriate specialist. Duke Integrative Medicine will collaborate with your physicians to integrate your existing care.

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