PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH
Here is a video that explains the way my practice works financially.
Many of you may know my practice is different from most but somehow special and successful.
Take a look if you'd like to learn more!
Dr Grimshaw
Insurance Information
What type of work does Dr. Grimshaw do?
Dr. G. has training in Family Practice, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Osteopathic Manual Medicine including Cranial Osteopathy, Performing Arts Medicine, Cranial Osteopathy in Pediatrics, Lifestyle Education, Functional Medicine, and Yoga.
Dr. G. is committed to partnering with patients and their families to promote health and cultivate healing. He studies a wide range of subjects while continuing to be up to date on medical information. His personality drives him to go into depth to understand complex problems in his patients. He integrates modern medical information with the time honored ways of living that promote health and healing.
Dr. G. does not limit his practice to a particular set of diagnoses. No diagnosis is excluded. He is interested in a partnership relationship with his patients as well as all the other health caregivers his patients also see. The original inspiration for him to become a doctor came to him in 1979, when he read the book by Norman Cousins called Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient. In this book, Mr. Cousins describes his bout with an illness that doctors told him would cripple him for life, but he found a doctor that partnered with him to work on the things that would help his immune system overcome it and they succeeded. Humor was a big part of his healing, and he created quite a sensation in those days, reports of which even made it to The New England Journal of Medicine.
What is Osteopathic Medicine?
Osteopathic Medicine is a system of medical education (conferring the D.O. degree) and health care that originated in the United States in the late 1800s. One of it’s defining characteristics is that it has a distinctive philosophy that guides how it is taught and practiced. It has survived the many changes and advances in medicine that have occurred in the last century and is now thriving as a rapidly growing health education and care delivery system. It has equal status with Allopathic Medicine (conferring the M.D. degree) in this country. D.O.s can be any kind of doctor, from Pediatrician to Neurosurgeon, but a little more than half of D.O.s choose to be primary care doctors. The philosophic tenents of Osteopathic Medicine are:
1. The body is a single, dynamic unit of function. It functions as a whole because all of the systems within it have unifying functions.
2. The structure of the body and it’s function are inextricably interrelated. Structure affects function, and function affects structure. Anatomy and physiology cannot be viewed as separate entities, as every aspect of our anatomy is alive and in constant, dynamic rhythmic motion.
3. The body possesses Self-Regulatory and Self-Healing Mechanisms. It is always working to do it’s very best to maintain a state of balance and optimal function within the environment in which it lives. It has an intelligence and inherent mechanisms within it that constantly work to bring it back to health.
4. Rational Treatment is based upon application of these principles. It is the role of the Osteopathic Physician to help the patientby working to create an environment within and around the patient that provides an optimal setting for healing to occur.
What are the common problems Dr. G. sees?
In children, Plagiocephaly and Torticollis, Developmental Delays, kids dealing with chronic illnesses like asthma, Neurological disorders like Cerebral Palsy, Tics, Tourettes, and Sensory Processing Disorders. Also Sports injuries, Conditioning challenges in sports, Scoliosis, and Recovery from Injuries. He provides supportive treatment for kids on the spectrum as well.
Below is a blog from the mother of one of Dr. G's patients who gave permission to share it.
How we Squeezed my sons head to avoid a helmet
In adolescents and young adults, he has extensive experience in dealing with neurologic and musculoskeletal injuries and recovery from accidents and injuries, scoliosis, leg length discrepancies, foot and ankle problems, headaches and concussions.
Dr. G. is a member of the Michigan State University College of Music Musician’s Wellness Team. He has experience in teaching, research, and clinical treatment of medical problems of performing artists. Music Education and Performing Arts Medicine: The State of the Alliance
When it comes to adults, Dr. G. has spent his whole career treating patients as a member of teams involved in Medical Rehabilitation Units in both Inpatient and Outpatient settings. He was a Family Physician for 7 years who did hospital work from delivering babies to caring for folks in the ICU. He then created two hospital teaching programs and practiced Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine for inpatients and outpatients….one in Ohio and the second in Pittsburgh. He taught and cared for patients as a full time faculty member at MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine and was the Director of the OMM Clinic for the Dept. of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine from 1997-2002. Since then, he has been in Private Practice and expanded his work into the areas of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine while having a main focus in illnesses affecting the musculoskeletal and nervous systems.
What is Cranial Osteopathy? How is it used in children? In adults?
Cranial Osteopathy is an expansion of the general principles of osteopathy which includes a special understanding of the central nervous system and a mechanism called primary respiration. Those who wish to practice Cranial Osteopathy train intensively through post-graduate studies. Recognition of Proficiency may be earned by members of The Osteopathic Cranial Academy who demonstrate clinical ability in Osteopathy in the Cranial Field. Dr. G. earned this status in 2003 after practicing it from 1982 onward. It takes a great deal of skill, dedication, and practice to be a practitioner of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field. My abilities in cranial are one of the most frequent reasons people are referred to see me.
In children, it is used to help correct asymmetries in the body that may be present after birth. Examples are torticollis and plagiocephaly. It can be amazingly effective in helping a child who is having difficulty with latching and sucking when learning to breast feed. It is used to alleviate problems such as reflux esophagitis and colic, excessively irritable babies and babies who are hard to comfort. Also, it is used to help children with developmental delays in things like sitting up, crawling, and walking. It is used to help with improving the functional difficulties associated with sensory processing and sensory integration of the nervous system which lead to difficulties with motor planning, movement disorders, and abnormalities in coordinating and modulating function within the nervous system. It is used whenever a child has experienced trauma to treat the effects of that trauma and help the child return to normal functioning. It is used to assist with the craniofacial restrictions and asymmetries that lead to the need for orthodontics, and to assist with the process of change that occurs during orthodontic treatment.
Of course, I am not giving you an exhaustive list. The Web Site for The Cranial Academy is a more extensive reference and is included in the links I list on this web site.
In adults, I use cranial methods on most patients. I work with people who have headaches of all kinds, TMJ dysfunction, embouchure problems in musicians, trigeminal neuralgia, and post concussion syndromes. Cranial is used in Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation, Stroke rehabilitation, Parkinson’s Disease treatment, Movement difficulties and pain in patients with Muscular Dystrophies, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scoliosis, Lupus, Osteoarthritis, and after accidents and injuries. I use cranial in patients undergoing rehabilitation after spine and brain surgery, joint replacements, and to restore full function as part of the rehabilitation for many orthopedic surgical repairs.
There are so many applications for Cranial Osteopathy and Cranial Inclusive Manual Therapies!!! I did write a book chapter on Osteopathic Medicine in the book Secrets of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. I discuss specific examples of how Cranial Osteopathy and Osteopathic Principles are applied in the care of patients in this chapter. You can read this through this link.
Dr. G. has been a member of The Cranial Academy since 1987. If you look at the Cranial Academy Web site, take a look at the video about Dr. Fulford. I studied with him from 1987 until his passing in 1996. He was one of my greatest teachers. I have also studied with Viola Frymann, John Upledger, Allen Becker, Fred Mitchell, Jr., Robert Ward, Philip Greenman, Barbara Briner, and Margaret Sorrell, to name a few.
Do I need a referral to be seen by Dr. G?
I accept referrals, but you may also call directly without a referral. You can call us at 517-492-4818 and we can set you up for an initial appointment or consultation. If you are referred by another physician or health care provider, we will contact you for scheduling as soon as we receive the referral. I am always glad to collaborate with other health care providers of all kinds. I believe in a team approach to health care and in the power of community for healing. I put this belief into action every time I write a letter or pick up the phone to call a colleague to coordinate the care of my patients. I spend a great deal of time every week outside of the treatment room writing and talking with as well as meeting with other caregivers who work with me in the care of our patients.
How long does a typical appointment last and what should I expect from it?
A typical adult new patient appointment can last 1.5 hours. This is a comprehensive visit that begins with a review of your history, moves to a Neuromusculoskeletal exam and often Osteopathic manual Treatment if needed. It usually concludes with a summary of findings and the formulation of a plan of treatment.
For children and adolescents, please allow 60 to 90 minutes. If the child has been though a protracted illness or medical experiences that have been difficult, if possible, please bring two adults so that there may be a time for Dr. G. to interview a parent without the child present. It can be upsetting to a child to hear that story over and over again.
For musicians, dancers, and actors: Please bring your instrument and/or equipment (e.g., shoes) that relates to the performance related injury or concern you have. I have a piano available to use in my office.
Subsequent visits usually last 45-60 minutes and always involve a review of history and examination. Most will include manual treatment as well, if indicated.
What are the financial arrangements in Dr. Grimshaw’s practice?
Will my insurance help pay for my visits?
In keeping with my philosophy of partnering with my patients and their families, I have set up this practice so that my job—my only job-- is to take care of you. I don’t have anyone else telling me how much time I can spend or how I am supposed to practice. I don’t have contracts with any insurance companies. I provide a level of care that involves more listening, integration of information, time, and treatment skills than you may have ever experienced with a physician. Because I do this, I ask you to pay for our visits at the time of service. I employ an excellent experienced and knowledgeable Biller who will bill your insurance for you after each of our appointments.
Reimbursement by your insurance company to you for your visits with me will be sent directly to you by your insurance company. We can supply you with the procedure codes we typically use before your first visit if you would like to contact your insurance company to see what your insurance policy covers. Generally, I use the medical diagnoses appropriate for your concerns and use the usual evaluation and treatment codes for outpatient medical office visits. If I do Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, I code that based on the number of regions treated in the body. Thus, many of my patients receive reimbursement from their insurance company when they come to see me. When you call to arrange for an appointment, we can provide you with information on prices.
We can bill for most insurances. However, we do not bill for Medicare or Medicaid. Dr. G. has opted out of Medicare. An explanation of what this means is on the website in the Forms section. A large percentage of my patients do receive reimbursement from their insurance plans for the services I provide. It is sometimes helpful to have a referral, as some insurances reimburse at a higher rate if your physician has made the referral. We can help you negotiate this process when you call and talk to us about your situation.
We take Visa, Master Card, American Express and Discover Credit Cards.
Dr. Grimshaw also teaches Yoga
Our class uses an integral yoga approach, meaning we approach the work with equal emphasis on each of the aspects of a person: physical, emotional, mental, intellectual, and spiritual. At each class we practice postures, yoga breathing techniques, and meditation techniques. Class lasts for 90 minutes.
We have discussions each week about how the rich tradition of yoga philosophy informs us on what we can do to promote our health and well being as well as cope with illness and obstacles we encounter that keep us from optimal health. We then practice the techniques that are prescribed for all aspects of our being: asanas for the physical body, pranayama for the emotional body, meditation for the mental body, the use of sound for the intellectual body, and service and study for the spiritual body.
I use several texts as resources for the class, but the title is inspired by the book Yoga as Medicine by Timothy McCall, MD, who like instructor David Grimshaw is both a physician and a teacher and practitioner of yoga.
How do I get started working with Dr. Grimshaw?
Getting started with Dr. G. is easy! To become a patient, please call 517-492-4818, and we will schedule you for an initial appointment. Please print and fill out a New Patient Form or, if you would prefer, we can mail them to you. We look forward to working with you!
I have a question not on this list. How can I ask you about it?
You can call us at 517-492-4818! Or those of you who might be a little shy on the phone can ask on our Contact page Inquiries section.
