Colleen M Takagishi

MS RDN CDE

FAQs

Will my health insurance cover my visit?

Today most health insurance plans recognize that nutritional counseling greatly reduces future medical costs and improves overall health. And while insurance varies, many policies will cover Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) for diagnoses that are deemed “medically necessary” such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), unexplained weight loss/gain, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), gastrointestinal problems, eating disorders, kidney disease, etc. Inquire if your health care insurance plan offers this coverage.

We do not bill for insurance but will provide you with a Super-Bill (medical receipt of payment) to submit to your insurance in order to obtain reimbursement. We are happy to supply any additional information that may be requested. Please note that MNT can be tax deductable and if you have a flexible spending account nutrition services may be used by this account as well.

Payment is due at time of service. Payment may be in the form of cash, check, or credit card.

What is Medical Nutrition Therapy?

Whether you have a specific health concern, such as high blood pressure, or diabetes or you would simply like to improve your overall sense of well being, you can benefit from individual nutrition counseling or “medical nutrition therapy”. Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is an essential component of your comprehensive health care. During an MNT intervention, RDs counsel clients on behavioral and lifestyle changes required to impact long-term eating habits and health.

Medical Nutrition Therapy includes:

  1. Comprehensive nutrition assessment determining the nutrition diagnosis;
  2. Nutrition intervention using evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines;
  3. Monitoring and evaluating an individual’s progress over subsequent visits with the RD.

We provide MNT and other nutrition services for a variety of diseases and conditions including:

  • Disease Prevention: general wellness
  • Cardiovascular Diseases: hypertension, dyslipidemia,
  • Diabetes: Type 1, Type 2
  • Oncology: Cancer Prevention – Treatment – Survivorship
  • GI Disorders: celiac disease, cirrhosis, Crohn’s disease
  • Immunocompromise: food allergy, HIV/AIDS
  • Nutritional Support: oral, enteral alternate feeding regimes
  • Weight Management: overweight/obesity, unintentional weight loss, eating disorders
  • Women’s Health: pregnancy, osteoporosis, anemia, pre and post menopause

How is an RD different than a Nutritionist?

In today’s multi-media world, we are saturated with dietary messages with widely disparate advice on how to eat to prevent or treat any ailment. Why all the confusion? The study of nutrition is a young, complex and evolving science. New discoveries are uncovered every day. When you choose a registered dietetics professional (RD), you will be connecting with an individual with demonstrated professional expertise in not only the current science but the practical/personal application of important nutrition research.

The “RD” credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by qualified practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Professionally, RDs are ethically bound to evidence-based practices and offer extensive validated knowledge of clinical nutrition and interventions. They are highly trained in nutritional counseling techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing and change models.

For more information on Registered Dietitians, contact:

Can I bring my spouse?

Absolutely! I encourage you to bring a significant other or friend who will support you in achieving your goals.

Do you offer home visits?

Yes, I offer nutritional counseling for home bound clients. These visits are most successful when family members and/or care givers participate. Please call our office to discuss your family’s needs.

What does an initial visit entail?

We offer a personalized approach to nutrition therapy. Based upon YOUR needs and preferences, a Food/Lifestyle Map will be created for you. This Map is a comprehensive, realistic plan which takes into account your health goals and incorporates an understanding of your family circumstances as well as the social aspects of food in your life while modifying your lifestyle to achieve your goals.

What can I expect from nutritional counseling and how many times will I have to come?

The degree of lifestyle change you choose to adopt will define your successes. In other words, it is not an all or nothing paradigm but more of a continuum or spectrum of change. Nutrition therapy is a very individualized approach. To benefit the most from your nutritional counseling, at least one follow-up appointment is recommended. Dietary changes are best implemented in phases or stages. This way the change is not overwhelming, and the changes you make have a good chance of becoming solid habits. For some people, these changes will be small; for others they maybe significant. Follow-up visits will help you to adjust, expand and firmly plant your new diet/behavior paradigm into your daily practices.

How should I prepare for my first appointment? What should I bring?

  • It will be helpful if you could write down a day or two of your typical eating patterns. If possible, include two weekdays and one weekend day.
  • Bring copies of any recent laboratory blood work that you may have. You may also choose to fax these to me prior to your visit at 847.328.4802.
  • A list of your current medications, vitamin/mineral or herbal supplements. You can either email the list to me or bring them to your initial visit.
  • Your curiosity: food labels, articles about nutrition, any questions that you would like to discuss.