FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In searching for the right type of holistic practitioner, many individuals have some key questions that they feel need to be answered before making a selection. In this section I will attempt to answer some of the more commonly asked questions.
What is Health?
According to the World Health Organization, health is " a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." With this in mind, one understands that good health is no longer viewed as simply the absence of illness. The notion of good health has evolved notably in the last few years and continues to change, as scientists learn more about lifestyle factors that bring on illness and affect wellness. Furthermore, once the idea took hold that fitness by itself would not always decrease the risk for disease and ensure better health, the wellness concept developed. Wellness living requires implementing positive programs to change behavior to improve health and quality of life, prolong life and achieve total well-being.
What is the Triune of Health? The Triune of Health is an equilateral triangle which illustrates the balance that exists between the physical, biochemical and emotional aspects of ones life. Effective health programs will address each aspect of the triangle with a balanced approach. Click here to see the services we provide to help our patients achieve blanced and optimal health.
What is Alternative Health? Alternative health practices are used instead of standard medical treatments and consist of therapeutic or preventive health care practices; such as homeopathy, naturopathy, chiropractic, and herbal medicine. Effectiveness of treatments are often determined through time-tested truths and extensive clinical experience and less on current "scientific" research standards.
What is Wellness?
To achieve optimal health, wellness requires combining seven dimensions of well-being into a regular and balanced quality way of living. Overall, wellness is the ability to live life to the fullest and to maximize personal potential in a variety of ways. Wellness places responsibility on the individual; it becomes a matter of self-evaluation and self-assessment. Wellness involves continually learning and making changes to enhance your state of wellness. Acording to adapted information from North Dakota State University Wellness Center (11-3-03), there are seven dimensions of wellness; these include: Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Socoal, Occupational, and Environmental. Click here to read more about the seven dimensions of wellness.
What is Chiropractic Wellness?
Chiropractic wellness is the application of various chiropractic techniques and philosophies as a means of encouraging one toward achieving true wellness. Wellness is achieved when a balance is achieved among the seven dimensions of wellness: i.e., physical, emotional, intellectual, spritual, interpersonal & social, environmental and occupational.
What is a Holistic Chiropractor?
A Holistic Chiropractor is a term used to describe the approach I use when treating my patients. This approach draws on my knowledge and skills learned over the years from many different hands-on body healing modalities such as chiropractic, naturopathy, sports medicine, athletic training, physiotherapy, massage, reflexology. Additionally, the hands-on modalities are often combined with nutrition and homeopathy for greater benefit. Each patient is treated as a whole using one or a combination of the above techniques to suit their individual needs. A program of care is then designed accordingly taking into consideration lifestyle factors and therapeutic exercises.
Can the doctor help me?
Dr. Kramer has over 25 years experience working in a variety of sports and clinical healthcare settings; including 15 years which have been specific to the areas of Chiropractic and Naturopathy. During this period he has had great success in assisting his patients in restoring health while achieving their optimal wellness potential. Only through an extensive evaluation, can your specific situation be clearly understood. After the extensive evaluation, Dr Kramerr will provide you with guidance toward the expected success of his treatment modalities.
How much does it cost?
The total costs can vary greatly among patients depending on the magnitute of the problem or condition. Dr. Kramer's initial evaluation (inclusive of Review of History, Physical Examination, Chiropractic / Holistic Health Assessment, Clinical Impression, and Report of Findings) and Initial treatment (if appropriate) is normally $80.00 - $125.00. The costs for subsequent visits will vary depending on the types of treatments provided, but generally the visits will cost approximately $45.00 - $60.00 each.
What forms of payment does Dr. Kramer accept? Payment is expected at the time of service. Dr. Kramer accepts cash, check, debit card, HSA cards, or credit cards (Visa/MC) for payment. Does Dr. Kramer take my insurance?
Health and accident insurance policies are an arrangement between an insurance carrier and you (the patient). The clinician is a third party to your policy with no guarantee of payment for services rendered. Currently, Dr. Kramer does not have a relationship with any insurance carrier and as such, he is treated as an "out of network provider" for most policies. In addition, Insurance policies vary greatly on what they will or will not cover. You will want to check with your insurance company to see what services they will cover under the terms of your specific policy.
Due to the varied nature of insurance policies and various circumstances specific to reimbursements paid on your policy, Dr. Kramer requests payment at the time of service or purchase. At the conclusion of each visit, you may request a receipt suitable for filing with most insurance companies or third-party payers. If you need assistance in the preparation of any reports and/or forms necessary to file for reimbursement with your insurance carrier, Dr. Kramer will be happy to assist. Any insurance payment forwarded to this office on your behalf will be credited to your account upon receipt.
Does Dr. Kramer have any specials or family plans?
Yes, special payment and/or family plans are available. Please contact the office for specific details.
How long will it take to get well?
The duration of care varies greatly based on the severity of complaint and the length of time an individual has had the problem. In addition, various lifestlye habits can actually work against the doctor's efforts and treatment programs. For example, if you smoke and have back pain, your care will take longer than for an individual who doesn't smoke. Smoking introduces nicotine into the discs of the spine (and other cartilagenous tissues) allowing them to become brittle; in essence, working against the efforts of treatment to encourage healing of those discs. You should also remember that you most likely did not aquire the condition overnight; therefore, you should expect that it will take some patience and time for health to be restored.
If you have any further questions or desire to discuss your specific needs with Dr. Kramer, please don't hesitate to call today.
