“Health is possible only by gaining a thorough understanding of your body’s design and then developing a strategy to support that design.”
Sam Queen,
Institute for Health Realities
Background Information:
I joined in a working alliance with a complimentary health clinic in Colorado called Institute for Health Realities in May, 2007. You can access additional information on IHR and it’s principals by going to www.healthrealities.org
I met the owner/president, Sam Queen, of the Institute at a clinical nutrition conference in February, 2007. I knew immediately that I wanted to begin offering blood chemistry profiles within my practice and to also utilize Sam Queen’s 40+ years of health protocols. Over the years, Health Realities has identified 6 Subclinical Defects that tend to appear BEFORE the traditional disease “labels” surface. These markers represent the homeostatic or “balance markers” the body uses to maintain its own health. The chemistry profile I am able to develop, gives me a snapshot in time of what is going on in a persons body at the precise time of the draw. It “talks” to us and tells us how the body is responding to stressors, toxins, how it is utilizing supplements & nutrients, if it has stored toxins, if there is inflammation present, if your immune system is compromised — it reads like a road map of what’s going on inside your body and it is amazingly accurate!
Here Are The Particulars:
COST: $714.15
*$314.15 (includes S&H) paid directly to Institute for Health Realities for your Blood Chemistry. (More info. on how to access blood specimen kits later.)
*$400.00 paid in advance when you return your Individual Health Profile to me. This fee includes two 15 minute follow ups via telephone or e-mail should you have questions following our face to face or telephone consultation. (FYI – I will conduct nutritional evaluations over the telephone with family members or other referrals who are unable to travel to my office. My preference is always to meet who I’m working with in person – however – with the blood chemistry info. I feel like I have so much more “inside” information than I’ve had to work with in the past that actually meeting face to face with an individual is less critical. Also, all telephone conferences will be tape recorded and the client will receive a copy of the tape.)
What About Insurance Coverage:
At present, most carriers, to my knowledge, will not cover the nutrition consultation itself — but you may or may not be able to get the blood chemistry covered. As always, it will depend upon whether or not you have a physician who is willing to work with you re: coding. To submit the cost of the blood chemistry to your insurance, you need an appropriate code. In the past, I have had clients get coverage for supplements that were “prescribed” to them by their physician for a particular health issue/disorder so that may be something else you would want to investigate.
Just so you don’t go into this blindly, however, I would advise anyone who is interested in having their blood chemistry evaluated to EXPECT to pay the full amount out of pocket.
How Do I Get Started:
Contact me via telephone/e-mail (540-898-5219 or dphetrick@verizon.net) to indicate your interest. I will then complete a Practitioner Referral Form and fax it to the Institute. That will indicate to them that you are my client and that you will be contacting them for your Testing Kit. You will call the Institute at 719-598-4968 and order your Blood Chemistry Kit. You will, at that time, pay for your blood work with a credit card ($300 plus S&H)). After you have contacted me, I will send you the necessary paperwork that needs filled out.
One of the forms you will fill out is an “Individual Health Profile Questionnaire.” This is a comprehensive questionnaire that can not be completed at one sitting & requires information from your dentist, so don’t put off getting started on it. You are asked to complete the questionnaire and mail it to me along with your $400.00 TWO WEEKS prior to your scheduled consultation. I cannot conduct the consultation without this completed questionnaire. FYI: It typically takes about a week to a week and a half to get your blood work results back so don’t delay on completing your paperwork.
Getting Your Blood Drawn:
You will get your blood drawn at a Quest Diagnostics Lab. You can either present yourself and take your chances on how long it takes to get in or call ahead and make an appointment. (I’ve always made an appointment and have been in and out of the Lab in 15 minutes) The three locations I am familiar with in Fredericksburg are: 10530 Spotsylvania Avenue/Suite 101 Fredericksburg (across from Lee’s Hill Shopping Center); 12008 Kilarney Drive and a brand new location in the area of the new section of medical offices past the Mary Washington Hospital Emergency Room. Note that the Institute for Health Realities recommends strongly that you have your blood work taken first thing in the a.m. AND you have it drawn on a Monday or Tuesday as the blood samples will be shipped to Colorado Springs and you don’t want to risk the samples sitting in a post office somewhere over the weekend or getting caught up in holiday mail service.
In order to make an appointment call 1-888-277-8772. FYI – the earliest they take an appointment is 8:40 a.m. However, they open their doors at 8:00 a.m. So, if you need/want to go earlier than 8:40 just show up at 8 a.m. when they open.
Because you will be going without anything to eat or drink (except water) twelve hours prior to your blood test — I recommend as early of an appointment in the day as possible. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water prior to going for your blood work as you will be required to give a urine sample. Remaining hydrated also will make it easier for the phlebotomist to find a good vein for the draw. Remember to take your test kit with you – it includes the order for the lab work and directions for the Lab Tech who will be doing the draw. There is one form contained in with the testing kit that you will need to complete. It will save you time at the lab if you have that done ahead of time.
What Happens Next:
I will receive a copy of your blood chemistry results. At that point, I will need a period of time to interpret those results. I will contact you when I get your results and we will make an appointment for your consultation at that time. If I already have your Individual Health Profile when I get your Blood chemistry results it speeds up the process.
What Will I Find Out in My Consultation:
Using a Health-based Model, you will learn how to prevent disease and if necessary, how to rebuild your health. All this will be accomplished by identifying and responding to the 6 Subclinical defects that underlie all infections and chronic diseases. Those six defects are as follows:
- pH Balance (Acid/Alkaline levels of the body)
- Anaerobic Metabolism (A feature of degenerative disease processes)
- Free Calcium Excess (A result of acid stress that leads to a variety of health problems and may indicate chronic inflammation)
- Chronic Inflammation (Inflammation represents the body’s attempt to repair itself, fight infections, fight cancer and rid itself of allergens – when it is not successful and can’t get turned off – the result is chronic inflammation)
- Connective Tissue Breakdown (Gradual breakdown of tissue accounts for a wide range of chronic disease conditions in people of all ages. Those that are most apparent are hernias, bleeding gums, weakened periodontal ligaments & loose teeth, a weak back, an enlarged heart, poor lung function, arthritic joints, premature facial lines and varicose veins.
- Oxidative Stress (Occurs whenever there is an imbalance between the production of free radicals and the body’s ability to neutralize the free radicals.)
You will receive a Supplement and Dietary Action Plan outlining what was recommended to you during your consultation. You will also receive a Supplement Order form/Price List should you decide to order recommended supplements through the Institute.
Client Instructions
You’ll get the best possible results when you follow these instructions carefully:
- Complete the patient data section located at the top of the Quest Diagnostics Lab requisition form which comes with your testing kit. Your signature is required.
- You can locate a Quest Diagnostics Lab near you by calling 1-888-277-8772 or go online at www.questdiagnostics.com under “Find a Quest Location.” When you call the number given above, you will get an automated service that allows you to find out locations as well as make an appointment. (In Fredericksburg, the earliest appointment of the day is 8:40 a.m. – even though the lab opens at 8 a.m.)
- It is recommended that you go to the Lab on Monday or Tuesday in order to insure the best results. Blood drawn late in the week may sit over the weekend and become unstable.
TAKE THE FOLLOWING WITH YOU TO THE LAB:
- The green & white Quest Diagnostics Lab Requisition Form
- The Collection & Shipping Instructions (bright pink) & attached to the Requisition form
- The Specimen Collection Kit still in the box it came in
- Shipping materials for the lab to send your specimens to Colorado
- FAST FOR 12 HOURS PRIOR TO HAVING YOUR BLOOD DRAWN
- Eat nothing after 8:00 p.m. and then have your blood drawn no later than 10:00 a.m. the following day.
- You SHOULD drink water, but you may not have any other fluids, eat, chew gum or use tobacco
- If you are unable to fast for medical reasons, please call for special instructions
- If in the past, a lab tech has had difficulty finding a vein in your arm, it would be helpful to soak your arm in warm water prior to the draw. It also helps to drink lots of water the morning of the draw.
Required Paperwork In Addition to the Blood Draw
- Begin filling out the Individual Health Profile Questionnaire. Read the directions on the Saliva pH Tracking Chart. You will record your pH readings for 3 days.
- Ask your dentist or dental hygienist to complete the “Dental Quick Report” form available on the website. It should be filled out and sent to Lifestyle Fitness & Nutrition prior to your consultation.
- After the following are completed, please mail them to Lifestyle Fitness & Nutrition:
- The Individual Health Profile Questionnaire
- The signed Informed Consent Form
- Your pH readings for 3 days
- The Dental Quick Report
- If you are doing your consultation over the telephone & we’ve never met, I would love to have a photo of you as well.
WHEN I RECEIVE YOUR LAB RESULTS AND THE ITEMS LISTED ABOVE, I WILL PHONE YOU TO SET UP A CONSULTATION APPOINTMENT.
IF YOU ARE SCHEDULED FOR A PHONE CONSULTATION, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CALLING 540-898-5219 (E.S.T.) AT THE SCHEDULED TIME.
Downloads
Individual Health Profile (325.5 KiB, 1,769 hits)
Dental Quick Report (29.5 KiB, 942 hits)
Informed Consent (29.5 KiB, 653 hits)
pH Tracking Chart (28.0 KiB, 582 hits)
Privacy Information (28.0 KiB, 481 hits)