Preparing for your naturopathic Consult

prior to first visit:

Once you have scheduled your first Naturopathic visit you will receive a welcome email shortly after. Please provide a valid email address when booking your appointment. Take the time to review this email, as it will contain important information and a few forms to fill out regarding your first visit.

1. The email you will receive will provide instructions to set up a FREE account with OutSmart

OutSmart is the electronic medical software that we use at the clinic. Once you have created your account, you will then have access to the OutSmart Patient Portal. The Patient Portal allows you to log in online and access intake forms, consent forms, treatment plans, handouts, and anything else your doctor wants to communicate to you.

2. Intake and Informed Consent Forms

Please login to the Patient portal on OutSmart and fill in BOTH the Intake form and Informed Consent form online. Once completed, the doctor will receive a notification that you have completed the forms. This will allow the doctor to prepare for your first appointment and ensure that you are not spending valuable time filling out paperwork during your visit.

3. Lab Work

You can also request copies of the most recent blood work, scans, or tests completed by your medical doctor or other health care practitioner(s), or any test results that have shown any abnormalities in the past. Please bring a copy of these results with you or arrange to email, fax, or drop them off prior to your first appointment.

4. Meds and Supplements

Feel free to bring any pharmaceutical medicines and supplements that you are taking currently. Having a list prepared for the doctor is tremendously helpful – these lists can include: medications/supplements, symptoms, and a list of questions you may have.

First Visit:

There are a number of things that your doctor will go over during the first visit. Naturopathic first visits involve a much more comprehensive approach when gathering information. The naturopathic intake may include questions ranging from your bowel movements to quality of sleep and even your emotional health.

In general, most of the first visit will involve information gathering and reviewing:

  • Intake forms you submitted previously

  • History of your illness

  • Current diet and lifestyle habits

  • Previous lab work done

  • Current symptoms

  • General health of all body systems

  • Social and environmental influences

  • Treatments and therapies you have done

  • Medications and supplements that you take

We encourage patients to be fully open and honest during the intake process – this will ensure the doctor will understand you better, and make better recommendations for your personal treatment plan. In our clinic, you would never be judged, criticized, or ridiculed for anything you say to our doctors or staff.

Once your doctor feels enough information has been obtained, you will get their first clinical impressions of the case, and how they would like to approach your specific situation. It may be necessary to order more lab work at this point and the doctor will discuss your options to go about getting the appropriate lab testing done.

Finally, your doctor will provide an overview assessment of your health and together you will discuss suggested recommendations based on a generalized treatment plan. This may include dietary modifications, lifestyle factors, herbs and/or other supplements. While sometimes comprehensive treatment regimens depend on lab results being in, the doctor will usually get you started on a plan to get you feeling better right away.

first follow up:

This visit is usually recommended within 2-3 weeks of the initial visit. The first follow-up visit typically consists of:

  • Performing a brief focused physical exam including vital signs

  • Reviewing labs and imaging requested previously

  • Reviewing all forms or questionnaires the patient has filled out since the first visit

  • Reviewing your specific treatment plan that the doctor has come up with for your case including a discussion in detail of the doctor’s findings, treatment goals, and expectations for your recovery

  • Collaborating on an efficient follow up schedule to complement the treatment plan

second follow up:

Second follow up visits are recommended for anywhere from 2-4 weeks after your first follow up. These visits are shorter and meant to check in and monitor progress.

During follow up consultations, the naturopathic doctor will assess:

  • How you have been feeling since the previous visit

  • How things might have changed with the treatment plan

  • What symptoms are better, which are worse, if there are any new symptoms, and which are unchanged

  • What alterations need to be made to the treatment plan

ongoing visits:

Initially, it may only be necessary to see the doctor once every 2-4 weeks. Depending on your specific treatment regimen, it may be recommended that you commit to a weekly visiting schedule for a two-month period such as when acupuncture is the primary treatment. Generally, as your health improves, the need for follow-up appointments will be reduced.

There are also certain times of the year you may want to see your naturopathic doctor such as before flu season or allergy season as you and your doctor can come up with an effective prevention strategy.

You can also see your naturopathic doctor to check in and monitor your progress towards your health goals on an as-per-needed basis or set schedule agreed upon with your doctor.

If you have not followed up for more than a year, it is highly recommended that you schedule a 1-hour appointment so that the doctor can check in with you, assess the state of your health or make appropriate recommendations to get you back on track.

Acute visits:

These visits are reserved for existing patients of Dr. Nurani’s only and are for more immediate health concerns.