FAQ

FAQ

Here are some questions we are asked most frequently about our office and treatments. If you do not find the answer to your question, please visit our What We Do page, our Therapies pages, or contact us. We are always happy to answer any question you may have.

Can The Doctor Help Me with My Health Condition? 

You must book an appointment before we can answer this question.

Every patient is different, so we will not know if we can help you individually until the doctor sees you and reviews your case. Our process is unique as we take an extensive amount of time to go into the detail of your case and look for the cause of the problem.

The doctor is very experienced in treating many different types of health conditions, some of which are listed here.

What is naturopathic medicine?  

Naturopathic medicine is a primary healthcare system that combines scientific knowledge with traditional natural forms of healing.

Naturopathic doctors treat a wide variety of health conditions from colds and flus to the most advanced chronic conditions.

Naturopathic doctors address the root causes of health problems, rather than the symptoms, using natural alternatives to drugs. By emphasizing the body’s natural self-healing process, a naturopathic doctor works with the patient to find the most appropriate treatment to restore and maintain optimum health.

Naturopathic doctors have a minimum of seven years post-secondary education, including a Bachelor of Science and a four-year Naturopathic medical degree. They work with other health care providers to create a fully integrated, patient-centered model of health for maximum treatment effectiveness for the patient.

How successful are naturopathic treatments?  

As with any branch of medicine, naturopathic medicine cannot offer an absolute guarantee of success. However, we have had very good success with many different types of conditions.

How quickly a health problem can be resolved depends on many things such as how many health conditions a person has and how long they have had the problem. Patient compliance with their program is also a factor, of course.

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Is a naturopathic doctor also a medical doctor?  

No, naturopathic medicine is its own branch of the healing profession. Naturopathic doctors and medical doctors have similar levels of training and diagnostic tools but naturopathic medicine is a non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical, non-invasive approach to wellness.

Naturopathic doctors are not “in competition” with other healthcare practitioners, be they medical doctors, acupuncturists, chiropractors, other naturopathic clinics. We are only in competition with ourselves, in a continuing effort to do better and better.

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Is there an MD who is also an ND in Edmonton or elsewhere in Alberta?  

We are not aware of any MDs in Alberta who are also NDs.

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What to expect when you first contact us  

You can book an initial consultation appointment by telephoning the clinic at (780) 485-9468 or you can book an initial consultation appointment online. Full instructions on how to book online are here.

New patients may only book an initial consultation. Appointments for specific treatments are not available to new patients because by law we cannot recommend treatment or prescribe supplements without having performed an initial consultation.

It is important that you promptly complete and return the forms linked in the confirmation email that you will receive upon booking. This allows the doctor enough time to review your information and prepare for the consultation.

If you have any recent lab tests or reports, please bring them with you to the initial consultation. This helps to reduce costs and duplication of testing.

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What to expect on your first visit  

Depending on the time of day your appointment is, we suggest that you allow an extra 15 minutes for traffic and parking. When you first arrive at our clinic you will be greeted by our staff and asked to have a seat in our waiting area.

At your appointment time your doctor will come out to greet you then take you into the consultation office. The doctor will then review your health history and begin the process of determining the causes of your health problems. The doctor will ask many questions about your health, your life, when your problems started and what was occurring at the time, what makes it worse or better and other questions that will help to direct the doctor to the source of the problem.

At the end of the consultation the doctor will discuss the probable causes of your health problems with you and any testing that may be needed. The doctor will go over your treatment options and work with you to implement a treatment protocol that works for you. Expectations, timelines, and long-term health goals and plans for improving your overall health and preventing diseases will also be discussed.

The first visit will take approximately an hour.

The first appointment is all about finding the cause of your health problems, looking at your goals and coming up with a plan that works for you. We not only want to work on the cause of your current problems, but also implement a long-term plan that promotes your overall health, and which will prevent the development of any additional health problems.

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What to expect on follow-up visits  

We ordinarily see our patients for their second visit about a month after their first visit. During follow up visits we will review the effectiveness of the treatment plan and evaluate your overall progress. At that point we may make adjustments to the treatment plan and go to the next step of the long term overall treatment plan.

Of course, it is difficult to predict how often we will see our patients as everyone’s health conditions and goals are different but, generally, we see our patients monthly for the first few visits, then as the main health problems come under control we see our patients less often.

What if I have questions after my visit?  

There are times when a patient has a simple question or concern about their treatment plan. This occurs most often within the first week of having received their plan, while the patient is still “getting the hang of it”. We understand that it’s easy to lose track of whether a supplement should be taken with meals or between meals, whether or not a particular type of food is recommended for you, or whether a supplement should be refrigerated, for instance.

Our patients are welcome to contact us with questions such as these. Because the doctor is usually with patients and therefore unavailable for telephone calls, a message that goes directly to the doctor through the patient portal has proven to be the most reliable method of assuring the patient a prompt response (usually within one business day during clinic hours). Instructions for signing up for the patient portal and logging in are here.

Alternatively, e-mail messages to admin@greenapplehealthcare.ca will be forwarded to the doctor. Response time is generally within one business day during clinic hours.
If you prefer telephone rather than email, you can call us at 780-485-9468. Reception will be happy to note your question for relay to the doctor who will then either email you the response or have Reception call you back with the response.

Out of respect for your privacy, we do not leave voicemail messages for patients regarding test results or other medical data unless they specifically request that we do so. We will leave a voicemail asking that you call us back to receive the medical information in a personal call.

There is no charge to the patient for responding to simple questions within a reasonable period after their consultation.

If a patient has a more complex issue or multiple questions, it would be a disservice to the patient to try to address such concerns by email and he or she may be asked to book a consultation with the doctor so that all of the questions or concerns can be fully addressed. In that event, the usual consultation fee applies.

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Where is Green Apple Health Care located?  

We’re located at 9148 23rd Avenue NW, Suite 221, in the Square on 23rd complex. The most direct route to the clinic is from 23rd Avenue via 91st Street. 91st Street can be accessed from Henday Highway and from Whitemud Highway. Follow 91st Street to 23rd Avenue NW. turn west on 23rd Avenue NW to the service road. We recommend allowing an extra 15 minutes before your appointment time for traffic and parking.

What are the costs?  

Please refer to the current fee schedule.

What is Green Apple Health Care’s family plan?  

Members of the same family sometimes wish to enjoy the benefits of seeing the same doctor. Treating members of the same household allows the doctor to gain a greater understanding of the family’s schedule and requirements and the family dynamic generally. In this way, it becomes possible to co-ordinate each family member’s treatment plan with the others in his/her family to make it as simple as possible to implement such things as diet and other elements of the program.

Green Apple Health Care is pleased to offer health care to family members residing in the same household at a reduced rate for the initial consultation, as follows: the first consultation for a family member is charged at the full rate; for any other family members from the same household, the initial consultation is charged half the initial consultation rate (please refer to the current fee schedule). For instance, when the first patient in the household visits for an initial consultation, the full fee applies. If the patient then wishes to have his or her spouse and/or children attended by the doctor, their initial consultations are charged at half the initial consultation rate.

Please note that the family members must be from the same household to be eligible for the family plan; the plan does not apply to extended family members who reside outside of the patient’s primary residence. The exception to this is for students who are temporarily living on campus or otherwise outside the home while attending school but who would ordinarily reside with the family.

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What are the payment options?  

We accept Amex, Visa, Mastercard, cash, debit, and e-transfer (e-transfer must be processed before appointment). Cheques are accepted but if they are ever dishonoured, the patient will be charged the NSF fee.

We are not able to offer student, senior, disability, or low-income discounts.

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Will I be charged for missing an appointment?  

When you book an appointment at Green Apple Health Care, you are reserving the doctor’s time for your exclusive use.

We know that unforeseen circumstances can sometimes prevent you from keeping your appointment. If you are unable to keep your appointment, we will be happy to offer it to another patient but will need 24 hours prior notice from you to be able to do so.
If your appointment is canceled with insufficient notice, it becomes impossible to offer your reserved time slot to another patient. Therefore, the clinic requires 24 hours prior notice of cancellation. No cancellation fee is applied where the minimum 24 hours notice is provided.

Patients who fail to show for their appointment or who cancel their appointment with less than 24 hours prior notice will incur a non-refundable cancellation fee.
Any cancellation fees applied to your account must be paid in full prior to your next appointment. The cancellation fee will be credited against the cost of your new appointment.

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Are naturopathic treatments covered by insurance?  

Unfortunately, Alberta Health Care does not cover naturopathic medicine.

Many private insurance companies do cover naturopathic medicine. There are many insurance providers and policies available. We strongly recommend that you check with your insurance company to verify the extent of your coverage.

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Does Green Apple Health Care offer direct billing to my insurance provider?  

We can direct bill more than 80% of the insurance companies providing coverage. Please bring your insurance card to your appointment and we will determine whether we can bill your insurance provider directly.Please note that each insurance company’s policy is different and will have varying levels of coverage as well as method of payment. Some providers will pay us directly, others will reimburse the policy holder. Payment method is dictated by the insurance provider.

  • Alberta Blue Cross
  • Canada Life
  • Chamber of Commerce Group Insurance
  • ClaimSecure
  • Desjardins Insurance
  • Equitable Life of Canada
  • Green Shield
  • GroupHEALTH
  • Johnson Group Inc.
  • Manulife
  • RWAM Insurance Administrators
  • Sunlife

If you do not see your insurance provider on this list, Reception can determine whether they accept direct billing at the time of claim submission.

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Are the services income tax deductible?  

Yes. According to the Canada Revenue Agency website, naturopathic doctors are recognized as medical practitioners and the services are deductible.
Vitamins or other supplements are not tax deductible.

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Why do you ask for my personal information?  

The information we ask for is limited to that which is fundamental to patient care and to the clinic’s day-to-day operations.

Your health information is required to enable us to provide you with appropriate health care and is protected by the Alberta Health Information Act.

We ask for your email address and cell phone number to facilitate sending appointment reminders, and to help you avoid cancellation fees for missed appointments.

All patient information is electronically stored on a secure server. Access to your health information is strictly limited to your doctor and will not be shared without your express consent.

We will not solicit you without your consent.

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Who can buy vitamins and other products from Green Apple Health Care?  

Current patients are welcome to buy vitamins and other supplements from the clinic. If the product you have been prescribed is not in stock at the clinic, we can order it for you and have it shipped to your home.

If a patient would like to purchase product for pickup at a later time, we’re happy to accommodate that. In order for us to set it aside for pick-up, it must be paid for at the time of ordering.

Patients who have not had a consultation with one of our doctors for many years but who are still in our system can purchase product. However, it may be the case that the product is no longer right for them and we recommend booking a consultation.

By law, product can be sold only to Green Apple Health Care patients. No supplements can be sold to anyone who has never been assessed by a doctor at Green Apple Health Care.

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Is Green Apple Health Care a “scent-free” clinic?  

Green Apple Health Care recognizes that an increasing number of people have sensitivities to artificial scents. In some cases, exposure to scented products can cause respiratory distress, rashes, headaches and other allergic reactions.

Several scented products are respiratory irritants and are known triggers for irritation to upper airways and eyes, even among people who did not have those pre-existing health conditions. For people with multiple chemical sensitivity or environmental illnesses, their ability to function depends on having air free of chemicals. Even low levels of the stimuli may trigger reactions in people with these conditions.

In order to limit our sensitive patients’ exposure to these allergens, we ask that visitors to our clinic refrain from using scented personal care products such as perfume, cologne, scented shampoo, hairspray, and other scented hair care products, scented body lotions, etc.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

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Why do I have to remove or cover my footwear?  

At Green Apple Health Care, patient care is our top priority. Part of caring for patients is to provide a sanitary environment and ensure that they are not needlessly made vulnerable to bacteria and other environmental exposures that can lead to infection and disease.

You would be amazed at the number and amount of harmful substances that can accumulate on the soles of your shoes in the course of everyday living. Even walking through such ordinary places as grocery stores, hair salons, parking lots and sidewalks presents ample opportunity for your shoes to pick up harmful germs and potentially harmful environmental elements.

In order to protect our patients, we ask that you remove your shoes during your visit to our clinic. Naturally, we provide warm, comfortable slippers for you to wear during your visit. For patients who are uncomfortable with removing their shoes, we also provide single-use disposable booties to wear over your shoes.

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping Green Apple Health Care a safe environment for all.

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