Office Policies, Privacy & Consent
Transparency and trust are the foundation of our work together. This page contains three important documents: our Office Policies and Financial Agreement, our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, and our Informed Consent for Health and Wellness Consulting Services.
Welcome to Directional Vitality
At Directional Vitality LLC, our goal is to help you better understand the many factors that may influence your health and well-being. We take a whole-person approach, looking at nutrition, lifestyle, sleep, stress, environmental and occupational exposures, and other factors that may be affecting how you feel.
Our practitioners may hold a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree and have extensive education in health sciences, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, botanical medicine, environmental medicine, and other approaches to health and wellness.
Important: Scope of Services
Naturopathic doctors are not licensed as physicians in Texas. When working with clients in Texas, our services are provided in the capacity of health and wellness education and consulting — not as the practice of medicine, and not as a substitute for care from a Texas-licensed physician or other licensed healthcare professional.
We work with clients to review their labs, health history, lifestyle, nutrition, wellness goals, and potential environmental or occupational exposures. We may provide education and general wellness guidance regarding labs, nutrition, dietary supplements, lifestyle practices, environmental exposure reduction, and self-care strategies within the boundaries permitted by law. We do not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe or discontinue prescription medications, represent ourselves as Texas-licensed physicians, or provide services that require a Texas healthcare license.
When symptoms, findings, or concerns warrant medical evaluation, diagnosis, testing, treatment, or emergency care, we will encourage you to seek care from an appropriately licensed healthcare professional. Our approach is collaborative — we welcome communication and coordination with your physicians and other healthcare professionals when appropriate and with your permission. Our goal is to complement, not replace, your established medical care while helping you make informed choices to optimize your health and wellness.
Office Policies & Financial Agreement
Please review the following policies before scheduling your consultation.
Payment Policy
Payment is due in full at the time of scheduling. Directional Vitality does not bill or accept health insurance. Accepted payment methods are all major credit and debit cards and Cash App.
Email & Text Communications
Email and standard text messaging may not provide the same level of privacy and security as communication through the Charm patient portal. Please do not send sensitive health information, medical records, laboratory results, or other confidential information by standard email or text message. Whenever possible, use the secure Charm patient portal for communications containing personal or health information.
Charm Patient Portal
You will receive an email or text message with instructions for setting up your Charm patient portal account. Please use the secure Charm patient portal to complete your intake forms, upload requested documents or laboratory results, and communicate sensitive health information with Directional Vitality.
Cancellation Policy
Payment is collected in full at the time of scheduling and is non-refundable. If you need to reschedule your consultation, please provide at least 48 business hours' notice. With at least 48 business hours' notice, 100% of your payment will be transferred to your rescheduled consultation. If you reschedule with less than 48 business hours' notice or miss your scheduled consultation, 50% of the consultation fee is retained as a late cancellation/missed appointment fee, with the remaining 50% applied as credit toward your rescheduled consultation. If you cancel your consultation and choose not to reschedule, payments already made are non-refundable.
To schedule a consultation, email Terena@DirectionalVitality.com or use our appointment booking form.
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.
This notice describes how health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Directional Vitality LLC has chosen to follow HIPAA-aligned privacy and security practices to protect your health information, whether or not we are legally classified as a HIPAA covered entity under federal law. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of the personal and health information you provide to us.
Your Rights
- Access your health information. You may request access to or a copy of health information maintained about you. We will provide it within the time required by law, and a reasonable cost-based fee may apply when permitted.
- Request a correction or amendment. You may ask us to correct or amend health information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete. We may deny certain requests when permitted by law and will explain the reason when required.
- Request confidential communications. You may ask us to communicate with you in a particular way or at an alternative address, telephone number, or location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
- Request restrictions. You may ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures of your health information. We may not always be required to agree to the requested restriction.
- Request an accounting of disclosures. You may request information regarding certain disclosures of your health information, as required by applicable law.
- Obtain a copy of this Notice. You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.
- Choose someone to act for you. If another person has legal authority to act on your behalf, they may exercise applicable privacy rights for you. We may verify their authority before acting on a request.
- File a privacy complaint. You may contact us if you believe your privacy rights have been violated. We will not retaliate against you for making a good-faith privacy complaint or exercising your privacy rights.
Our Responsibilities
- Maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect health information.
- Limit access to health information to individuals who reasonably need it to perform authorized functions.
- Follow applicable privacy and security laws and the privacy practices described in this Notice.
- Notify affected individuals when required by applicable law if a breach occurs that compromises the privacy or security of protected information.
- Provide access to this Notice upon request and obtain written authorization when authorization is required.
- Not use or disclose health information for purposes inconsistent with this Notice unless authorized by you or otherwise permitted by law.
Questions, Privacy Requests, or Complaints
Privacy Contact: Terena Rustman
Email: Terena@DirectionalVitality.com
Secure Messaging: Charm patient portal
Informed Consent for Health & Wellness Consulting
Please review and acknowledge the following before receiving services.
Nature and Scope of Services
I understand that Directional Vitality LLC provides health and wellness education and consulting services. Although my consultant has education and training in naturopathic medicine, a naturopathic doctor (ND) is not licensed as a physician in the State of Texas. Services in Texas are limited to health and wellness education and consulting and do not constitute the practice of medicine. Services may include reviewing my health history, lifestyle, nutrition, environmental and occupational exposures, laboratory information I choose to provide, and my personal health and wellness goals.
Limitations of Services
Directional Vitality does not replace my physician or other licensed healthcare professionals. We do not provide emergency medical care and do not diagnose medical conditions, prescribe or discontinue prescription medications, or provide medical treatment or services that require a Texas healthcare license. Recommendations are for educational and wellness purposes and are not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. I am encouraged to maintain an ongoing relationship with a licensed primary care provider.
Health Information & Recommendations
I understand that I am responsible for providing complete and accurate information about my health history, diagnosed conditions, medications, supplements, and allergies. Foods, dietary changes, nutritional supplements, botanical products, and other wellness practices may have benefits as well as risks and may interact with medications or medical conditions. No specific health outcome, cure, or result can be promised or guaranteed.
Voluntary Participation
My participation in Directional Vitality's services is voluntary. I may ask questions, choose whether or not to follow a recommendation, and discontinue services at any time. Choosing to work with Directional Vitality does not establish a physician-patient relationship and does not replace care from my physician or other licensed healthcare professionals.
Emergency & Urgent Medical Care
Directional Vitality is not an emergency or urgent medical service. If I believe I am experiencing a medical emergency, I will call 911 or seek immediate evaluation at an emergency department. I will not use the Charm patient portal, email, text messaging, or a scheduled consultation to request emergency assistance.