Frequently Asked Questions
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Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are trained as holistic primary care physicians that focus on prevention and wellness, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of disease. NDs attend post-graduate training at accredited naturopathic medical schools for 4 to5 years. They learn standards of conventional medical care as well as traditional and innovative naturopathic therapies. The naturopathic principles, therapeutic order and the determinants of health are integrated into their education and guide their practice.
The naturopathic principles include treating the whole person, finding and treating the cause of disease, trusting in the healing power of nature, doctor as teacher, do no harm, and prevention. The therapeutic order is a hierarchy of naturopathic intervention that assists in finding the appropriate level of intervention for each patient. The determinants of health allow one to understand what maintains health and how health is disturbed.
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Your patient portal is a secure online tool powered by Athena where you can update your medical history, message your provider, ask billing questions, and check your labs. Just click the “Patient Portal” button on the home page or on the website footer and then select your provider.
Click the links below to learn more about Athena Patient Portal:
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Of course not! We are happy to work with other providers, share notes (with your permission) and collaborate care.
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We sure do. We accept most forms of insurance and are preferred providers with Aetna and Blue Cross. Since all plans are different and specific, we highly recommend calling your insurance company first to ensure that your plan covers naturopathic medicine.
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In the state of Alaska Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare do not cover NDs. Tricare does however cover Acupuncture. We will work with cash pricing for people who have one of these insurances. If you do have a secondary insurer, we will provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your secondary for reimbursement.
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Yep! We can do a regular head to toe physical and order any annual labs that you may need.
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You sure can!
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You bet! We see kids from birth on up for well child checks and/or for specific issues. We love helping kids learn how to lead healthier lifestyles and prevent disease before it presents.
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A new patient visit can last up to 75 minutes. We want to get a full picture of your story, your health, and your journey thus far. We’ll do a physical exam, order any necessary labs and discuss a treatment plan from there. We want to really get to know you so we can better help you. Follow up visits are usually 20-45 minutes.
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3 days before your visit, log in to the patient portal and fill out your health history- this will save time so that you get more time with the provider and helps maximize your visit. If you have had recent labs, get a copy and bring them in with you. You can also sign a release in the office so we can get them for you. Be sure to come early to sign a few forms, and have a cup of tea while you do it.
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You’ve got options! You can schedule through the portal at your convenience, any time day or night. If you know you’ll need a follow up, it’s best to schedule before you leave the clinic so that you know you have the day and time you want. And you can always call us- we’re here for you between 9am-5pm, M-F.
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Nope! Just call to schedule. If you want us to bill insurance though, you will likely need a referral which you can have your doctor send over. If you need a referral and don’t already have a doctor, you may see one of our doctors or nurse practitioners for this.
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We do! These may be 20-45 minutes depending on what’s going on. Examples of acute visits are: sore throat, yeast infection, STI screening, UTI, fevers, cough, etc. If it’s very likely that you will need antibiotics, you will likely be recommended to see our nurse practitioner.
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If you need a referral to a specialist then insurance wants specific information from us (ie- physical exam, medical necessity, etc) so we will need to see you. Make an appointment with one of the doctors and we can get that taken care of.
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Maybe, maybe not. We want to meet you where you are and treat you with the plan that best fits and feels comfortable for you. We may make suggestions that you don’t like and are not willing to do, and that’s ok! We’ve got lots of tools and tricks up our sleeves. Change takes time for anyone and our willingness to actively participate in our own health varies. We’ll meet you where you are and develop a plan together.
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You bet! Bring the paperwork in with you as some have different requirements for labs and/or vitals. They typically require a full physical exam and screening labs.
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Login to your patient portal. Click on the “My Health” button. In My Health, there will be tabs across the top of the page. On the far right, there is a tab called “Medical Forms”. This tab only exists on a computer, not a phone. Weird, we know. Your plan will be titled “Discussion Note”.
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A few minutes before you appointment, login to your provider’s “Virtual Waiting Room”. You will be emailed a link to this the evening before your appointment. You can also find the link at the bottom of this website. Just scroll down a bit and you’ll see it!
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We do have some supplements at Thrive. You can call and place and order for us to prep for pick up or just stop by and say hi! If it’s a custom made tea or tincture that you’re after, you will likely need to get that from us. If you would prefer though, you can order most supplements online through our virtual medicinary. We do suggest that you order through our online medicinary (link at the bottom of this page). All supplements on this site are 15% off retail to keep costs low and will ship directly to your house. The reason that we prefer that you use this site versus Amazon or other online retail markets is a matter of quality, potency and expiration dates. Many other sites use 3rd party sellers and quality is not guaranteed.