Our Approach to Lab Testing
At Midcoast Health Collective, laboratory testing is a key diagnostic tool that supports personalized, whole-person care. Whether you’re new to the clinic or a returning patient, labs are ordered only in the context of a scheduled appointment, not as a standalone service.
This ensures that testing is based on a current, comprehensive understanding of your health—something we can only establish through conversation and clinical review.
Why We Only Order Labs During or After Appointments
As a licensed naturopathic doctor in Maine, I am authorized to order and interpret a wide range of labs. However, I’ve found that ordering tests outside of a clinical visit often leads to:
Choosing the wrong test due to lack of updated context
Overlooking important follow-up steps
Wasted time and money due to repeat or unnecessary testing
By grounding lab decisions in an actual visit, we ensure testing is:
Clinically relevant – guided by real-time discussion of your symptoms and goals
Cost-effective – targeted to provide meaningful insight
Actionable – integrated into your care plan with appropriate follow-up
What to Expect When Labs Are Recommended
If laboratory testing is appropriate:
A personalized lab plan will be developed based on our conversation
You’ll receive instructions for prep (fasting, timing, etc.)
Results will typically be reviewed together at a future visit, as outlined in our Lab Results Communication Policy
The Elemental Care Exception
If you’re enrolled in an Elemental Care package, your annual lab panel is included as part of the program. However, we’ll still determine the timing and scope of that panel during one of your early visits, based on clinical need and your previous lab history. This allows us to align testing with your current care trajectory while honoring the structure of the package.
Common Questions About Lab Orders
Can I get labs ordered before my first visit to save time?
Not at this time. Legally, a doctor-patient relationship must be established before I can order labs, and that begins with your first appointment.
If you’re enrolled in the Elemental Health program, your care includes a foundational lab panel. However, we’ll still decide on the exact timing and scope of testing during your first visit. Depending on your history, symptoms, and recent labs, we may add to or adjust that panel to make sure your first blood draw gives us the most useful information possible—without unnecessary repeats or delays.
I’m a returning patient—can’t I just repeat the same labs I’ve had before?
Sometimes, yes—but only if repeat testing was clearly planned as part of your treatment plan. In those cases, I’ll order them at the appropriate time without requiring another visit.
Otherwise, we’ll need to check in during a scheduled appointment before ordering labs. That way, we can reassess your current symptoms, goals, and treatment progress to ensure testing is still relevant and useful.
Another provider recommended labs—can’t you just order them for me?
While I respect your other providers, I still need to evaluate those recommendations within the framework of your care here. That requires a full visit.
Can you review the labs I had done elsewhere without an appointment?
You’re welcome to upload any recent lab results to the patient portal—we’re always happy to have additional information on file. However, I only offer interpretation of labs during scheduled visits, unless reviewing them was already part of a previously discussed treatment plan. This ensures we have the time and context needed to make thoughtful, clinically sound decisions based on the full picture of your health.
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.