What To Expect
Nutrition Therapy Associates provides a safe and warm environment for you to work through and heal eating issues. Karin and Tracy work by appointment only, and see people privately in a comfortable office with a private waiting room in northwest Gainesville.
Karin answers all telephone calls personally, so you can be assured we know your situation and answer your questions before you make the decision to schedule an appointment. (Karin is not always available to answer the phone, but will return your call promptly.)
Please feel free to call with questions, even those answered below, at 352-371-8181.
What can I expect at the first appointment?
Do I need to complete any paperwork before my first appointment?
How often would I need to meet with you?
Do you do phone appointments?
What is your cancellation policy?
What is your payment policy?
Do you take insurance?
Will you talk with my other health care providers?
Is this confidential?
Can my partner, parents, friend attend?
Do you sell supplements?
Do you do lab tests?
What are my rights/responsibilities?
What can I expect at the first appointment?
Your first session, which is private, will be scheduled as an initial nutrition assessment and lasts approximately 50 to 60 minutes. In a supportive and nurturing environment, we will explore, as you feel comfortable, your eating habits, weight history, medical symptoms and concerns, and activity level, as well as your goals. We will then discuss what needs to happen to help you meet your goals and develop a plan to get you started.
Do I need to complete any paperwork before my first appointment?
Yes, the paperwork will take you 15 to 20 minutes. You can arrive to your appointment 20 minutes early, or download them and bring them completed.
How often would I need to meet with you?
Nutrition therapy is highly individualized. After meeting, your dietitian will be able to suggest how much follow-up is needed to make sure you reach your goals. Follow-up sessions are 50 or 25 minutes, again depending on your needs.
Do you do phone appointments?
Nutrition therapy by phone is available as needed once we have met in person and established a plan together. Nutrition coaching is also available by phone.
What is your cancellation policy?
We request that you give us 48-hour notice if you need to cancel an appointment. (We appreciate your consideration as we usually have a wait list and can fill in cancelled appointments.) If less than 24 hour notice is given, we will need to charge for the session, except in the case of emergency or unexpected illness.
What is your payment policy?
Payment is due at the time of consult by cash, check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). (We will ask you to complete an Electronic Payment Authorization for credit card payment.) If arrangements are made in advance for billing, all amounts not paid within 30 days of the billing date will be assessed monthly late fees. The fee for any returned checks is $20.
Do you take insurance?
We do not contract with insurance providers, however many of our clients do get reimbursed. Check with your insurance company to determine if your health insurance covers nutrition counseling. We can provide you with a receipt to submit with an insurance claim.
Will you talk with my other health care providers?
We will talk with other health care providers only if you give us written permission to do so by completing the Informed Consent. We find that treatment is more effective when we are in regular contact with your treatment team.
Is this confidential?
All information is kept confidential.
Can my partner, parents, friend attend?
Your partner, parents, or friend can attend your nutrition therapy sessions whenever that will benefit your work. Make sure to discuss this with your dietitian before inviting them.
Do you sell supplements?
We do not sell nutritional supplements.
Do you do lab tests?
As dietitians, we are not able to do lab tests or other medical procedures. If needed, we recommend you receive a thorough physical exam from your primary physician including lab tests, blood pressure, etc. Please bring pertinent results to your session to be reviewed by your dietitian.
(Many of our clients choose not to know their weight for therapeutic reasons. If needed, we do "blind" weights in our office. If you choose not to weigh at your doctor's appointment, your physician can call our office to get your most current weight.)
What are my rights/responsibilities?
Nutrition Therapy Associates staff, agents, employees and consultants must protect the client’s individually identifiable health information consistent with the requirements in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or the federal regulations implementing the Act (collectively referred to as HIPAA).