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Frequently Asked Questions

Hands-On Answers To Commonly Asked Questions

Q. What is the Center about?
A. The Hands-On Health Wholistic HealthCare Center was established in 1990 to provide effective, natural therapies in a positive atmosphere conducive to healing. We use complementary medical approaches to increase life quality, wellness and vitality, address a wide range of health problems, and prevent illness.

Q. What is a typical treatment like?
A. Before your first visit, you fill out a questionnaire that gives a profile of your health history and life quality. Then you meet with your practitioner to complete your health history, and discuss your needs and goals. The practitioner will make an evaluation, discuss how we can best help you, and create and individualized treatment plan for you. This includes specific therapies to use, estimated number of visits, costs, your responsibilities, etc. In subsequent visits we discuss your progress and work together to create the next steps. The effects of our treatments and the lifestyle changes we encourage are cumulative and long-lasting.

Q. What is my responsibility when I come for treatment?
A. It would be nice to hear, "Just come in and we'll fix you." Lasting change requires work on your part also. A big part of our job is helping people to help themselves and redirect their lives in a positive way. We can help you live a healthier, more fulfilling life. See us as guide and coach that helps you find balance, vitality and wellness.

A cornerstone of wholistic healthcare is patient education. We teach our patients everything we can about living a healthy and peaceful life. It's our job to teach you how to better take care of yourself, and give you tools for health and living which you can use for your whole life.

Wholistic health emphasizes education, prevention and the acceptance of responsibility for one's life and health. The motto of the wholistic practitioner is "do as I do." This implies that such a person is a living example of vibrant health. Wholistic health treats people, not merely symptoms or a labeled disease. It seeks not only the absence of disease, but also the presence of health and wellness.

Q. Do you accept insurance?
A. The Hands-On Health Center does not accept insurance as payment. Ask your insurance carrier if it will reimburse you for our services. We will give you a statement that you can send in to them to receive reimbursement. Many of our patients have been at least partially reimbursed for their treatments here. We believe that healthcare should be affordable, without dependence on insurance coverage. We emphasize effective, low-cost natural therapies, and the prevention and early treatment of illness. If you have financial concerns, discuss them with us.

Q. Do I need a Doctor's prescription to come in?
A. No. We are all New York State licensed independent healthcare professionals. For purposes of insurance reimbursement, a physician's prescription may be helpful.

Wholistic healthcare is best understood as "complementary," rather than "alternative." The best healthcare uses the strengths of both conventional (modern Western medicine) and traditional (wholistic or Chinese) medicine. They work best together, and not in opposition to each other. If you are under a physician's care for a health problem, it is likely that using a wholistic approach at the same time would help, and enhance your healing process. Conventional Western medicine is quite effective with lifesaving intervention and trauma care, and managing symptoms with drugs and surgery. Wholistic healthcare is generally more effective at addressing the root cause of an illness, treating chronic health problems, and prevention.

Q. I don't really have any health problems. Can I just come to relax?
A. Absolutely. Since stress is a key factor in most dis-ease, coming to Hands-On Health for a relaxing treatment is valuable for promoting and maintaining health. We tailor each treatment your needs. If your goal is to relax, we can certainly help. You do not need a health problem to come in.

People who are healthy to begin with, and those who have reached a state of good health by working with us, come regularly (about once per month) for maintenance care-a "tune up". Facial rejuvenation with acupuncture is also available. It is easier and cheaper to stay healthy than it is to get sick and recover. We emphasize prevention -the promotion of health-and early treatment as keys to enjoying life.

Q. Do you offer Massage Therapy?
A. Yes. The main type of massage/bodywork therapy we offer is Amma Therapy. We offer European/Swedish massage therapy as well. .

Part of Amma therapy is Asian bodywork therapy/medical massage. Amma technique uses no oils or lotions, though we often use herbal liniments. The basic technique consists of circular manipulations along the energy pathways (Channels) of the body, rather than the long, gliding strokes of European massage. Amma therapy, as a form of Asian bodywork, is based in Chinese medicine, and so restores balance to the energy system. We use our hands to treat the body with techniques that remove blockages to the flow of life energy (Qi). In Chinese medicine we say, "Treating the energy body properly allows the physical body to heal." Amma therapy can also include nutrition and lifestyle counseling, stress management, and natural medicine.

Q. Do you have other locations?
A. Yes. Michael Gaeta sees patients at the Comprehensive Chiropractic Care Center, located at 201 East Main Street (Route 25A, NOT Route 25), in East Huntington, Long Island on Thursdays from 2PM to 7:30PM. It is the office of Dr. John Tonna. The Center is about 1.6 miles east of route 110 (New York Avenue). The office is on the north side of the street. Look for a large sign that says "Chiropractor." Call Hands-On Health for appointments and directions.

William Lee, MD, LAc has office hours in Manhattan. Call 212.380 1280 for appointments.