Welcome, New Patients!
Below you’ll find information about forms, how to prepare for treatment, payment, insurance, and what you can expect when working with me.
I look forward to supporting your health and healing!
- Kate Lumsden, L.Ac.
New Patient Forms
All your forms can be completed online. Within 24 hours of booking your Initial Consultation here, you will receive an email with a link to your New Patient Intake to complete prior to your consult. If you have any questions, contact me and I’m happy to help.
Payment
Payment is accepted at the time of service. Forms of payment accepted include: cash, check, credit card, and flex spending account. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please let me know during your 15 minute free consultation and I will explain the reduced rates structure for financial hardship.
Insurance
After the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, many people now have insurance coverage for acupuncture services. I provide Superbills (similar to a detailed receipt) on request that can be submitted to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Many of my patients do this, and I’m happy to help you learn more about your insurance coverage to see if this could work for you too.
If you’d like my help in learning about potential insurance coverage you may have for acupuncture, start the process by emailing a photo of the front & back of your insurance card along with your date of birth to me at kate.acupuncturist@gmail.com. All personal information is kept strictly confidential, and will only be used to communicate with your insurance company. I will contact you with the results of your insurance inquiry soon after.
How to Prepare for Acupuncture
In order to get the most out of your acupuncture treatment, be sure to come in having eaten recently (no empty stomachs please) and wear loose comfortable clothing. Long loose skirts, shorts, or loose pants work great so I can access points above the knee if needed. Avoid drinking caffeine in excess of your usual consumption to help your nervous system rest more deeply.
After treatment, it’s best if you can take it relatively easy and eat healthy food. Avoiding high intensity workouts, saunas, ice baths, runs in the wind, and heavy/icy foods or alcohol will help the healing effects of your treatment continue in the days to come.
What can I expect in my Initial Consultation?
Before your Initial Consultation, you’ll complete your New Patient Form online for me to review before your appointment time. In your consultation, I’ll get a thorough picture of your current health, health history, and goals for the future along with any concerns you may have. I also like to get a feel for your daily life rhythm (work, family, pleasure, stressors) and diet. We’ll discuss a treatment plan to meet your current goals. Then you’ll receive a treatment that can include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and diet & lifestyle recommendations.
What happens in a Treatment?
When you arrive, I will check in with you on the progress of your primary health challenge, and generally digestion, elimination, sleep, energy, and mood. I will feel your pulse at your wrist and look at your tongue (since COVID we do this outside at a distance before your treatment), and then I will give you an gentle acupuncture treatment with hair-thin sterile single-use acupuncture needles. You will get to rest comfortably for anywhere from 15-30 minutes (some patients take a nap) and then the needles will be removed. Adjunctive treatments can include moxibustion, cupping, gua sha, or essential oils as necessary. If I think that herbal medicine will be of use, I’ll recommend that and explain dosage which will also be sent to you by email. Herbal medicine is either provided in office for an additional fee or I’ll direct you where to purchase it.