The fine print…

The following policies have been created to address the needs of all of us in the network of relationship that is Deep Well Health; clients, provider, family, and community, as well as the practice itself and its sustainability. Please review each of the points below, and feel free to email me if any questions come up.

Waiting

This office is different from others because there is usually no waiting for your appointment to begin. Therefore, please be punctual. If you arrive earlier than your scheduled office visit, we may be finishing up with another appointment. Feel free to sit in the waiting area, or in good weather take a seat on the porch.

If you have a phone appointment, please call in at the scheduled time. Occasionally, I will be unable to take your call immediately. In that case, leave your number, and I'll call you back as soon as I’m free. This is usually within a few minutes.

Cancellation Policy

Your appointment time is reserved especially for you, and all appointments are to be prepaid. In the absence of an unavoidable emergency, if you forget or otherwise fail to appear or call in for your appointment, you will be charged for the appointment. The same applies to appointments canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice. To prevent unnecessary worry, please call if you are running late; your appointment time will not be extended due to a late arrival, though I may be able to offer you some accommodation. If missed appointments become a trend, you may be dropped by the practice. (See below.)

Annual Fee

I do not charge an annual fee.

Insurance Plans

I have made the decision not to accept insurance plans as it would make our type of practice impossible. We are used to paying for certain things out-of-pocket; healthcare may not be one of them. However, your health is important, and a little prevention and competent holistic care makes for improved health for patients. Be clear with us about your financial realities, and I will do my best to work with you.

Alternative Financial Arrangements

I occasionally do elect to serve community members pro-bono or at a reduced fee, and I will consider trade, in rare cases. I am working on developing a donation model that will allow those in our community who have extra resources to care for others with less.

Post-Visit Clarification

I work hard to provide clear plans for you to follow, but I understand that there might be occasional questions. Please send these to me in a text or email. Brief, well-articulated questions are helpful. A reply will generally be a sentence or two. More than this and you will usually be asked to book an appointment. Please feel free to ask questions during our visit times, write things down, and have an advocate with you, if needed.

Prescription Refill Policy

An important difference in a one-provider office is that there are no staff standing by to fax refills to pharmacies. This task can be more time-consuming than you might guess, so refills should be requested and handled during your office visit. This requires a bit of mindfulness on your part; please let me know at your visit if you are running out of any medication.

Opiate Policy

This office does not prescribe or refill opiate medication of any type, for any reason. Ask about developing an alternative pain-relieving protocol, if you need one.

When I Am Away

Should you need non-urgent matters addressed while I am away, please seek alternative resources (your primary care provider, friends, patience, etc.) until I return. For emergencies, call 911.

Emergencies

Deep Well Health does not provide emergency services. If you suspect that you need this kind of assistance, please go to the nearest Emergency Room or dial 911. Your primary care provider may also be a resource if your discomfort is not life-threatening.

Grounds for Termination

I reserve this action for patients who demonstrate a lack of respect for themselves and the practice by missing appointments repeatedly, disregarding the practice’s stated policies, or acting in a way that is dangerous, deceptive, disrespectful, or dishonest, or in cases where a therapeutic relationship cannot be formed. It is important that those who are seen by me or the practitioners associated with Deep Well Health are invested in their relationships with their caregivers and act in a manner that demonstrates this.

Thank you for reading all the way through this!