Notes From The Clinic - Virus, Venipunctures And Versatility
Virus
Emerald City Clinic continues to take care of their patients by offering telemedicine as well as in person appointments.
Do not delay your health care due to COVID-19: continue to schedule regular blood draws and follow-ups with your doctor.
For appointments at the clinic please call prior to coming in as we are monitoring physical distancing in our waiting room. A mask covering your nose and mouth is required for entrance.
COVID-19 test and antibody (blood draw) testing is available and must be requested though your doctor at Emerald City Clinic.
Support for those testing positive is available.
Venipunctures (Blood Draws)
The majority of blood draws are fasting which means the following:
Fast for 12 hours prior to your draw
Drink plenty of water the day before your draw and the day of your draw.(Hydrated veins are easier to access.)
Do not have coffee, tea, juice or food prior to your draw.
Do not take your general supplements prior to your draw
(i.e. Multivitamin, Vitamin C, Fish Oils, Vitamin D, etc.)
Consult with your doctor via charm prior to your blood draw on other supplements (i.e. Thyroid,)
Emerald City Clinic works primarily with two labs for blood draws: Labcorp and Cleveland Heart Lab. It is the responsibility of the patient to know their deductible and coverage. Emerald City will assist you in the decision of which lab to use but will need to know your deductible and coverage. We primarily use Labcorp for insurance billing but for those with high deductibles we have the option of client pay with Cleveland Heart Lab and Labcorp where your costs are upfront and you pay between $300 and $400 for your labs.
Versatility
Resiliency: This is what is needed.
by Dr. Molly Niedermeryer
I have been in practice 36 years this summer and find now an opportune time to review our current national and global situation – naturopathically. All my observations are through the lens of a naturopathic doctor and my 36 summers of naturopathic practice leave me clear on my response to the pandemic we are in and the social unrest due to systemic and oppressive racial injustice.
First, I want my clients, staff, family and friends to recognize that we are only as healthy as the environment we inhabit. We are all living globally in a world of high anxiety and fear. My brilliant doctor daughter gave me this equation a few years ago:
Anxiety = Fear and Avoidance.
When we are anxious we drain our reserves and affect our overall health. (And many have no reserves.) A quick way to reduce the anxiety is to have a “plan”, therefore you are not avoiding and you will feel better. Information dispels fear but please be aware to not read too much as regurgitating the same information over and over is not helpful. Make sure you feel safe, (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) and that is going to reduce anxiety.
I look at these times as a healing crisis. It is like the world’s forest fire with a cleansing and reshaping of the world and of our personal environments. And much like a forest fire we need a plan and a tool set to weather the firestorm.
We need to recognize we will be living in this pandemic for at least a couple of years, so it is essential you settle into a healthy routine. Health is defined as freedom from limitations and the least limiting is physical, then emotional and then spiritual.
We should address all the planes of existence.
Physical: Take care of yourself by following “Dr Molly’s 5 Point Health Plan”. Wash your hands, and stay 6 feet away from people not in your bubble. I feel the wearing of masks can be viewed as a spiritual practice of respecting other people by protecting them from you and reducing their anxiety. It is a caring, considerate, easy, thoughtful and healthy way to operate in the world we find ourselves in. In addition, under these circumstances of high anxiety can you do more for your adrenal glands? Maybe there is an herbal formula that will nourish you and if you are comfortable doing so consider a massage or acupuncture treatment.
Feed yourself on all levels.
Emotional: Stay connected; open your life up to your social circle safely and smartly. Besides being present with each other physically we are fortunate to be living in a time where technology can bring you closer to family and friends with video calling or with texting. Or you can go old school and write letters. Explore new ways of communicating. Be creative in your connections: zoom craft meet-up, watch a movie with a shared service, hulu hoop in the park, try geocaching, stream an opera and then talk about it. Try to increase your safe bubble before it gets dark and dreary here in the northwest and we cannot meet outside anymore. Learn something new and keep your brain supple.
Spiritual: Wear your masks and protect others. Remember to treat your neighbor as yourself. Try each day to make the world a better place. Practice being in the moment, and then the next moment…… What spiritual work or practice will feed you: journaling, meditation, prayer, art. Do not dismiss the care of this part of yourself.
Please remember that this too will pass and we will find ourselves in a better place after the cleansing and reshaping. Humans are so brilliant and adaptable. YOU ARE BRILLIANT AND ADAPTABLE. I am learning how to prioritize, smell the roses, harvest the kale, practice yoga and be grateful. Everyone at Emerald City Clinic is here to assist you with optimizing your health and keeping you safe. We care about you.