Frequently Asked Questions
About our clinic
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Do you accept health insurance?
Yes, for covered medical visits and treatments, Synergy Family Physicians accepts most major medical insurance and health savings account dollars, but please contact your insurance company to verify if services are covered.
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Do you have same day appointments available?
We do have same day appointments available as well as a triage nurse available to help you during clinic hours. Please call the clinic at 651-287-8780 between the hours of 8am and 5pm Monday through Friday for further assistance or to make an appointment.
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Who do I contact for urgent after hour questions?
If you have an urgent concern during non-clinic hours, please call the clinic at 651-287-8780 and Dr. Carpenter or Dr. Perry will return your call within the hour. If you need medical attention more immediately than that, please visit a nearby Urgent Care or Emergency Room.
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How do I request a medication refill?
Please contact your pharmacy for refill requests.
About Holistic Integrative Medicine
(adapted from the American Holistic Medical Association-web address below)
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What is holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses care of the whole person - body, mind, and spirit. The practice of holistic medicine integrates conventional and complementary therapies to promote optimal health, and prevent and treat disease by addressing contributing factors.
In practice, this means that each person is seen as a unique individual, rather than an example of a particular disease. Disease is understood to be the result of physical, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental imbalance. Healing, therefore, takes place naturally when these aspects of life are brought into proper balance. The role of the practitioner is as guide, mentor and role model; the patient must do the work - changing lifestyle, beliefs and old habits in order to facilitate healing. All appropriate methods may be used, from medication to meditation.
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What is a holistic physician?
A holistic physician views the patient as being ultimately responsible for his or her well-being, fosters and maintains a partnership with the patient, uses therapies which are effective and safe, and evaluates and recommends treatment options that address the cause of an illness, as well as the symptoms.
The holistic practitioner may choose or recommend from a variety of both conventional and "alternative" treatments and therapies. Together, the practitioner and patient work to develop an optimal course of treatment. This partnership is a powerful approach to healing and is the cornerstone of the holistic philosophy.
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What are the main benefits of holistic medicine?
The main benefits of holistic medicine are:
- The central role of the patient's lifestyle, beliefs, observations and habits is honored. Holistic medicine recognizes the person who has the illness as more important than the type of illness that person is manifesting.
- Treatment methods which are least likely to do harm are used first in holistic medicine. These are often also more cost-effective than conventional drugs or surgery.
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What is meant by "complementary and alternative therapies"?
Complementary and alternative therapies are those not yet considered mainstream and, therefore, not normally offered by conventional medical personnel. They include but are not limited to: nutrition, herbal medicine, spinal manipulation, body work medicine, "energy medicine," spiritual attunement, relaxation training and stress management, biofeedback and acupuncture. The list of what is considered complementary and alternative therapy is constantly changing as more research becomes available. As they demonstrate efficacy and safety, these therapies become part of conventional medicine.
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How is holistic medicine different from/similar to integrative medicine, complementary or alternative medicine?
Holistic medicine is a term which is inclusive of the connection between the mind, body and spirit in healing. The belief system, lifestyle, social, cultural and environmental milieu, as well as the relationship between patient and practitioner, are considered to be important components in the genesis and in the healing of illness. Correction of imbalances in any of these areas will bring relief of symptoms. Illness in this model is viewed as an opportunity for personal spiritual growth.
Integrative medicine starts with the conventional western model of disease, and encompasses other healing methods, such as use of herbal preparations, chiropractic, acupuncture and other systems of treatment. Complementary medicine is those other systems of treatment, in relationship to the central model of conventional medicine of drugs and surgery.
