Getting Started

Once Balance Atlanta receives your completed patient intake form, our staff will call you to schedule the consultation and exam. We now offer complimentary initial phone, Skype, or FaceTime consultations to learn more about your needs and to determine if Balance Atlanta is the right fit for you.

Once you have reserved your visits at the Balance Atlanta office, we require a credit card to hold your appointment, as the number of available appointments for new patients is limited. In the case that you must cancel or reschedule your appointment, we require 72-hour advance notice. Our time is as valuable as yours. Failure to do so will result in your card being charged for the full cost of the initial visit.

A solid doctor-patient relationship is especially important to practitioners of functional medicine. A comprehensive face-to-face health history review and examination will be conducted to establish a protocol that will serve the patient’s goals. By law, a doctor must meet with a patient in person to provide an initial consultation. Follow-up appointments can be arranged by phone or in the office.

If you are (or were) under the care of a medical doctor, nutritionist, or functional medicine practitioner, it is recommended that you mail, fax, or drop off your records for Dr. Caroline to review before your first visit. While this is not a requirement, old records can be helpful. If possible, please bring all of your vitamins and other supplements, preferably in the original packaging. Please remember that functional medicine does not replace care with your medical doctors. All recommendations made by your MD, including prescriptions, are to be discussed and managed with your medical doctor. If necessary, Dr. Caroline will consult with your current MD or refer you to an MD for further evaluation.

Dr. Caroline is the founder, owner, and sole doctor at Balance Atlanta. She believes in the personal touch and all-inclusive scope of service under one roof. An intimate environment provides patients with the quality of care that is missing in clinics where, most often, one is shuffled from one practitioner to the next. You will be working with Dr. Caroline exclusively. With 5 levels of care in one location – chiropractic, functional medicine, BrainCore Therapy, difficult cases, and premium services – Balance Atlanta is a unique resource for health.

• Anemias
• Blood sugar disorders
• Oxidative Stress
• Cardiovascular health
• Brain health
• Mood irregularities
• Hormonal imbalances
• Weight gain/loss
• Immune function
• Fatigue
• Gut permeability
• Vitamin/mineral deficiencies
• Overall stress response
• Digestive health
• Heavy metal and chemical toxicity
• Thyroid function
• Liver, kidney, gallbladder function
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Body composition testing

Testing is frequently done to assess nutritional status, including amino acids, fatty acids, oxidative stress, vitamin levels, mitochondrial function, food allergies, and heavy metals. Many other tests are available, including genetic testing for a variety of conditions, hormone evaluations, bone health, gastrointestinal health, adrenal function, and many others.

Your current state of health, specific goals, how much testing you want to do, and your budget will be considered when Dr. Caroline suggests a course of action. During your consultation, Dr. Caroline will determine which tests are needed, and she will review testing recommendations, instructions, and costs.

Some testing can be performed at home with test kits to collect urine, saliva, or stool. Others may require you to go to a local laboratory, such as LabCorp and Any Lab Test, to draw blood. In all cases, we will assist you in coordinating initial and follow-up testing. While the testing gives a more complete picture of your status, effective care can be implemented without it, or testing can be done over time.

Balance Atlanta will be notified by the vendor when lab results are available. Depending on the lab, the turnaround time ranges between seven days and four weeks. Once the results are in, we will call you to schedule a follow-up visit to review the findings.

We recommend you share lab test results and the nature of your wellness program with your medical doctor. An integrated approach to health ensures you receive comprehensive guidance from allopathic and holistic perspectives. Only your medical doctor can prescribe prescription drugs or adjust dosages. Based on your health profile, Dr. Caroline will make recommendations for nutritional support. This includes dietary modification, detoxification protocols, and the highest quality supplements available only through practitioners of functional medicine.

Functional medicine is not covered by insurance. We accept cash, checks, credit cards, CareCredit, and Health Savings Account funds. All payments are made out-of-pocket. Cost varies based on the severity of the case. 

While there is undoubtedly a place for allopathic (medical) care in the health matrix, especially in the case of an acute crisis, Dr. Caroline believes preventive wellness care best honors the natural healing capacity of the human body.  An integrative approach addresses clean nutrition, mindfulness, having a positive outlook, regular exercise, adequate rest, supportive relationships, and establishing purpose in life.

Dr. Caroline welcomes patients who are merely interested in their lab results, as well as people of all ages who are ready to collaborate for the full functional medicine experience at Balance Atlanta.

With that said, there are no simple solutions to complex problems. It is essential to remember that your state of health took years if not decades, to manifest; healing is a process that takes time – there are no quick fixes; genetics, lifestyle, health history, and outlook are factors that affect progress; the likelihood of success depends on your urgency to take action; forming a trusted partnership with Dr. Caroline and other practitioners will support you on the journey; and yes, patients will need to invest time and resources to the project of healing.

Dr. Caroline does not diagnose, treat, or cure symptoms, sicknesses, or disease. Instead, she interprets the findings of your intake form and lab results. Next, she will create a custom nutrition and lifestyle modification program to support well-being. While we honor the body’s incredible ability to heal, we do not guarantee your success. The practice of functional medicine does not replace care from your medical doctor, other specialists in the health field, or the use of prescription drugs. Please inform your medical doctor of all recommendations made by Dr. Caroline. An open dialogue between health professionals is essential to proper patient care.

Based on your health history, goals, and budget, Dr. Caroline will make specific recommendations within her scope of practice. Options can be scaled to fit your priorities. While some patients request a premium-level program, others start on a step-by-step conservative path. Flexibility is the key.

Testing can range between $1,500 for a comprehensive blood panel and urinalysis measuring 80 different markers to a complete lab package in the $8,000 price range. The latter includes assessing hormones, neurotransmitters, gluten sensitivity, food, and chemical allergies, heavy metal toxicity, immune function, stress response, gut permeability, stool, cardiovascular health, and more. 

Patients are charged the doctor-wholesale price for labs, thereby saving you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. For instance, a comprehensive bio panel costs you $1,500. If this test were billed to your insurance by LabCorp, it is now a $2,000 – $3,000 test. By keeping insurance out of the equation, costs to you are reduced.

Dr. Caroline does charge clients for her consulting time on an hourly basis.