Your Visit

What to expect

For your first visit, please plan on being in the office for about 1.5-2 hours. Follow-up appointments usually last one hour.

We will talk at length about your reasons for coming in, and will go through a full health history. It is important for us to discuss all aspects of your health, even though they may not seem directly related to your current issues. Traditional Chinese Medicine is very good at drawing correlations that may not seem obvious.

A variety of diagnostic tools may be used, including: pulse reading, physical examination, and channel palpation. An acupuncture treatment will follow the consultation, and during your visit we’ll also discuss your treatment plan. Herbs will be prescribed if they are necessary for your condition. Needles are generally retained 20-40 minutes or longer. No two patients are the same, and the sessions are tailored to your needs.

For those who have never experienced acupuncture before, here are some things you should know:

• All of our acupuncture needles are sterile and disposable.
• Acupuncture needles are extremely fine- much more fine than the kind of needles used for shots or taking blood!
• A little bit of sensation is good! Acupuncture should not “hurt”. You may feel a slight prick depending on the location of needling, but sensations should not ever remain sharp. What you will likely feel can be described in many different ways, often slightly dull, moving, or tingling.
• Because acupuncture calms the nervous system, most people feel a deep sense of relaxation during treatment.

Preparing for your first visit

The following suggestions are provided to help you have a safe and relaxing experience with acupuncture:

• Please wear something comfortable and loose fitting that will allow access to your arms and legs below the elbows and knees. Most treatments do not require the removal of clothing. If necessary, we do have sheets if clothes do need to be removed.
• Do not brush your tongue 24 – 48 hours prior to treatment.  The tongue coat is an essential diagnostic tool in Chinese medicine.
• It is always a good idea to eat a little something before coming in. Eat a light meal or snack prior to your visit but don’t eat a large meal prior to your visit. Acupuncture is very relaxing so some people do not realize how strong it can be.
• Avoid heavy exertion immediately before and after treatment.
• Set aside enough time so that you are not rushing to and from your visit.
• Please bring in a list of all medications and supplements, as well as any medical reports that may pertain to your current issue.

Getting the most out of your treatment

For the best treatment results, keep a few things in mind:

• You will receive more benefit from your treatment if you refrain from overexertion for a couple hours after treatment after your visit and avoid any activities that aggravate your condition.
• Follow your treatment plan between visits to maximize your treatments to support you on the road to health and wellness.
• Keep your scheduled appointments, as each treatment builds upon the previous one.

Will improvements be long lasting?

Achieving significant healing requires a commitment on your part. Optimal results are achieved when a patient follows the suggested treatment plan. As a general rule, acute conditions require fewer treatments than chronic conditions. With acupuncture, patients will usually begin to see positive changes within the first few treatments. Some patients respond favorably after only one or two treatments, others show little or no improvement until the eight or ninth visit.  And sometimes, despite the practitioner’s best effort and skill, the patient does not respond to treatment. Most conditions require 10-15 sessions, although some conditions may require 20-30 treatments depending upon the chronic nature of the complaint. We also encourage follow-up care to prevent the symptoms from recurring and to maintain wellness. Many patients who have been helped by acupuncture retain their improvement for months or even years after treatment.  In cases where the symptoms return, people may be helped again with just a few more sessions. Chronic conditions, especially those involving pain, may require a regular course of acupuncture as part of an overall pain management strategy.

Most patients feel relaxed and energized after each treatment.

CLINIC INFO & POLICIES

Our goal at Healing Points Acupuncture is to provide our patients with outstanding quality service and products. It is important that we have policies to help our office run more efficiently. We value your patronage and thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

HOURS– Hours are by appointment only. The clinic is open M-F. Saturday appointments may be available.

PAYMENT –Payment in full is due at the time services are rendered.

Cash, checks, most major credit cards and health savings accounts accepted.

We do not accept insurance at this time, however a Superbill can be provided upon request. You may submit this receipt directly to your insurance company to seek reimbursement for payments made. You will need to contact your insurance company prior to your visit to inquire if acupuncture services are covered under your policy.

Missed and Late Appointment Policy

Your appointment time is reserved especially for you. If you are unable to keep your allotted time and need to change or cancel appointments please provide 24 hours notice to avoid incurring a cancellation fee of the price equal to service. This amount must be paid prior to your next scheduled appointment. On the day of your appointment if you are running late please notify the office as soon as possible. If you arrive late your treatment may need to be shortened or rescheduled to accommodate other patients whose appointments follow yours. Late arrivals are subject to the cancellation fee. We understand that things come up and schedules can change, but in fairness to our patients, HPA must strictly adhere to these policies.

Inclement Weather Policy

HPA follows the Little Rock School District ‘s closure policy. If the schools are closed the clinic is closed.

Confidentiality

Your patient record and patient information are confidential. Information is shared only when necessary to provide care and services, or by your authorization, or when required or permitted by law. Our office is HIPPA compliant.