Re: thoughtful house

[Guest guest]

We have been consulting with Thoughtful House since last February.

They have their own listserve:

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/thoughtfulhousecenterforchildren/

From what I understand, they have recently hired a lot of new staff in

an effort to get kids seen more quickly. So, if I understand it

correctly, new clients are initially seen and treated by one of the new

ARNP's for the " first tier " of treatment, and then they are seen by Dr.

Jepson (the DAN! doctor) for the higher, more complex " tiers " of

treatment when they are ready.

You should definitely go on their listserve and ask because I may have

misunderstood and explained this incorrectly.

For what it's worth, we have been very satisfied with Thoughtful

House. They are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We tried 3

different DAN! doctors before settling on Thoughtful House, so to say

we are picky is an understatement! I particularly like that they have

so many available services all under one roof (DAN! doctor,

nutritionist, GI doctor, etc.) who all specialize in autism.

-

Jimmy 10/12/2001

>

> Has anyone been to the Thoughtful house in Austin? My daughter is

going this month and they have decided to have her seen by a nurse

practitioner instead of a physician. Is this normal?? I have heard so

many great things about this place but never anything specific. I am

really starting to have doubts about her evaluation now. I can't afford

to spend another thousand + dollars on another " wasted " evaluation. We

have been there and done that multiple times! Any feedback on other

evaluations through the thoughtful house would be greatly appreciated,

especially if you were seen by the nurse instead of the physician.

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Dr. Jepson saw my son in November. We really liked him. He does a nice job

putting a plan together for your child. We worked with his nutritionist

Barnhill before seeing him and liked her as well. Don't have to waste time

trying to explain sensory issues, etc. They get it, and guide you from GFCF

diet, to lab, to treating gut, to supplementation, B-12, glutathione, and

chelation. Hope this helps. Good luck to you!

sharill bernhard wrote: Has anyone been to the

Thoughtful house in Austin? My daughter is going this month and they have

decided to have her seen by a nurse practitioner instead of a physician. Is this

normal?? I have heard so many great things about this place but never anything

specific. I am really starting to have doubts about her evaluation now. I can't

afford to spend another thousand + dollars on another " wasted " evaluation. We

have been there and done that multiple times! Any feedback on other evaluations

through the thoughtful house would be greatly appreciated, especially if you

were seen by the nurse instead of the physician.

[Guest guest]

Thanks and for your posts. My daughter just did a phone

interview with a NP at Thoughtful House for my grandson who is 4. When we

first suspected autism at 19 months, I suggested Dr. Cave, and that is who

she has been using. Like Sharill, I have been reading a lot of good things

about Thoughtful House and suggested my daughter go there. The phone

interview was so expensive that my daughter and I had some misgivings.

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Patsy

[Guest guest]

That is the hard part about Thoughtful House (and most DAN!

practitioners, in my experience). Since they don't accept insurance,

you have to pay up front and attempt to get reimbursed yourself. We

have been lucky to have been reimbursed at 100% for everything

(except only 80% for Dr. Jepson) except telephone consults - our

insurance won't pay for those with anyone.

From my experience, the fees they actually charge at Thoughtful House

are on par or even cheaper than " mainstream " medical clinics /

doctors, but since you have to fork the money out yourself (rather

than a clinic that will bill insurance directly for you), you feel it

more.

Several people on this list have mentioned Care Clinic in Austin,

saying that they are good and that they (unlike Thoughtful House)

will bill insurance for you instead of you having to pay up front and

be reimbursed. I have no personal experience - just repeating what

I've read on this list.

-

Jimmy 10/12/2001

>

> Thanks and for your posts. My daughter just did

a phone

> interview with a NP at Thoughtful House for my grandson who is 4.

When we

> first suspected autism at 19 months, I suggested Dr. Cave, and that

is who

> she has been using. Like Sharill, I have been reading a lot of

good things

> about Thoughtful House and suggested my daughter go there. The

phone

> interview was so expensive that my daughter and I had some

misgivings.

> Thanks for sharing your experiences.

>

> Patsy

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Has anyone been to

the Thoughtful house in Austin? My daughter is going this month and

they have decided to have her seen by a nurse practitioner instead of

a physician. Is this normal?? I have heard so many great things about

this place but never anything specific. I am really starting to have

doubts about her evaluation now. I can't afford to spend another

thousand + dollars on another " wasted " evaluation. We have been there

and done that multiple times! Any feedback on other evaluations

through the thoughtful house would be greatly appreciated, especially

if you were seen by the nurse instead of the physician.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Martha,

Have you contacted Thoughtful House?? I know they are trying (or

already have) to set up programs to help people who have very limited

incomes.

>

> If you have money to spend then Thoughtful house is a good way to

look into bowel issues. But, if you are like me on a fixed income

without extra resources and with an older individual who needs help

then you are out in the cold. Martha

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