Your Visit

Before Your Visit

1. Insurance.
   Check with your insurance company about any dietitian-related services that may be covered under your policy.
2. Finding the Right Dietitian for You.
   When you call the office to schedule your appointment, please provide a few details about your health concerns and questions so we can be sure to pair you with the proper dietitian. If your visit is covered under insurance, please let our scheduler know this at the time you are scheduling your appointment, as not all of our dietitians are in-network with every insurance company listed above.
3. Online Health Assessment.
   For your first visit with us, we will want to gather background information about you to help us direct our care and recommendations. This will be done, in part, by filling out our online health assessment form that you can access and complete through your online portal (created for you once you schedule your first appointment). Once your first session is scheduled, you will receive an email with details on how to access our HIPAA-compliant patient portal, where you will be able to access and complete all other required legal forms. Please complete these forms before your first visit so we can be as prepared as possible for your visit and avoid taking time away from counseling to have to complete paperwork.
4. Your History.
   Please contact your other healthcare providers to be sure they send us copies of any pertinent medical records or test results in a timely manner. We prefer to have those on-hand prior to your visit, if possible. You can also safely and securely upload test results and other documents you may have in your own files through your patient portal. You may also bring copies with you that we can upload for you. While this is not a requirement, it will greatly assist us in determining the best course for your nutritional care.
5. List of Medications.
   Make a list of the medications you are taking, including prescription as well as over-the-counter, and any dietary or herbal supplements. It may be most helpful to bring the bottles with you or take photos of the labels (being sure to capture the amounts and forms of ingredients contained in each supplement).
6. Bring Your Person.
   Consider bringing a friend or relative with you on your visit. There is no additional charge for a friend or loved one to attend your session. It may be helpful to bring someone to help, take notes, share pertinent medical information, and talk openly with us.
7. Food Log.
   Start keeping a food log and/or symptom log, if you feel this would provide your dietitian with a more accurate representation of your eating habits vs. just relying on recall. It helps to be as specific as possible with times you eat, as well as any product brand names, and portions of each food. We recommend a minimum of 3 “typical” days for a food log and a week to a month (or longer) for a symptom log. Please do NOT keep a food log if you currently have, or have a history of, an eating disorder until after speaking with your dietitian first.
8. Your List of Questions.
   Write down a list of your primary questions and concerns. It is important to us that we address what’s most important to you. People usually think they will be able to remember everything they want to discuss, but then often forget important details and/or questions once they’re sitting in our office. So don’t be shy about pulling out any list you may have for us! Keep in mind, if you have multiple areas of interest to discuss, it may be worthwhile to prioritize your items in case time doesn’t allow each one to be covered adequately during the initial session. Any additional areas of concern can, of course, be addressed at future sessions.

During Your Visit

Whether your session takes place in person, by phone, or via telehealth, your initial appointment is designed to give us a comprehensive understanding of your health, lifestyle, nutrition, and personal goals.

During the session, we will review your medical history, current health concerns, lifestyle habits, food preferences, typical dietary intake, supplement use, and the specific outcomes you hope to achieve through our work together. We will also discuss any factors that may be affecting your nutrition and overall well-being, including your daily routine, eating patterns, challenges, preferences, and areas where you would like additional support.

Prior to or during your appointment, we may review information you have submitted through our secure, HIPAA-compliant patient portal, including completed medical and nutrition forms, recent laboratory or medical test results when applicable, current food intake or food logs when relevant, medications and dietary supplements, and other pertinent health information.

This detailed assessment allows us to look at the bigger picture rather than focusing on nutrition in isolation. Together, we will identify your key priorities and develop a personalized, realistic plan that reflects your health needs, lifestyle, preferences, and goals. You will leave the session with greater clarity about the next steps and a clear direction for moving forward.