How To Become a Patient

Initial Visit

Payment & Insurance Info

Office Policies

First Initial New Patient Visit

As an integrative medical practice, we recognize that individual needs for different types of evaluation and therapies will vary greatly.  In an attempt to provide more flexibility for potential new patients, we have several options available.

120-Minute New Patient Visit – The majority of individuals seen at the Carolina Center will undergo this type visit, as this is the best setting in which to address chronic health issues, develop a comprehensive understanding of the patient and their needs, and review the various options for evaluation and treatment that could be considered.

60-Minute New Patient Visit – This visit is available for individuals who either have an acute illness (with this being the primary issue addressed in the visit) or for those who are interested in or who are already participating in other activities in the office.

Acute Illness – While we are not a primary care facility and cannot consistently provide immediate care, if there is availability in our schedule, we will make every attempt to see new patients with acute problems as soon as possible after being contacted.  This is especially important for those individuals who may potentially have Lyme Disease or any other tick-borne illness, for which conventional treatment options are frequently limited or unavailable.  Please let our New Patient Coordinator know that you have an acute condition (less than a month) so that we can expedite your appointment scheduling.   If your condition has been present for more than 3-4 months and/or you have numerous problems as part of this condition, then it would be best to do the 90-minute new patient visit.

Assessment for Colon Hydrotherapy – Used consistently since opening our office in 1994, colon therapy is a core component of our treatment programs for many patients.  Some individuals have undergone colon therapy elsewhere and are in good, stable health and would like to become established with us to maintain their treatments.  Others may have digestive issues for which they specifically wish to try colon therapy and would like to expedite the process of starting those treatments.  Because patients undergoing colon therapy are carefully monitored over time, we feel comfortable providing a shorter initial visit in order to get started more easily.  Please notify our office of your desire to do colon therapy, then fill out our New Patient Registration and Medical History Form, and then one of our colon hydrotherapy technicians will contact you to determine if you are candidate to come in this way.  Individuals with numerous chronic health problems are discouraged from using this avenue to become a patient as a more comprehensive evaluation should be undertaken to be sure colon therapy is appropriate and being employed at the right time.  

For Nutritional Testing to support Nutrition Education & Integrative Health Coaching – Among the services provided to current patients as well as non-established individuals is Nutrition Education and Integrative Health Coaching sessions with Mark N. Mead, MSc. The purpose of this work is to educate you about diet, supplements, exercise and other lifestyle strategies that are most likely to promote better health, and to help you design your own personalized program for optimal self-care.  Individuals who would like initial testing to gain insight into potential underlying food-related and physiological issues of concern may opt for Meridian Stress Assessment (MSA) testing to complement their sessions with Mark (see below).  For those who prepay for a series of sessions (for a substantial discount) and wish to augment the information provided in these sessions with nutritional-biochemical testing—namely the SpectraCell Micronutrient Testing and/or Individualized Optimal Nutrition (ION) Panel—this too can be provided but only to those patients who are established with the Carolina Center.  The above shorter initial office visit can be provided, at which time all health issues can be addressed and additional testing recommended. 

For patients undergoing Meridian Stress Assessment (MSA) Testing through Carolina Thermascan - MSA testing is a service offered to non-Carolina Center patients through our affiliate company Carolina Thermascan.  This energy testing procedure uses acupuncture principles to evaluate the energy within the meridians or energy pathways in our body.  Using only a probe to touch the points (no needles), the MSA procedure can detect energy weakness or stress in various organs and systems and be used to give general ideas about possible imbalances or areas of dysfunction.  The system’s computer will then make treatments suggestions based on the findings, combined with the experience of the MSA technician.  For those individuals for have undergone at least two MSA procedures and wish to be evaluated further, this shorter New Patient visit is available. 

Pediatric Visits

Working with pediatric patients (under age 18) can pose certain challenges during the office visit encounter in terms of obtaining an appropriately detailed history and assessing the child physically while balancing these responsibilities with educating parents about the evaluation and treatment recommendations given.  It is required that parents always bring another person with them so that after the child is examined by the practitioner, he or she can be taken out of the consultation room by the other adult giving the parents and practitioner an opportunity to have a candid discussion about the child’s condition and needs.  While it is necessary and required that a pediatric patient attend the initial office visit, subsequent office visits do not always require the child to be present, this needing to occur approximately every other visit. 

Primary Care Physician 

The Carolina Center is a medical practice offering integrative therapies as options for patients experiencing a wide variety of health concerns.  Because of the range of illnesses our patients may be experiencing, they may be seen by many different specialists, as well as a primary care physician.  Because we are not specialists in all areas of health care, we require all patients to continue an established relationship with a primary care physician, as well as any specialists that may be required.  We are not a primary care practice and do not provide after-hours or emergency services.  For these reasons, all patients must have a current doctor-patient relationship with a primary care or family physician.  If you do not have a primary care physician, we will provide you with a referral list of primary care physicians and help you become established with one of them. 

If you have any questions concerning any of the therapies, supplements, medications, or other aspects regarding your health care recommended by the Center, please contact us by e-mail or call during office hours.  Any other health issues, acute illnesses, or drug and surgical complications not directly related to your care at the Center should be addressed to your primary care physician.  If he or she is unavailable, you should seek the nearest emergency room for treatment.  We are generally not available outside of normal office hours and have no arrangement for other physicians to be available.