Over the years I have resisted long inventory type intake forms for a variety of reasons. Recently as an experiment I started to use one and my clients have responded that it ‘jogged their memory’ concerning other issues, or past events that they otherwise would have not remembered to tell me. I’ve pulled a few forms from other naturopathic practices on the internet to compare the nature of the questions and been impressed with the diversity. Do any of you currently use these inventory type intake forms? If so, have you found a specific format that works best?
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Donna
D C Rona, PhD, ND, DHM
"Stress Repertory: Signs and Symptoms of Stress Induced Nutrient Depletion"
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practice question - intake forms
-
Marybeth Buchele
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2003 10:00 pm
Re: practice question - intake forms
Hi Rona,
I use several check lists (one is "have you ever experienced this ailment?", one is "symptoms you've experienced in the last 6 months" to cover a variety of information) plus a place to fill in information that isn't addressed in the check lists. I ask about the health of their family members, parents, grandparents, children, to get an idea of the inherited health level. I also find that doing the longer intake forms jogs their memories; but it also brings up things we didn't talk about and streamlines the consultation.
The really cool thing you can do is to put your intake forms on your website, then when someone schedules an appointment with you, they go to your website, download the forms and they are ready for the appointment. This way you don't have to print up and mail out the forms. This approach saves you a lot of time and money!
Blessings,
Marybeth Buchele HMC*
Professional Homeopath
Natural Health for Mind and Body
Offices in
St. Louis Park, MN
952-933-6068
and
Menomonie, WI
715-231-6068
www.healthnaturally.biz
*Homeopathic Master Clinician
Graduate, Northwestern Academy of Homeopath
Graduate, Dynamis School of Advanced Homeopathy
Graduate, Luminos Homeopathic Master Clinician Course
In a message dated 6/4/2008 9:11:22 A.M. Central Daylight Time, rona@consultant.com writes:
________________________________
I use several check lists (one is "have you ever experienced this ailment?", one is "symptoms you've experienced in the last 6 months" to cover a variety of information) plus a place to fill in information that isn't addressed in the check lists. I ask about the health of their family members, parents, grandparents, children, to get an idea of the inherited health level. I also find that doing the longer intake forms jogs their memories; but it also brings up things we didn't talk about and streamlines the consultation.
The really cool thing you can do is to put your intake forms on your website, then when someone schedules an appointment with you, they go to your website, download the forms and they are ready for the appointment. This way you don't have to print up and mail out the forms. This approach saves you a lot of time and money!
Blessings,
Marybeth Buchele HMC*
Professional Homeopath
Natural Health for Mind and Body
Offices in
St. Louis Park, MN
952-933-6068
and
Menomonie, WI
715-231-6068
www.healthnaturally.biz
*Homeopathic Master Clinician
Graduate, Northwestern Academy of Homeopath
Graduate, Dynamis School of Advanced Homeopathy
Graduate, Luminos Homeopathic Master Clinician Course
In a message dated 6/4/2008 9:11:22 A.M. Central Daylight Time, rona@consultant.com writes:
________________________________
-
Rosemary C. Hyde, Ph.D.
- Posts: 416
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2020 10:00 pm
Re: practice question - intake forms
Dear Donna,
Yes, I find that such a form is invaluable. Not only does it indeed "jog" patients' memories and get them into a mindset for telling me everything, it also gives me a "heads up" for elements in their personal and family health history that might be really important in solving the case. And it lets me know at a glance which physical generals might be important, without my having to go through the whole list of standard questions during the interview. I ask people to get the questionnaire to me several days before the intake is scheduled, so I have time to review it and figure out what I have to learn more about during the intake interview, in case it doesn't come up spontaneously.
In the interview, I start out by asking the patient to tell me what's going on and what benefits they want to get from homeopathic treatment. Then I do a usual casetaking, letting them take the lead, and, where something raises antennae, like a sensation or a repeated feeling, ask them to tell me more, and why, repeatedly, until they're not willing to say any more (and, yes, I look for hand gestures, tears, or other signs that something is central during this process.).
The most useful questions in the form include:
* what medications they're taking and for what (usually medicated symptoms would not spontaneously come up in the interview, but they're obviously really important to the case)
* What immunizations they've had
* Their health history in terms of diseases they've had repeatedly or for which they've been treated previously, including during childhood
* Their family's brief health history
* History of sexual relationships, abortions, and births
* Personal or family history of sexually transmitted diseases (people are more likely to say something on a form than in person)
* What their parents, family or friends said about them when they were kids
* Describe the person they've liked least and why
* Describe the job or situation they have liked least and why (least rather than most, because people usually are less defended in describing their "shadow" side -- they don't already have a well rehearsed story about it)
* In what situations and on what body parts do they perspire a lot, if they do, and what does it smell like.
* What kinds of things have ever appeared on their skin, and when. What does it feel like when it does? (I give a list of possibilities, because people often only think of pimples, and forget about moles, warts, minor eczematous rashes, etc...)
* A numbered scale (1-5, least to most) of different physical or M/E generals: hot:cold, thirsty: thirstless, excitable: steady, decisive: indecisive, .......
* What situations, foods, places do they avoid because they don't feel well at those times?
* What is the best non-medical strategy they've found to help them feel better when ailing?
It's a long questionnaire, and it takes people a couple of hours to finish it. But it adds so much information to that first interview that I'm sure it shortens the process of finding the right remedy for most people by several months of follow-ups. Before the interview is done, I also make sure I confirm or ask more in-depth about items on the form (usually no more than 2 or 3) that seem truly significant additions to the case.
The questionnaire is always a "work in progress" -- I add to it and subtract from it as I realize questions that would be really helpful, and realize that no one ever gives me useful answers to others (it's in my computer, and gets printed out fresh for each new client). Slowly, it's becoming a more and more targeted instrument for getting the kinds of information that will prove most helpful. A couple of times, in circumstances beyond my control, I have not been able to get a filled out form from a client, and I sure do miss that background information dramatically -- I'm much less certain of the prescription that comes up!! The form provides dimension, lighting, background -- creates a good three dimensional picture out of the limited amount of information one can get out of an intake interview.
Hope helpful. Rosemary
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Yes, I find that such a form is invaluable. Not only does it indeed "jog" patients' memories and get them into a mindset for telling me everything, it also gives me a "heads up" for elements in their personal and family health history that might be really important in solving the case. And it lets me know at a glance which physical generals might be important, without my having to go through the whole list of standard questions during the interview. I ask people to get the questionnaire to me several days before the intake is scheduled, so I have time to review it and figure out what I have to learn more about during the intake interview, in case it doesn't come up spontaneously.
In the interview, I start out by asking the patient to tell me what's going on and what benefits they want to get from homeopathic treatment. Then I do a usual casetaking, letting them take the lead, and, where something raises antennae, like a sensation or a repeated feeling, ask them to tell me more, and why, repeatedly, until they're not willing to say any more (and, yes, I look for hand gestures, tears, or other signs that something is central during this process.).
The most useful questions in the form include:
* what medications they're taking and for what (usually medicated symptoms would not spontaneously come up in the interview, but they're obviously really important to the case)
* What immunizations they've had
* Their health history in terms of diseases they've had repeatedly or for which they've been treated previously, including during childhood
* Their family's brief health history
* History of sexual relationships, abortions, and births
* Personal or family history of sexually transmitted diseases (people are more likely to say something on a form than in person)
* What their parents, family or friends said about them when they were kids
* Describe the person they've liked least and why
* Describe the job or situation they have liked least and why (least rather than most, because people usually are less defended in describing their "shadow" side -- they don't already have a well rehearsed story about it)
* In what situations and on what body parts do they perspire a lot, if they do, and what does it smell like.
* What kinds of things have ever appeared on their skin, and when. What does it feel like when it does? (I give a list of possibilities, because people often only think of pimples, and forget about moles, warts, minor eczematous rashes, etc...)
* A numbered scale (1-5, least to most) of different physical or M/E generals: hot:cold, thirsty: thirstless, excitable: steady, decisive: indecisive, .......
* What situations, foods, places do they avoid because they don't feel well at those times?
* What is the best non-medical strategy they've found to help them feel better when ailing?
It's a long questionnaire, and it takes people a couple of hours to finish it. But it adds so much information to that first interview that I'm sure it shortens the process of finding the right remedy for most people by several months of follow-ups. Before the interview is done, I also make sure I confirm or ask more in-depth about items on the form (usually no more than 2 or 3) that seem truly significant additions to the case.
The questionnaire is always a "work in progress" -- I add to it and subtract from it as I realize questions that would be really helpful, and realize that no one ever gives me useful answers to others (it's in my computer, and gets printed out fresh for each new client). Slowly, it's becoming a more and more targeted instrument for getting the kinds of information that will prove most helpful. A couple of times, in circumstances beyond my control, I have not been able to get a filled out form from a client, and I sure do miss that background information dramatically -- I'm much less certain of the prescription that comes up!! The form provides dimension, lighting, background -- creates a good three dimensional picture out of the limited amount of information one can get out of an intake interview.
Hope helpful. Rosemary
________________________________
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-
Irene de Villiers
- Posts: 3237
- Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:00 pm
Re: practice question - intake forms
Not sue what you call "inventory":-)
I work by email only (for animal owners) and use an extensive
questionnaire for any chronic case, but each is geared to the
individual case/situation.
It's not needed for an acute case.
The objective is for me to get a picture I can visualize, of the
individual, their constitutional type features, their illness
characteristics (including lab results if available so I can assess
organ damage/health) and their history that may relate to the current
situation, the environment they are in currently (incl food/
nutrition, drugs/meds etc, toxin exposures), and significant
behavioral changes since becoming ill. I also include my statements
of education and qualification and consult contract issues.
It's an advantage to have everything in writing - an advantage for
the client as well, as they can refer to instructions and suggestions
as often as needed. Prevents misunderstandings in a field where the
client is not expected to have basic knowledge (contrary to allopathy
for example) .
Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."
I work by email only (for animal owners) and use an extensive
questionnaire for any chronic case, but each is geared to the
individual case/situation.
It's not needed for an acute case.
The objective is for me to get a picture I can visualize, of the
individual, their constitutional type features, their illness
characteristics (including lab results if available so I can assess
organ damage/health) and their history that may relate to the current
situation, the environment they are in currently (incl food/
nutrition, drugs/meds etc, toxin exposures), and significant
behavioral changes since becoming ill. I also include my statements
of education and qualification and consult contract issues.
It's an advantage to have everything in writing - an advantage for
the client as well, as they can refer to instructions and suggestions
as often as needed. Prevents misunderstandings in a field where the
client is not expected to have basic knowledge (contrary to allopathy
for example) .
Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."
-
Irene de Villiers
- Posts: 3237
- Joined: Sat Aug 02, 2014 10:00 pm
Re: practice question - intake forms
This is something I avoid strongly.
It tends to stress irrelevant things as strongly as relevant ones.
I prefer to get a narrative of the health history and analyse it
myself for relevance. It's more work but more directed and
individualized - where checklists can really mislead and do not give
relevance, timeline or seriousness of each item.
I consider the individualisation of intake info is necessary in
homeopathy, and not suited to allopathic checklist approach.
Just my opinion on it.
Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."
It tends to stress irrelevant things as strongly as relevant ones.
I prefer to get a narrative of the health history and analyse it
myself for relevance. It's more work but more directed and
individualized - where checklists can really mislead and do not give
relevance, timeline or seriousness of each item.
I consider the individualisation of intake info is necessary in
homeopathy, and not suited to allopathic checklist approach.
Just my opinion on it.
Namaste,
Irene
--
Irene de Villiers, B.Sc AASCA MCSSA D.I.Hom/D.Vet.Hom.
P.O. Box 4703 Spokane WA 99220.
www.angelfire.com/fl/furryboots/clickhere.html (Veterinary Homeopath.)
"Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt one doing it."