Between Visits: Messaging Guidelines for Ongoing Care
At Midcoast Health Collective, we believe that meaningful connection is at the heart of healing. While our in-person visits provide the sacred space needed for deep listening and personalized care, we understand that questions naturally arise between appointments.
To honor both your needs and the rhythms that support sustainable healthcare, we’ve created these guidelines for between-visit communication.
The Purpose of Messaging
Messaging can support your care journey by:
Confirming appointment times or supplement pickups
Sending documents we’ll review together at your next visit
Providing brief updates or follow-ups on a current care plan
Letting us know if you’re feeling unwell and need to reschedule
When to Schedule a Visit Instead
Some conversations are best held in the spaciousness and presence of a dedicated appointment. Please schedule a visit if you need support with:
New or changing symptoms
Medication or supplement adjustments
Lab result interpretations
Questions requiring clinical decision-making or reflection
A helpful reflection: Would this conversation benefit from the unhurried space of a visit, rather than the back-and-forth of messaging?
Our Response Rhythm
To ensure thoughtful care and minimize distractions, we review messages during dedicated admin hours, not continuously throughout the day.
Non-urgent messages are typically answered within 2–3 business days
For care plan patients with urgent clinical concerns, such as reactions to treatment or a notable change in symptoms, we do our best to respond more quickly
Please note: this system is not monitored for emergencies
In Case of Emergency
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Our messaging system is not monitored continuously and is not appropriate for emergency care.
Honoring the Value of Intentional Care
The most thoughtful healing happens within the container of scheduled visits, where we have the space to listen deeply and respond to your body’s wisdom.
To support this depth of care, we’ve structured messaging access based on your type of care plan:
For Care Plan Patients (Elemental Health and Elemental Care Plans):
Your plan includes structured between-visit support, allowing for brief messaging related to ongoing care. If your message involves complex clinical decision-making, we may recommend scheduling a visit to ensure your concerns are addressed thoroughly.
For A-La-Carte Patients:
To protect the quality of care and maintain clear expectations, between-visit clinical messaging is reserved for care plan patients. If you’re not on a care plan, we’re happy to help you schedule a visit so your concern can be addressed in full.
This approach ensures that everyone receives focused, intentional care, while supporting sustainable rhythms that allow us to be fully present with each person we serve.
How Clarity Supports Deeper Care
Clear guidelines for communication help protect the quality of our care. When we distinguish what belongs in messages versus visits, we make space for meaningful conversations and ensure that every concern receives the time and attention it deserves.
Thank you for helping us maintain a system that honors your time, your care, and the healing process.
Note:
This page is here to help you understand how things generally work in our clinic. While we do our best to keep everything current, policies and pricing may change over time. For the most accurate and personalized information, please refer to your intake documents or reach out to our team directly.