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Are you in-network for my insurance?We accept most major insurances, including Medicare, Medicaid, Anthem, Cigna Healthcare, ConnectiCare, United Healthcare, and Wellcare. To verify whether we are in-network for your insurance, please call the office at 860-331-3016. Not all services we provide are always covered by insurance. We will always inform you of the good faith estimate of expected charges prior to obtaining your consent to perform these services.
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What ages do you treat?As a family medicine physician, Dr. Werner is trained and certified to diagnose and treat patients of all ages. We see patients of all ages for both primary care and specialty services. Whether a newborn baby needs support with breastfeeding, a teenager needs a speedy recovery from a sports injury, a pregnant woman is seeking relief from back pain, a middle-aged adult needs help with symptoms from a systemic disease, or an elderly individual has chronic headaches, Dr. Werner can often help.
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What is a DO vs MD?There are two paths to become a licensed physician in the United States; while most are familiar with the more common MD degree, DO stands for Doctor of Osteopathy. Osteopathic medicine was created by the physician Andrew Taylor Still to address health needs that were not being helped (and were often being harmed) by the 19th century medical community. Today, the profession has evolved to incorporate modern medications and surgeries, with osteopathic physicians (DOs) often training alongside allopathic physicians (MDs) during residency; however, osteopathic medical schools are still unique for their adherence to osteopathic medicine’s core tenets, additional training in anatomy, and focus on hands-on care. Osteopathic medicine is ultimately defined by its distinctive holistic philosophy that recognizes each individual has their own unique combination of body, mind, and spirit. All three constantly interact and inform each other, to the extent that positive (or negative) shifts in one aspect of our health can have a direct and meaningful impact on the others. At its most basic level, this means that stress or disease in the body, mind, or spirit is often felt by patients as physical pain and produces a dysfunction in the body which can be identified and diagnosed through a detailed and focused exam. In turn, treating those dysfunctions can positively impact their initial cause. Although many patients may initially come to a DO to find pain relief, osteopathic physicians are trained to further seek the root cause of that pain and dysfunction so they can address it at its source.
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How should I prepare?CLOTHING: We recommend wearing loose-fitting but comfortable clothing, such as a t-shirt and shorts or sweatpants. If you choose to wear a skirt or dress, we ask that you wear shorts or tights underneath. TIMING: Please arrive 15 minutes early to allow time to find parking, enter the building, and complete any needed check-in paperwork so we can begin at our scheduled time. We do recommend that patients also mentally reserve a half hour after the session, so they have an opportunity to practice any new stretches and rehydrate, or so we can add more treatment time, if indicated. We value our patient’s time and try to run a timely office. If we are running more than 15 minutes behind schedule, the front desk will notify you via your preferred contact method. PAPERWORK: Please be sure to fill out any forms to the best of your ability, in advance. If you are unsure how to answer specific questions, we can work together to complete them during our time together. ATTENDEES: You are welcome to bring family, friends, and/or caregivers with you to your visit. Everyone present will be required to adhere to our COVID-19 safety precautions detailed here, including a facemask covering their nose and mouth at all times while in the office.
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What COVID-19 precautions are in place at your office?In order to protect our patients and staff, all individuals 2 years old and older are required to properly wear a mask (covering the nose and mouth) while in our office. All surfaces in the exam rooms are disinfected between patients and common spaces in the waiting area and at the front desk are frequently disinfected.
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What should I do if I'm feeling unwell with symptoms unrelated to my appointment?If you are scheduled for a well visit, osteopathic manipulative treatment, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, or an ultrasound-guided injection, please call the front office in order to discuss your symptoms and decide whether your appointment should be rescheduled or converted to a sick visit.
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What should I do if I or a member of my household tested positive for COVID-19?If you have an upcoming appointment and learn of yourself or someone in your household testing positive for COVID-19, please call our office so we can assist you in rescheduling your appointment.
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What is Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)?OMT is a treatment modality used as an integral part of an osteopathic medical plan to optimize patients’ abilities to function. In recognition of the interrelationship between structure and function, OMT is actually an umbrella term for several manual techniques developed by osteopathic physicians to treat different parts of the body based on unique anatomical needs. Some examples that have been adapted by other professions include myofascial release, muscle energy, counterstrain, and cranial techniques. Although these may appear similar to techniques utilized by other allied health professionals such as chiropractors, physical therapists, or massage therapists, osteopathic physicians are trained to use them in the greater context of an individual’s complete medical wellbeing. For more chronic conditions, these treatments are used alongside recommendations for corrective exercises, ergonomic changes, improved nutrition, and healthy lifestyle changes (e.g., mindfulness, sleep, etc.) to help patients move beyond previous limitations and bring about long-term stress reduction and healing. Whether acute or chronic, the goal of each treatment session and of Family Osteopathy’s overall care is to facilitate the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.
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What conditions is OMT used to treat?OMT can be used to treat a wide array of conditions, including Back pain Joint pain "Long COVID" Breastfeeding difficulty Colic Upper respiratory infection Nausea Constipation Headaches Lymphedema Sprains, strains, and much more. If you are wondering whether OMT may be able to help you, please don't hesitate to contact us!
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How many treatment sessions do I need?Just as each patient’s health is different, their treatment needs are different as well. Each Family Osteopathy patient is evaluated and treated based solely on their individual needs, preferences, or circumstances. In general however, those who have suffered a more acute injury or disease can typically expect significant benefit in just a few treatments and then follow up as needed to maintain their improved state of health, so long as it is not exacerbated by maladaptive routines used in daily life (e.g., poor posture or ergonomics). For our patients whose bodies are actively changing (e.g., children, pregnancy, chemotherapy) or who are still establishing a new wellness routine, more sessions may be required which will be an open and ongoing conversation at each visit.
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Do you do craniosacral therapy?Dr. Werner is trained in the use of ‘Osteopathy in the Cranial Field’ (OCF), alternatively known as ‘Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine.’ At its core, craniosacral therapy is an abridged version of OCF and is provided by non-physicians. Those individuals who find benefit from craniosacral therapy find benefit of equal amount or greater from OCF. OCF addresses patterns of strain within an anatomic structure which can reflect problems throughout the body, including the musculoskeletal, nervous, endocrine, vascular, and lymphatic/glymphatic systems. Dr. Werner uses OCF as a complement to a variety of other treatment modalities to fully address the patient’s individual needs. Dr. Werner has been a member in good standing of the Osteopathic Cranial Academy since 2015.
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What can I expect during my treatment session?1) Dr. Werner will review your complete medical history, the symptoms that brought you to Family Osteopathy, and your personal health goals. The details can take time, as 70-80% of all accurate diagnoses are due to a thorough history-taking. 2) This is followed by a functional and structural exam of your body with a focus on the region that is bothering you the most. 3) OMT techniques are used to treat any identified key lesions. 4) The final minutes are often spent reviewing any lifestyle modifications or exercises recommended by Dr. Werner in order to carry the treatment forward, continuing its effect.
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Do you crack necks/backs? How is OMT different than seeing a chiropractor?Simply put, yes. To clarify, Dr. Werner is a fully-licensed, board-certified medical doctor who can manipulate not only every joint in the entire body, but also every muscle, tendon, ligament, nerve, artery, vein, and connective tissue. There is an OMT technique referred to as “high velocity, low amplitude” (HVLA) because it is used to bring the body past its previous barrier in a controlled manner. Similar to cracking your knuckles, HVLA can often produce a cavitation effect of nitrogen gas in the synovial fluid, which is what causes that cracking sound. There are times that HVLA may be indicated during a treatment session, but Dr. Werner always confirms beforehand whether that is your preference, and there are several alternatives if needed. Variations of HVLA are taught in chiropractic schools, and it is one of their core techniques, as well. Although there are excellent chiropractors who may further their studies after graduation, their field is ultimately built on reducing pain by aligning the body’s skeletal system. In contrast, osteopathic doctors have greater knowledge of the functioning of the organ systems in the body as well as diseases that impact the body. A core foundation of osteopathic medicine is the unity of the mind, body, and spirit, as well as the physician’s ability to interpret and act upon how that is reflected in the musculoskeletal system. This allows us to help our patients’ self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
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How can OMT help infants with plagiocephaly and/or torticollis?OMT can help infants with plagiocephaly by gently reshaping their head, moving their bones into a more optimal position. OMT can help infants with torticollis by gently stretching tight muscles that are restricting their movement. These gentle changes can also impact other symptoms, such as reflux, feeding challenges, and ear infections. For more information, see the Osteopathic Center for Children's flyer on Osteopathy and Plagiocephaly.
COVID-19 Questions
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