New Patient Information

Please carefully read all the materials contained in the links below prior to completing or submitting any forms or payment. 

Types of New Patient Visits – We offer several types of visits, though most will do the Standard Comprehensive Visit.  If unsure of your needs, speak to our New Patient Coordinator. 

How Do I Become A Patient – Detailed information about each step in this process, what is included in the new patient visit and the “Introduction to the Carolina Center” orientation session with variations that might occur based on individual circumstances. 

I am Ready to become a New Patient, What do I do next? – Explains the steps for filling out the proper paperwork to return to our office

The Patient Experience – an overview of what to expect in the initial and subsequent office visits

Payment and Insurance Information – information on payment and how we work with insurance

Patient Registration Forms - Here are the Adult, Pediatric and Autism Spectrum forms.

Types of New Patient Visits

As an integrative medical practice, we recognize that individual needs for different types of evaluations and therapies will vary greatly.  In an attempt to provide more flexibility for new patients, we have several options available.  For more details see How to become a Patient.

Most new patients, adults, and children, will want and need the Standard Comprehensive Visit.

• A 90-120 minute visit to investigate your overall condition and health challenges
• Best setting in which we can address chronic health issues, develop an in-depth understanding of you and your needs, and review various options for evaluation and treatment. 
• While optional, we strongly recommend that all new patients/parents attend the “Introduction to the Carolina Center” New Patient Orientation, ideally prior to the initial office visit although this can also be done the same day as the office visit for out-of-town patients. 
• The cost is $675 for adults and $610 for children.

For those individuals who are acutely ill with Lyme Disease (i.e., manifesting acute symptoms), we reserve specific times most weeks when we can quickly see these patients.  This Urgent New Patient Visit is primarily reserved for patients who have been ill for less than a month. 

• Typically done in a two-hour visit as above but may be done in a shorter visit if there are time limitations.
• Please let our New Patient Coordinator know if this is the kind of visit you need so that we can expedite your scheduling. 
• Rate will vary based on time needed and spent for the visit. 
• Acute Lyme patients are also encouraged to attend the next scheduled “Introduction to the Carolina Center” as there is much valuable information shared in this session that will help you get the most from your experience. 

We frequently get requests to see multiple members of a family and are happy to provide Combined Family Visits with enough advance notice so that our schedule can be adjusted.  

• Limited to two individuals for a combined three-hour visit.
• Each patient will receive a $50 discount off the Initial Office Visit charge. 
• Optional, although strongly recommended, is attendance of the “Introduction to the Carolina Center” Group Orientation ideally prior to this visit.
• Ask our New Patient Coordinator for more information.  

How Do I become a Patient?

We greatly appreciate your interest in becoming a patient at the Carolina Center.  In contrast with conventional medicine, integrative medicine involves an entirely different way of thinking about health and the body; and the processes and procedures we follow are not always familiar to most people.  We need to obtain a great deal of information from you in order to provide the best care, and just as importantly, there is much you will need to learn from us.

While optional, it is strongly recommended that all incoming new patients attend one of our regularly scheduled “Introduction to the Carolina Center” Group Orientation sessions during which time you will meet our staff, tour our office, and understand how we can help you.  We encourage you to bring along the person who can be a support partner to you during this process.  This can be your spouse, significant other, life partner, family member or friend—someone who can help you get the most out of this experience and hold you accountable.  The more this person knows, the more he or she will be able to support you.  Hopefully this same person can come to all your office visits, as there is frequently much to take in, and of course, two heads are better than one! 

During the Introduction to the Carolina Center, you will learn the following:

• What makes the Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine unique compared with conventional medical facilities;
• How we approach health and disease at the cellular and molecular levels, rather than the more conventional emphasis on organ systems;
• How we evaluate health status using a variety of labs and testing techniques;
• The diverse ways that we as a staff are committed to supporting you;
• The various treatment modalities we utilize to help our patients achieve their goals;
• How we utilize diet and nutrition as the foundation of our programs, giving specific instructions as to how to adjust your diet to eliminate any food sensitivities or allergies;
• How to use the samples of supplements we will provide with their main purpose being to assist in improved digestive functioning;
• How our practice operates with explanations about how to schedule appointments, how to contact us if you have questions, how to maximize reimbursement from your insurance company, and other information about the policies and procedures of our office;
• What to expect after starting your treatment plan—for example, what the subsequent 4 to 6 months will be like, and potential timetables for accomplishing your goals.

You will be given dietary and supplement recommendations during this Group Orientation, with suggestions for specific steps to take prior to your actual office visit.  We hope these steps will help launch your healing process so that by the time you have your initial office visit, some health benefits already will have been realized.  In short, our intention is not merely to educate you about the Center and our approach, but to give you some initial guidance so that you can get off to a good start and make the most of your experience at the Carolina Center.

We believe that participating in the orientation session and following the preparatory recommendations we have developed sets the stage for you to achieve the most effective outcome.  We do, however, recognize that some patients need to be seen more quickly or have to travel from greater distances and we are willing to work with those individuals to expedite their visit.  For out-of-town patients we can schedule New Patient visits on the days of the ‘Introduction to the Carolina Center” so one can get the most out of their time in the Center.  Please speak directly to our New Patient Coordinator about your particular situation and we will work to accommodate your needs. 

Part of the initial office visit experience includes obtaining important diagnostic information that can guide our staff in determining the best course of treatment for your condition.  One of the most effective tools commonly used by integrative medicine practitioners is the Meridian Stress Assessment, a non-invasive computerized test for assessing overall health of organs and systems as well as factors that may be adversely affecting your health or interfering with normal functioning.  This procedure will ideally be scheduled to be done some time before your initial office visit or on the day of that visit prior to seeing Dr. Pittman. 

In the New Patient Office Visit, you will spend the first 45-60 minutes with Dr. Pittman’s medical assistant, Venica Harris, during which time many of the details of your medical history will be taken.  You will then spend an additional 60-90 minutes with Dr. Pittman to expand on this history, discuss current health challenges, and review personal health goals.  We will develop a treatment plan at that time based on all information gathered.  After this visit, Ms. Harris will meet with you again to help you implement this plan.  The next step will be laboratory testing, followed by implementation of specific treatments as indicated.  Your treatment plan will then be fine-tuned at your next appointment, which will occur approximately four weeks later once all laboratory test results have come back. 

The cost for the initial visit and two hour Meridian Stress Assessment test is $675.  For patients under age 12 we will perform an abbreviated but focused one hour initial Meridian Stress Assessment test and the cost for this visit is $610.  The cost for the first follow-up office visit is $298, and then subsequent follow-up office visits are $248.  Laboratory testing is additional, with costs being widely variable based on insurance coverage.  Your first six months of treatment will likely include three follow-up appointments, two nutrition education sessions, laboratory testing to include a chelation challenge test to assess heavy metal burden as well as possibly IV nutrient infusions, colon hydrotherapy and/or hyperbaric oxygen therapy—the need for which will be determined based on your clinical history and specific laboratory findings. 

Our procedure for processing new patients is to collect a $200 non-refundable deposit along with the New Patient Registration Form then schedule the “Introduction to the Carolina Center” Group Orientation if this has not yet been done.  This can be done the same day as the Initial Office visit if needed, primarily for patients from out-of-town.  An additional deposit of $475 is due the date of the Orientation at the time you schedule your initial Meridian Stress Assessment Test and office visit.  This payment is fully refundable if you cancel your appointments within a minimum notice of two weeks.  While strongly recommended, the Group Orientation is optional as we recognize the challenges of scheduling this separate activity however if this is not done prior to the initial office visit, we hope that new patients can return for this session later.  

Pediatric Visits

Trained in pediatrics, Dr. Pittman has remained active in providing comprehensive integrative medical care for children and adolescents.   The same procedures outlined above apply to pediatric patients, ideally with both parents or guardians attending the orientation lecture.  While we do not recommend that children attend the orientation, well-behaved and engaged teens are welcome.   Be aware that no testing or any other procedures will be performed at Orientation.  This is purely an information focused event.

Working with pediatric patients can pose certain challenges during the office visit encounter in terms of obtaining a detailed history and assessing the child physically, while also balancing these responsibilities with educating parents about the evaluation and treatment recommendations given. 

Just as we recommend that adults bring a “Support Buddy” to their office visits, it is very helpful for parents to 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, thus 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, the child does not always need to be present at subsequent office visits.  However, we may request that the child is present at approximately every other visit, depending on the specific situation.    

Working With Patients Traveling Greater Distances

Despite the widespread and ever-growing popularity of integrative medicine, the number of physicians who embrace this approach is still quite limited in the middle and eastern portions of North Carolina, as well as in southern Virginia and South Carolina.  We are used to working with patients who may travel greater distances for care and have recommendations for making the most out of their time in Raleigh.  For patients who must travel more than two hours to the clinic, we will attempt to perform as much as possible on the day of the visit, including the Group Orientation if it has been impossible to attend in advance, as well as the Meridian Stress Assessment test, initial laboratory testing and initial office visit. 

Please let us know if your health issues would limit your ability to do all these procedures in one day.  If you consider the number of procedures planned for one day to be a challenge, we encourage you to schedule them over the course of two days, staying overnight so that you can get through this process with no health setbacks.   Tuesdays and Thursdays are typically the best days for staying overnight to get testing done the next morning; otherwise, plan to get everything done in one day.  Please notify our New Patient coordinator if you have specific needs based on your distance traveled.  

Combined Family Visits

We frequently get requests to see multiple members of a family, which is something that we can provide with enough advance notice so that our schedule can be adjusted.  A new patient visit is 1 ½ to 2 hours for one person.  If we see two family members at the same time, this will save time, extending the visit to 2 ½ to 3 hours.  With this time savings, we are willing to reduce the charge by $50 per person.  

I am ready to become a new patient, what do I do next?

We’re excited that you are ready to take the next step and become a patient at the Carolina Center.  We want to help you navigate this process as easily as possible.  Be sure you have reviewed all information on this page.

Once you have reviewed this information, select the appropriate registration forms below (Adult, Pediatric or Autism Spectrum Disorder) and print all the documents.  These forms include the following:

• Complete the “Medical History Form” using the appropriate form based on your condition:
  • Adult – to be used by individuals over 18 years of age regardless of condition or planned treatment
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder – for children and young adult with health issues specifically related to learning disorders, behavioral issues, speech delay, ADD, ADHD or any type of autism from mild to severe.
  • Pediatric – under 18 for all other health issues unrelated to behavior
  • A “Review Sheet” where you will place a check beside the type visit you request, complete the credit card information if you wish to pay your deposit by credit card, and sign the bottom indicating that you understand you are submitting a non-refundable deposit for your initial office visit with the balance due at the time that appointment is scheduled. 
  • Complete the “Patient Registration/Insurance Information” form being sure to provide us your insurance information.  Even though we are out-of-network, we will determine insurance benefits and assist with filing when circumstances merit.  A copy of your insurance card will help in this process. 
  • Fill out the “Request for Medical Records” form to give to any health care providers who you want to send us copies of your records.  Do not give us this form – this is for you to use to assist in obtaining medical records. 
  • Return all requested materials to our office along with the non-refundable $200 deposit.  
  • Once these materials are received, we will be in touch to determine the best next step, ideally scheduling to attend the “Introduction to the Carolina Center” Orientation session.  We recommend that patients attend Orientation prior to (or the day of) the initial evaluation. 
  • At Orientation, the balance for your initial visit will be due and your appointment for the initial Meridian Stress Assessment Test (MSA) and your office visit will be made.  This balance can be refunded up to 2 weeks prior to your actual office visit, less the fee for the MSA if this has already been done.  The $200 deposit is not refundable.   
  • If circumstances are such that it is not possible to schedule the Group Orientation prior to or on the day of the initial office visit then we will schedule your initial office visit at this time and attempt to schedule Orientation later. 

If you have any questions about this process, please contact Younger Mattox, our New Patient Coordinator at 919-571-4391, extension 101 or ymattox@carolinacenter.com.  

Once our New Patient Coordinator has received your paperwork and payment, he will be in touch to schedule the optional “Introduction to the Carolina Center” Orientation, or the actual new patient office visit.  These sessions are carried out approximately every two weeks on Tuesday evenings and mid-day on Thursdays and Saturdays.  This conversation will be your opportunity to discuss specific details of your situation so that we can help determine the best way to expedite your experience at the Center.  Patients with more acute health issues such as Lyme Disease will be seen as quickly as possible with Orientation being done at a later time.  Patients who travel a great distance should ask about combining as many procedures and activities into one or two days as possible, making the most out of your trip.  We also provide combined family visits for couples, siblings or a parent and child.   Our goal is to help you get through this process with the least inconvenience so please let us know about your needs.  

Patient Registration Forms

New Patient (Adult) Registration Form 

To be used for all individuals older than 18 years old.

New Patient (Pediatric) Registration Form

To be used for all children and teens up to 18 years old who are presenting for treatment of health issues other than Autism Spectrum Disorder.

New Patient (Autism) Registration Form

For all children or young adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (which includes behavioral, social and speech delay).

Younger Mattox

(919) 571-4391 ext. 101

newpatients@carolinacenter.com

The Patient Experience

    Key steps in the process are as follows:

Initial Comprehensive Assessment

Initial Evaluation and the Officie Visit Experience

Follow-up Office Visit: Review, Reassass and Redirect

The Evaluation Process

The Individualized Treatment Plan

 

Initial Comprehensive Assessment

The first step entails an extensive office visit with our medical director.  This consists of a thorough medical history, a comprehensive discussion regarding your current health situation, and a physical examination as warranted.  Your current health issues and goals are reviewed, and a plan for evaluation and treatment is formulated. 

Initial Evaluation and the Office Visit Experience

At the core of your treatment plan at the Carolina Center is the initial evaluation and subsequent follow-up office visits, each of which is an opportunity for you and Dr. Pittman to review your health status and to assess your progress.  It is in these meetings that your course of treatment is assessed, adjustments made and new strategies reviewed and implemented as needed.

Staying current with these office visits is critical as there are often many components of treatment being carried out that must be monitored on a regular basis.  Whether you are a new patient preparing to start a treatment program or an established patient who simply comes in for routine office visits, it is important that appointments be scheduled on a regular and consistent basis, and that you make every attempt to keep those scheduled appointments.

We strongly recommend bringing along a friend, family member, or “Support Buddy” who can accompany you on as many office visits as possible, serving as a second set of ears.  Even though you will receive a detailed written plan, it is still helpful to take notes to expand on what is provided.  Our experience is that having this second person along at the visit results in greater success in following through with your treatment plan and realizing more beneficial results over time.

New patients will spend the first 45-60 minutes with our Medical Assistant, followed by an additional 60-90 minutes with Dr. Pittman. Our main goals for this initial visit are as follows: (1) to carry out an in-depth review of your history and medical records; (2) to perform a physical exam as indicated; and (3) to review current medications, diet, and supplements, so as to formulate a plan for investigation and treatment tailored to your needs.

Unlike traditional medical practices that are typically confined to 10-15 minute time slots Dr. Pittman will utilize this approximately two-hour initial visit to investigate your overall condition and health challenges in considerable depth, thus enabling him to construct a comprehensive picture of how to best treat you. At that time a general plan of investigation and treatment will be implemented so that between the initial office visit and first follow-up, health benefits may already be observed.

Follow-Up Office Visit:  Review, Reassess and Redirect

The first follow-up office visit is typically scheduled about 4 to 5 weeks after the initial visit to allow time for all lab testing to be performed and lab findings to be received; this timeframe also enables you to undergo some initial treatments and to report any treatment effects in the first follow-up office visit.

At the first follow-up, you will spend the first 15 minutes with the Medical Assistant, then an additional 45 minutes with Dr. Pittman.  Subsequent follow-up visits include an initial 15 minutes with our Medical Assistant, followed by 30 minutes with Dr. Pittman.  During this visit, we will review your response to our initial treatments as well as all laboratory test results in order to fine-tune your treatment plan.

New patients typically are seen back for their first follow-up office visit about 4-5 weeks after their initial visit.  The next follow-up visit is approximately six weeks later, and subsequent follow-ups are typically every two months until stability is achieved.  If your case is very complex or more data are needed, then we may recommend scheduling more frequent office visits.  We often request once-a-month follow-up visits for patients who are on ongoing complex antibiotic regimens.

Until you have completed your main treatment program and stabilized, we do not recommend going longer than every two months without a revisit.  Our goal is to get you to that point as quickly as feasible, then develop a simplified maintenance program that you can easily follow. 

Once stable and in maintenance, we request that you maintain regular follow-up visits at least every six months.  We understand that many primary care physicians are only concerned about an annual check-up; thus patients often assume that is all they will need at the Carolina Center.  However, because we embrace a more proactive and preventive approach to medicine, we would like you to be seen every six months to ensure that we are staying on top of risk factors and adequately monitoring your health.

Any patient who has not been seen in-person in at least three years must come back in as a New Patient, completing a new Registration and Medical History Form and undergoing a Comprehensive New Patient visit.  

The Evaluation Process

Specific laboratory testing enables us to better evaluate your overall health situation and guide treatment recommendations.  The testing tools we use help us assess the health and functional integrity of your digestive, cardiovascular, hormonal, nervous, and immune systems, as well as your body’s toxic burden and overall nutritional health.

 

The Individualized Treatment Plan

Our treatments are mainly designed to:

•       repair cellular damage

•       optimize nutritional status

•       restore healthy cell functioning

•       eliminate toxic factors

•       treat microbial infections

•       improve overall functioning

Payment & Insurance Information

Payments for all office visits, laboratory testing and other procedures are due in full at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made in advance. 

Health Insurance Coverage for Services at the Center 

The Carolina Center does not contract with insurance companies, including Medicare/Medicaid/Tricare.  Moreover, although many of our services have been covered by insurance in the past, we can provide no assurance or guarantee that you will receive insurance reimbursement for any of the charges at the Center.  As a courtesy, these charges will be filed with your insurance company if it is determined that you have out-of-network benefits, and you will receive reimbursement from the Center when appropriate.  The main exception is Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), which will not reimburse for services, regardless of whether you have out-of-network benefit status.  In addition, the Carolina Center will not provide BCBS any records for the purpose of insurance determination if requested by the insurance company or the patient.  Finally, the Center has “opted out” of the Medicare program, and Medicare will not reimburse for any fees paid to the Center or the patient.

In summary, your ability to receive insurance reimbursement for any of the charges at the Carolina Center will depend on the specific policies of your insurance carrier.  With the exception of BCBS and Medicare, many insurance carriers are increasingly willing to provide coverage for integrative medicine, recognizing its emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention (which ultimately translates into lower health care costs over time).  If you are among those millions of Americans who cannot afford health insurance, we will work with you, as much as possible, to accommodate your budgetary constraints, and we will plan strategically to minimize costs while hopefully meeting your treatment and health-related goals.

Charges For Services for Patients with Insurance with non-BCBS Out-Of-Network Benefits

At the time of each office visit, our staff will determine if out-of-network benefits are available for each patient.  If such benefits are available, we will file the charges on your behalf.  A partial payment of 80% of the total bill is required at the time of service.  Subsequently, depending on what action is taken by your insurance carrier after submission of the claim, you may receive a refund, be billed for a balance, or owe nothing.           

For Services for Patients without Out-Of-Network Benefits, who have BCBS, Medicare, Medicaid or have no insurance

Patients who are unable to get any insurance coverage for services at the Carolina Center will receive a 20% discount for payment at the time of service.