What is holistic care?

• Here is a dictionary definition of holistic: “characterized by comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole”. Holistic means that an individual symptom must be considered in reference to the whole human being.

• A simple illness can be your body’s way of asking you to pay attention to the big picture. Dr. Wendy will use her training in allopathic medicine (modern, mainstream medicine- what they teach in medical school) in combination with her alternative training (using herbal and homeopathic remedies) to consider what is happening. You and Dr. Wendy will be able to explore options for treatment together.

What is DPC?

• Direct Primary Care- a practice model for delivering primary care that eliminates all the middlemen. The doctor works for the patient, not an insurance company or a large medical corporation. The doctor knows you personally, and you have unparalleled access to your own doctor via longer in-person appointments, telehealth appointments, email, and after-hours contact. The individualized relationship between doctor and patient, combined with extended access, minimizes the need for specialist referrals and urgent care visits.

How do DPC practices work?

• Direct Primary Care is a membership model. Patients pay a monthly rate and have access to their doctor. It’s very simple! The monthly membership rate includes well visits (annual physicals, well baby appointments, etc.) as well as any follow-up appointments that are needed for acute illness (sick visits) or management of chronic issues, and most other primary care services. See full list of included services

What if I am healthy and don’t need to go to the doctor very often?

• Wonderful! Dr. Wendy is committed to holistic and preventive care. Most medical practices offer disease-based care, but at Harmony Center the focus is keeping the body systems working in harmony! Dr. Wendy will work with you to address any imbalances before they progress to medical illness. In addition, you will have phone, video and email access to Dr. Wendy, which offers you a partner in working on your health goals. DPC practices are ideal for everyone because they are built around relationships, rather than disease management.

• Everyone has medical issues or questions that arise from time to time, even something simple like the common cold or an allergic reaction. At Harmony Center, the goal is for you to have easy access (24/7) to a doctor that you trust.

What types of insurance are accepted at Harmony Center?

• None! Because Dr. Wendy does not contract with any insurance companies, you can be sure that she is committed to caring for you without being subjected to outside agendas. Keep in mind that the majority of income for most medical practices is through payments from insurance companies. You go to the doctor, the doctor bills the insurance company, the insurance company pays the doctor. This is a simplified picture, but essentially insurance companies are paying doctors’ salaries!

• Insurance companies require substantial documentation that is costly and often intrusive of patient’s privacy. By avoiding the time and expense required to jump through these hoops, DPC physicians are able to spend that time with their patients and provide compassionate care at an affordable cost.

• In addition, many insurance companies offer financial incentives for maximizing the number of patients seen per day, which pushes doctors to spend less time with each patient. There are other financial incentives as well. Dr. Wendy feels strongly that financial incentives should have NO role in medical decision making.

Should I still have medical insurance?

• Yes! Insurance is necessary for any unexpected or catastrophic events.

• Most insurance companies will still cover labs, medications, X-rays, etc. that are written by an out of network provider, although some insurance companies will not. Call your insurance company to find out their policies.

• It is helpful to think of health insurance as similar to car insurance. Car insurance is meant to cover unforeseen disasters, not oil changes and routine maintenance!

Who is eligible for care at Harmony Center?

• Everyone! Dr. Wendy takes care of patients of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you have insurance or not- you can be a patient at Harmony Center. If you are interested in being cared for by a doctor who wants to truly get to know you, who will offer natural and alternative options as well as prescription medications, who will listen to your values when creating a treatment plan- then Harmony Center is the place for you!

What if I was a patient of Dr. Wendy’s at her previous practice? Do I still need a Meet & Greet appointment?

• Please follow the same process as patients who have never met Dr. Wendy, starting with a Meet & Greet appointment (see details here). Having a Meet & Greet appointment will allow Dr. Wendy to give you all the details of the new practice style and answer any questions you may have.

What if Dr. Wendy goes on vacation?

• There will be times that Dr. Wendy is not accessible by phone and may have limited computer access. For any planned vacations, notification will be provided so that patients can be seen or have their prescriptions filled in advance. Attempts will be made to find a physician to cover after-hours urgent calls during these times, but occasionally a visit to urgent care may be warranted.

What if I go on vacation?

• If you get sick while on vacation, you can schedule a phone or video appointment to discuss your symptoms with Dr. Wendy. Most acute illnesses can be managed without a trip to urgent care!

What is the cancellation policy for memberships?

• When initiating a membership, there is a 6 month commitment. Memberships are paid monthly and can be cancelled anytime after the first 6 months.

What is the vaccine policy at Harmony Center?

• Patients are never turned away based on decisions regarding vaccination. Vaccines are available at Harmony Center, and Dr. Wendy is always happy to answer questions and have conversations about vaccination. Lengthy discussions will need a separate appointment (outside the well child physical).

• For vaccinations received at Harmony Center, the cost of the vaccination (and the administration fee) are due at the time of the appointment. If requested, Dr. Wendy is happy to print an insurance invoice that you can submit to your insurance. Most patients are able to get the cost of the vaccinations reimbursed; however, it is highly recommended that you call your insurance company to find out their policy before you join the practice.

Does Dr. Wendy write medical exemptions for vaccination?

• Qualified medical exemptions for vaccinations are very rare. Dr. Wendy follows the CDC guidelines regarding medical exemptions.

• https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/contraindications.html

Does Dr. Wendy practice functional medicine?

• No. If you are looking for a practitioner who will order extensive lab work, looking for levels of rare metals and other trace minerals, Dr. Wendy is not the right fit. She has been trained in herbal and homeopathic remedies, but not functional medicine.