Who
is Alt Med Ctr L.L.C.?
Are
you a licensed health care professional?
What
is homeopathy?
What
are Acu-therapies?
What
is Herbal Medicine?
How
do I schedule an appointment?
Initial
Appointment
Missed
appointments
Fee
Schedule and Payment
Insurance
coverage
Services
for the Unemployed/Uninsured:
Phone
and web consultation:
Service
hours and emergencies:
What
happens during my initial appointment?
What
happens during a comprehensive evaluation?
What
happens during an acu-therapy session?
How
does acu-therapy work?
Who
is acu-therapy for?
Acu-Therapy
Pros and cons
Is
Acu-Therapy safe?
My
question was not included in the FAQ?
Who is Alt Med Ctr L.L.C.?
Mario Fontes L.Ac., Dipl. O.M., H.M.A. Alternative Medicine Practitioner
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Are you a licensed health care professional?
Mario Fontes is
a licensed Acupuncturist in the State of Arizona, a Diplomate
in Oriental Medicine certified by the NCCAOM, and practices
Alternative Medicine by providing treatment of the spiritual
vital force
in accordance with Hahnemannian (the founder of classical
homeopathy) principles through the use of homeopathic remedies
that are highly
diluted and prepared in accordance with the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia
of the United States. TOP | HOME
What is homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine
that is holistic, scientifically based, safe to use, inexpensive
and can cure chronic disease. It is a system of medicine
that is unique and different from other forms of alternative
medicines.
It was founded by Samuel Hahnemann over 200 years ago,
although the principles on which it is based have been
utilized in
healing for thousands of years. Homeopathic remedies
work through activating
the body’s own powers of self-regulation and self-healing.
Since its inception, homeopathy has benefited people from
all walks of life and of any age, in countries all over
the world
Dynamization:
The release of the healing force from inside the drug through
the mechanical action of trituration and succussion. Organic
and inorganic substances are ground together at a ratio of
1 part of the substance to 99 parts of lactose sugar of milk.
This trituration process reduces them to a powder, soluble
in liquid. These liquids, or tinctures, are further reduced
by dilution with water or alcohol in the same proportions
(1 to 99). Further potentization of the resulting liquid
is accomplished by a method of vigorous shaking known as
succusion.
Remedies: Homeopathic Medicines or Remedies are made from both organic and inorganic
substances accorindg to the The Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States.
There are currently more than 4,000 homeopathic remedies available and this is
added to daily as more remedies become known about. About 40 of these are availabe
without a prescription.
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What are Acu-therapies?
Acupressure/Tui-Na Massage: Medical methods using the arms,
hands, fingers, elbows and knees as tools for treating
diseases and
illnesses.
Acupuncture: The insertion of
extremely thin disposable sterilized needles through the
skin, to various depths at strategic points
on the body.
Cupping: The practice in which a cup is
applied to the skin thru suction so that the skin and superficial
muscle layer is drawn
into and held in the cup.
Electro Acupuncture: a form of acupuncture
in which pairs of acupuncture needles are attached to a device
that generates continuous
electric pulses between them.
Gua Sha: Scraping or rubbing the skin
until reddish and elevated to prevent sickness and strengthen
your
body’s immune
system.
Heat therapy: The application of superficial
heat to the outside of the body for pain relief and health.
Low Level Laser Therapy: The use of low-intensity
or low levels of laser light to stimulate cells to better
respond to stress
and injury.
Moxibustion: The burning of moxa (Artemisia
Vulgaris) on the skin to produce analgesia and treat disease. TOP | HOME
What is Herbal Medicine?
The Alt Med Ctr practices TCM (Traditional
Chinese Medicine) which utilities substances derived from
plant animal and mineral compounds. When available we
use Honso products
from GMP pharmaceutical facilities in Japan that offer
unrivaled high standards, from selection of the highest
grade materials
to perfection of proprietary processing techniques that
ensure maximum quality, efficacy and safety. Every
lot of the Honso® Kampo
product is routinely tested by its Quality Control Department.
They are tested for key herbal constituents, heavy metals,
purity, and microbial content to eliminate any contaminant.
This is the
most rigorous way to maintain consistency of quality from
batch to batch each time. TOP | HOME
How
do I schedule an appointment?
Call the Alt Med Ctr at (602) 332-8079 to schedule an appointment.
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Initial
Appointment
A credit card (Visa or MasterCard) payment is required for your first appointment.
Before your scheduled appointment you are required to fill out, sign and return
the Alt Med Ctr Initial
Visit Form and the Policies
and Proceedures Agreeement.
These forms are available for download on our website under the Contact/Forms menu. Completed forms can be sent by mail, or faxed to the Alt Med Ctr 2001
W. Camelback Rd, Suite 150 Phoenix AZ, 85015 fax (480) 747-9682. If you have
trouble downloading the forms or do not have access to a printer, call us at
(602) 332-8079 and we will send you the appropriate forms.
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Insurance
Coverage
Alt
Med Ctr will provide a bill with appropriate diagnostic
and procedure codes so that
you can file for reimbursement from your insurer.
Amounts recovered vary with insurance plan.
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Missed appointments without
prior cancellation are billed at the full fee, except
for unexpected emergencies. To avoid charge,
appointments for initial evaluations require a full 48
hours’ notice
of cancellation; follow-up appointment cancellations require
a minimum of 24 hours’ notice. Missed appointment
fees need to be paid before your next visit is scheduled. TOP | HOME
Fee schedule:
Basic Hourly Rate: $100.00
Consultation Fee (15 minutes): $25.00
Initial Visit (60-90 minutes): $100.00
Follow-up (30-45 minutes): $75.00
Comprehensive Evaluation (120 minutes): $200.00
Home Visits (additional fees): $25.00
Payment
is due at time of service, in cash, check, money order, Visa,
or MasterCard. In cases of extreme financial need, payment
options can be discussed. If no arrangements are made and
your account remains delinquent past 120 days, the account
is referred to collections. You are responsible for all collection
fees and related legal costs. There is a returned check fee
of $35.00.
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Services
for the Unemployed/Uninsured
Unemployed/Uninsured patients can receive services at the
same rate as the average insurance per visit co-payment
cost. In circumstances
of unusual financial hardship the Alt Med Ctr will be able
to provide these services. You will be required to fill
out all
applicable forms and must provide legal and adequate proof
of economic hardship.
Patient files will be reviewed and if approved will be charged
a $25.00 consultation fee for a 15 minute visit. You then
will be expected to pay for your own medications (average
price $20.00)
and schedule a follow up appointment as needed.
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Phone
and web consultation
Out of town patients phone consultations are billed at the
regular office rate. Web cam teleconferences are also available
at no
extra charge. Brief telephone calls (less than 10 minutes)
to clarify issues from consultation or brief progress reports
incur
no charge. Calls are billed at $25.00 per 15 minutes under
the following circumstances: When you receive a new prescription
or new problems arise or when your call exceeds 10 minutes. TOP | HOME
Service
hours and emergencies
Hours are by appointment only. Phone calls are usually
returned within 24 hrs or on Monday after the weekend. (note:
I added this) Please leave a telephone number where you may be
reached. For any emergencies, urgent, severe or life-threatening
conditions that require immediate treatment seek care from your
local urgent care or hospital emergency department.
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What happens during my initial appointment?
The initial appointment takes about an hour (60-90 minutes).
During this time you will be asked questions about your
health history and asked for pertinent information regarding
you
condition. Your alternative Medicine practitioner may perform
one or more
of the following procedures: Pulse diagnosis, tongue diagnosis,
blood pressure and heart rate; perform visual and or manual
exams. Your alternative medicine practitioner will then
decide what
the best treatment modality for your condition is. You
may be referred to a specialist, or if there is a medical
emergency
to the appropriate medical facility. TOP | HOME
What happens during a comprehensive evaluation?
A comprehensive evaluation is usually reserved for patients
who require a constitutional homeopathic interview. This
usually
takes about 90-120 minutes. During this interview process
patients will provide in-depth information about themselves
and their
respective pathologies. TOP | HOME
What happens during an acu-therapy session?
Acu-therapy therapy usually involves a series of weekly
or biweekly treatments in an outpatient setting. It's common
to have up to
12 treatments in total. Although each acu-therapy practitioner
has his or her own unique style, each visit typically includes
an exam and an assessment of your current condition, therapy,
and a discussion about self-care tips. Initial visits last
an hour, follow up appointment can last 30 minutes to an
hour.
Before therapy begins, you'll lie down on a comfortable
surface. If acupuncture is performed you may feel a brief,
sharp sensation
when the needle is inserted, but generally the procedure
isn't painful. It's common, however, to feel a deep aching
sensation
when the needle reaches the correct depth. After placement,
the needles are sometimes moved gently or stimulated with
electricity
or heat. As many as a dozen needles may need to be placed
for each treatment. Once the needles are inserted, they're
usually
left in place for five to 20 minutes. TOP | HOME
How does acu-therapy work?
The traditional Chinese theory behind acu-therapy as medical
treatment is very different from that of Western medicine.
In traditional Chinese medicine, health results form a
harmonious balance between the complementary extremes (yin
and yang)
of
the life force known as qi or chi.
Qi is believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in
your body. These meridians and the energy flow are accessible
through more
than 350 acupuncture points. Illness results from an imbalance
of the forces. TOP | HOME
Who is acu-therapy for?
Acu-therapy may be used as a stand-alone treatment for some conditions, but it's also increasingly being used in conjunction with other therapies. Studies indicate that acu-therapies specifically acupuncture may offer symptomatic relief for a variety of diseases and conditions, including low back pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, migraines, osteoarthritis, dental pain, chronic menstrual cramps, and tennis elbow.
Acupuncture has been used to alleviate the nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy and the pain incurred from the constant surgeries that cancer patients undergo. The Mesothelioma Center offers the most comprehensive and current information on asbestos exposure and a complete list of malignant mesothelioma symptoms.
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Acu-Therapy Pros and cons
Acu-therapy including acupuncture has both benefits and
risks. Consider the benefits:
• Acupuncture is safe when performed properly.
• It has few side effects.
• It can be useful as a complement to other treatment methods.
• It helps control certain types of pain.
• It may be an alternative if you don't respond to or don't want
to take pain medications. TOP | HOME
Is Acu-Therapy safe?
Acu-therapy
may not be safe if you have a bleeding disorder or if you're
taking blood thinners. The
most common side effects of acupuncture are soreness,
bleeding or
bruising at the sites. Rarely, an acupuncture needle
may break or an internal organ might be injured. However, these
risks are
low in the hands of a competent, certified acupuncture
practitioner. TOP | HOME
My
question was not included in the FAQ:
Please
email your question and concerns to mario.fontes@altmedctr.com.
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