FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A: Integrative medicine combines the best of conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies, addressing the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. It emphasizes patient partnership and focuses on restoring balance and promoting self-healing.

A: Functional medicine seeks to identify and address the root causes of disease, looking beyond symptoms to understand the underlying imbalances and dysfunctions in the body. It emphasizes personalized care and lifestyle changes to restore optimal health.

A: The Immune Confident Approach is Dr. Wada's unique blend of conventional allergy and immunology, integrative medicine, and functional medicine. It's designed to empower you to understand and take control of your immune health, moving beyond simply managing symptoms to experiencing lasting relief and improved well-being.

A: I specialize in treating a wide range of allergic, autoimmune, and chronic inflammatory conditions, including environmental and food allergies, Sjögren's Disease, mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), asthma, eczema, and other chronic immune system disorders. For a comprehensive list, please visit the Conditions I Treat page.

A: Your first appointment is a comprehensive consultation where I will take a detailed medical history, discuss your current symptoms and concerns, and begin to develop a personalized plan for your care. This may involve ordering additional testing, discussing lifestyle changes, and exploring various treatment options.

A: Yes, I offer comprehensive allergy, immunology, and functional medicine services for both adults and children.

Dr. Kara generally sees patients ages 4 and up but is happy to discuss care for younger patients on a case-by-case basis. If you have a child under 4 and are interested in a consultation, please reach out to discuss options.

A: Dr. Kara provides ongoing care for patients in Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Florida, with plans to expand to additional states soon.

A: My practice is out-of-network with all insurance providers. This allows me to offer highly personalized care tailored to your unique needs, without the constraints often imposed by insurance plans.

While I don't bill insurance directly, I'm happy to provide you with a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

Important Note about Medicare and Medicaid:

• Medicare: I welcome Medicare patients, but unfortunately, Medicare does not allow reimbursement for out-of-network services. Therefore, you would be responsible for the full cost of your care.
• Medicaid: I am unable to accept Medicaid at this time.

A: I offer transparent pricing for all my services. You can find detailed information about fees on the individual Service pages (New Patient Packages, Continuing Care, etc.). I also offer flexible payment plans. Please contact my office to discuss options.

A: I accept all major credit cards, HSA/FSA cards, and personal checks.

A: ILIT is an innovative allergy treatment where small doses of allergens are injected directly into your lymph nodes using ultrasound guidance. This targeted approach is designed to reduce the number of injections and provide faster relief compared to traditional allergy shots.

A: SLIT, or allergy drops, involves administering small doses of allergens under the tongue daily. This gradually desensitizes your immune system over time, reducing allergy symptoms. SLIT is a convenient, needle-free alternative to allergy shots.

A: Immunotherapy (both ILIT and SLIT) helps your body build tolerance to specific allergens, reducing allergy symptoms and the need for medications over time. ILIT provides much faster symptom relief.

A: Although rare, the main risk associated with immunotherapy is an allergic reaction (including anaphylaxis) from the allergen exposure. I will review the necessary precautions and instructions to take in case you have an adverse reaction during treatment.

A: ILIT is typically not covered by insurance at this time. Coverage for SLIT varies depending on the insurance plan. Please contact your insurance provider to verify coverage.

A: Yes, I offer convenient telehealth consultations for established patients and follow up appointments. Please reach out to discuss availability.

A: Dr. Kara is currently licensed to see patients via telehealth in Ohio, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Texas, and Florida. If you’re in another state, check back soon as we continue expanding our reach.

A: To schedule a consultation or appointment, please email us at [email protected] or give me a call and leave a message at 740-954-MAST (6278).

A: Yes, I have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Please contact us directly to reschedule or cancel your appointment.