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WORKING WITH PROVIDERS
Choosing a Complementary & Alternative Medicine CAM Provider
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Researching and asking questions can help you make an informed decision
when choosing a provider. It is important to know the answers to these questions
before starting treatment with a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
provider so you know what your responsibilities are and what to expect. Below are
some suggestions of questions, and you will most likely have more of your own. Make
sure to make a list of the ones that are important to you when meeting with the
provider. Also, see the Medical Home Portal's Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) page.
Questions to Ask
Experience
- What is your specific experience as a CAM provider?
- How long have you practiced this type of medicine or alternative treatment?
- What are your credentials and licensure?
- Do you have experience with a child whose diagnosis and abilities are like my child’s?
- What are approaches or methods do you use in your practice that have evidence to support their effectiveness?
- May I visit with you either in person or by phone to get to know you better before we set our first appointment?
Roles
- How often are visits usually scheduled?
- How long is the average office visit?
- Will you need extra time for my child?
- What will the provider do with my child during an office visit?
- Do you take labs? Where do you send them? What are the responsibilities of my family?
- How will you communicate and interact with the school or other services so we can coordinate care?
Assessment and Goal Setting
- How will you assess my child before we begin visits?
- What can we hope for/expect from these treatments?
- What is your process for setting goals for my child? As my child gets older, how may treatment change?
- How often will you assess and communicate my child’s progress to me?
- Will you be able to see my child as an adult?
- Are there any specific examples of why we would stop treatment?