What To Expect For Your Visit
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT
- Your initial appointment is about 60-90 minutes
- A comprehensive review of your health history and your present health complaint
- An osteopathic exam to assess the body for asymmetry and overall function of the muscles, bones and connective tissues
- Hands-on treatment using both subtle and direct techniques
- A discussion of assessment and care plan to include further treatment such as medications, supplements, labs, imaging, home stretches, or other therapies
- Follow up frequency will range from one week to six months depending on the condition
- What to Bring
- Current list of medication and supplements
- Recent medical records if indicated including labs, imaging and physician’s reports.
- Patient health history questionnaire
WHAT TO EXPECT FOR SUBSEQUENT VISITS
- Follow-up functional medicine and osteopathic appointments usually last 30-45 minutes
- Problem focused hands-on treatment
- Detailed assessment and treatment plan
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What if I have a specific question about my condition?
The most thorough way to discuss your condition is in the office; feel free to call us with any general questions at 310-576-2505. Office staff is well-informed and any remaining questions will be relayed to Dr. Yu who will email or return the phone call within 48 hours. Our current patients are invited to communicate with Dr. Yu and the staff directly via our secure patient portal.
Do you take insurance?
Dr. Yu is NOT on any insurance networks so your payment using cash, credit or check will be due at the time of service. The office will provide you with a superbill at each visit so that you can submit it to your PPO insurance provider. Reimbursement rates for out of network primary care or osteopathic visits vary greatly depending on the insurance plans.
What is the cost?
Pricing of office visits, osteopathic manipulative treatment, and functional medicine consultations vary based on complexity, treatment and age of the patient. Initial evaluation and treatment range from $345 to $590, and follow-up visits range from $195 to $415. Please call the office if you have further questions.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Kindly call the office at 310-576-2505 during office hours Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm for the most up-to-date availabilities.
Can you be my primary care provider (PCP)?
No, I have chosen to limit my practice to osteopathic manual medicine and functional medicine consultations. During our visits, all health issues can be discussed and addressed. Osteopathic manipulative treatment is done as a technique to treat the whole person. In additional, health management using a functional medicine approach including nutrition, lifestyle, medications and underlying root causes are often being discussed simultaneously. However, it is recommended that you have a primary care doctor for any urgent matters.
Does osteopathy help acute illness or injury?
Yes. Aside from emergencies that require medical stabilization, osteopathic treatment can help to mobilize the body’s innate defenses and lymphatic drainage, potentially decreasing the need for antibiotics or development of chronic conditions. Although further workup may be recommended, early osteopathic treatment can still be very beneficial.
Do you prescribe medications?
Yes. Occasionally during an acute injury or illness certain conventional prescription medications may be prescribed.
Do you prescribe any natural remedies or supplements?
Yes. Typically food plans, herbs, supplements, homeopathic remedies are recommended based each patient’s condition and physical exam. Further testing such as nutritional or hormonal profiles, stool studies, food sensitivities may be indicated. Every patient will receive dietary recommendations as well as home exercises and even meditations and breath work. Holistic remedies will be prescribed in conjunction with allopathic recommendations.
What is Functional Medicine?
"The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.
By addressing root cause, rather than symptoms, practitioners become oriented to identifying the complexity of disease. They may find one condition has many different causes and, likewise, one cause may result in many different conditions. As a result, Functional Medicine treatment targets the specific manifestations of disease in each individual."
