A Stitch in Time Saves…
One way to save money on medical care is to plan ahead to avoid emergency room visits. There are several methods:
Office calls cost about a quarter of an emergency room visit. If you are ill, come in to the office during office hours — as part of your visit we always take measures to anticipate problems and avoid the need for later emergency room visits.
If you've had acute problems in the past that led to emergency visits, ask us if we can help you avoid them in the future. Sometimes an allergy kit or pain reliever can be dispensed with personalized instructions for you.
If you do end up needing urgent care after hours, a visit to our office for suturing etc. is always less expensive than an emergency room visit.
Seatbelts, smoke alarms, care and sobriety while operating power tools, extra care for personal safety — these are health measures. Just as Humpty Dumpty couldn't be put together again, neither can doctors always put us together. We should always care for ourselves with love — our good health and intact body are priceless gifts.
For parents, remember that the example we set for our children will live with them forever. When we wear a helmet while bicycling, or use other safety equipment, they will see and remember. Better than any words we can use, that example will protect our children when we are not there.
It is possible to enjoy good health at reasonable cost. Benjamin Franklin prescribed a stitch in time and an ounce of prevention. Today we know more than doctors knew then, but the stitch and the ounce are just as valuable. For a personal prevention visit, call us.
New Services
Medical information: We have a large database (over 6,000 items) of information on natural medicine, nutrition and illness prevention, and alternative medical treatments. For example, there are successful new treatments for irritable colon, PMS, and gastric hyperacidity and spasm. Our goal is to make current information specific to your health problem available to you during your visit and to route new information to you as it develops. Interested? Please call.
Telephone service: For those of you who live out of Port Townsend, and for your friends and family out of the area, we have acquired a toll-free number to make your calls for telephone consultation easier. The number is 1-800-727-9355. If you would like more information about telephone consultations and fees, please call.
School Problems?
Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, edited by Maurice Shils, M.D. of Cornell University, reports in a study of approximately 200 school children aged 12 to 16 years that 30% were deficient in vitamin C, 33% in riboflavin, and 17% in pyridoxine. The ability of the children to do their school work was significantly increased by small supplements of the above vitamins. Often a child's ability to assimilate iron is impaired by a lack of vitamin C. This was true in many of these children, and on the average they had an improved iron level when their vitamin status was restored to normal.
Related Services
Counseling: Tom Duke is now sharing space in our clinic, doing counseling as an independent practitioner. He received his M.A. degree in psychology from Antioch University and is licensed by the State of Washington as a counselor for individuals and families. Appointments are available by calling 385-6801.
Transcendental Meditation™: We will be giving a course soon. There is no better researched or more effective health-promoting self-help technique. We have a videotape about TM that you are welcome to stop by the office and see. No appointment necessary.
Massage Therapy: Johanna Rienstra. Many physical ailments improve when the body is balanced and calmed through massage and polarity therapy.
Blissfully Thin™: I've been studying and researching nutrition since Adele Davis — this course by Johanna is the best information available on healthful and intelligent eating. On Wednesday, December 7th at 7 p.m. she'll give an introductory talk at our office. All are welcome.