Welcome! Below is information on what you can expect when working with Dr. Nussbaum.
Comprehensive first visit: Comprehensive questionnaire followed by 75-minute visit with in-depth interview, exam and initial recommendations for treatment and testing
Testing: We recommend getting blood work done, which is typically covered by insurance. In addition, we order only what is truly necessary
Follow-up visit: (Six weeks after first visit) 45-minutes with review of your test results, summary of identified issues and revised treatment plan, check-in on progress
Ongoing visits: Generally 4-6 weeks apart, scheduled as needed to check in and refine plan based on your progress toward your wellness goals
Health coach visits: Scheduled as phone or video visits, usually beginning after your first follow-up visit; the health coach helps you find ways of realistically implementing lifestyle changes
Comprehensive first visit
This visit is preferably done at our office so that we can connect in person and also perform a physical exam. If you are unable to come to Medford, NJ, you have the option of scheduling the visit as a video visit. This appointment is 75 minutes long.
During your first visit, we will thoroughly review the comprehensive questionnaire that you will have filled out prior to your first visit. This detailed intake form covers many important topics including:
- symptoms you are experiencing
- your medical history
- previous lab work/ records
- detailed diet survey
- nutritional supplements and medications
- sleep
- stress
- exercise
- personal connectedness
- your personal health goals
We conduct a thorough interview to make sure we have a deep understanding of your health and your personal goals for wellness. Based on the information we have reviewed from your intake questionnaire and our interview, we work together to develop a plan that will include recommendations for:
- diet
- supplements if necessary
- strategies for stress management
- sleep practices
- movement
- outdoor exposure
- connectedness
- other key lifestyle strategies
Depending on your symptoms and information we gather in the interview, we also will order any testing necessary. Please see below for more information on testing.
Testing
We recommend getting blood work done, which is typically covered by insurance. In addition, we order only what is truly necessary. We do not charge money for testing nor do we have an affiliation with any specific labs. Payment for lab testing goes directly through the lab. Lab testing is not performed in our office; most are samples collected at home.
Our most common testing ordered:
- Blood work (performed at a lab of your choice, usually covered by your insurance)
- includes comprehensive testing of blood chemistry, blood count, iron panel, vitamin levels, inflammatory markers, but it will be personalized and may include additional blood tests depending on your symptoms and history
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) testing (a breath test performed at home)
- this may be offered, but if you are trying to save money on testing, we can discuss how to work without this test
- Comprehensive stool testing (stool collected at home and sent to the lab)
- tests for dysbiosis, inflammation, parasites, fungal overgrowth, blood in the stool
- Urine organic acid testing (performed at home)
- can test for more markers of dysbiosis, vitamin deficiencies, methylation issues, impaired energy production, oxidative stress, impaired detox and fat metabolism
- Hormone testing (urine test performed at home)
- this is not as commonly ordered as the others as part of initial testing, but it can look at adrenal and sex hormone levels.
There are other tests that may be recommended based on your case.
Follow-up visit
Approximately six weeks later, there is a 45-minute follow-up visit to review your testing results once you have completed all the tests ordered.
It will take a few weeks for you to receive all of your test kits, collect your specimens, and send them to the lab. Once the lab receives them, it takes one to three weeks for us to receive the results.
Prior to this appointment, our office will thoroughly review all results and create a summary based on your test results and information from our first visit. This assessment helps identify root causes of your symptoms and areas for improvement in your health.
To address each identified issue, we delineate a plan in terms of diet changes, lifestyle changes, supplements and/ or treatment protocols, and identify any necessary additional testing.
During the appointment, we check in on your progress, review our summary, and refine your plan based on our conversation and your input.
Ongoing appointments
After your first follow-up appointment, ongoing appointments are determined based on your needs. They are usually about four to six weeks apart. At these appointments, we review your progress, review any new results, and refine the treatment plan accordingly.
Health coach visits
We recommend working with our health coach shortly after your second appointment. Health coach appointments will be scheduled on our website separately from physician appointments. The health coach works with you to help you identify ways of prioritizing and realistically implementing lifestyle changes.