How long is an appointment?
New patient appointments are 60 minutes and are very comprehensive. Follow-up visits are 20-30 minutes long and are more focused on progress since the last visit or acute conditions such as the flu or cold.
How often do we meet for my care?
This is a tricky question as it is individualized to you. At your first appointment, you and Dr. Ching will discuss her recommendation for your plan of treatment. After achieving health improvements and stabilization, your visits may be spaced out by a few months. If you are feeling well, Dr. Ching requests you schedule a follow-up visit at least once yearly to catch up on any changes in your life, lifestyle, health, and to re-evaluate your treatment plan.
What about Insurance?
Unfortunately, in order to provide the quality of healthcare Dr. Ching feels her patients deserve, she is no longer accepting insurance. This decision was not made lightly or quickly.
Dr. Ching understands achieving wellness and effective healthcare can become a large out-of-pocket investment and does offer payment plans in order to affordably offer you care that you deserve.
Does Dr. Ching take Veteran insurance?
Dr. Ching is not credentialed with Tri-West.
Do you provide any Veteran Discounts?
Dr. Ching does provide a 7% discount on services to Vets. Thank you for serving our country and making this a safe place to live. <3
Can I use my HSA or FSA for services?
Yes, HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) are accepted with Ripple Health and Wellness. You may use these for services as well as supplements, as your plan permits. Please check with your HR department or insurance company.
Does Dr. Ching prescribe pharmaceuticals?
Dr. Ching does prescribe pharmaceuticals when they are necessary. All treatment options will be discussed throughout the duration of your care, including natural therapies, lifestyle therapies and pharmaceutical therapeies. Some medications are prescribed more long-term or require more frequent monitoring and an office visit. For instance, newer prescriptions of thyroid medication.
What conditions does Dr. Ching work with?
She works with a wide variety of conditions. See “Conditions treated” tab for some examples.
What kind of lab tests does Dr. Ching use?
Dr. Ching will frequently perform basic, bio-medical labs as these are helpful in screening for illness or imbalance in a general area of the body and these tests are usually more budget-friendly and provide a helpful information to direct treatment. She also offers various “functional” lab tests which dive deeper and can be more specific and give a lot of information. Dr. Ching may recommend a functional lab test if she believes it will provide insights to your health and treatment plan. Check out the “Functional Lab Tests” page to see the lab companies Dr. Ching has current accounts with.
Can my spouse or partner join me at my appointment?
Yes, in fact, we encourage you to invite your spouse or partner to at least your Complete Wellness Evaluation. This person is important to you and you’ve chosen to live your lives together. They care about you and it’s important they feel confident in the care you’re seeking from Ripple Health and Wellness. However, be mindful that the appointment will be centered on your needs and care. Should you and your significant other or family member both seek care on the same day, we can schedule two separate appointments back-to-back to assure appropriate attention is given to each individual.
What is a Patient Portal account?
As a new patient, you will be sent a link to your email inviting you to create a Patient Portal account with Charm EHR (Dr. Ching’s charting software). This account will provide a safe, HIPAA-compliant space for you to message Dr. Ching and her team directly, share images, see your lab results, and view your treatment plans. You can access this Patient Portal from a mobile app or from any device with internet access.