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Please note that this individualized functional and integrative medicine approach has resulted in incredible health transformations for clients in as little as four to six months. Sometimes it may take much longer depending on the age of the patient, the length of time they’ve been ill, the number of organs or biochemical pathways that are affected, and genetic predispositions. Other determining factors include concurrent mental health challenges, defenses and types of resistance faced by the patient regarding self-empowerment, and self-advocacy in doing what it takes to get well, and the support services that are available. One of the major challenges facing patients with complex illnesses that feel as though they’ve been everywhere and seen everyone and who now want a functional or integrative medical approach, is that this approach falls under the mantle of private medicine. In fact, it’s illegal to charge the Canadian healthcare system for what they term an alternative or complementary medicine approach. Dr. Hoffman refuses to manage patients based solely on symptoms and the name of a disease. Furthermore, most patients with complex presentations from other practitioners have very often had woefully inadequate workups and have fallen far short of the number of laboratory tests that are required in order to develop a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic program. Consequently, in order to achieve maximum insight into disease or symptom processes, Dr. Hoffman conducts extensive laboratory testing with American and European laboratories, which aren’t covered under any healthcare plans. In addition, in his diagnostic workup Dr. Hoffman investigates inherited family system trauma, early developmental trauma, stress responses, psychological profiles and defense mechanisms, in addition to brain and mind/body determinants. This diagnostic approach requires an average emotional and financial investment of between $10,000 and $15,000 in laboratory test costs alone. These costs may be significantly higher if there are many symptoms, multiple diagnoses, and multiple visits to numerous practitioners. Dr. Hoffman will closely study every consultation conducted by previous practitioners, as well as testing carried out within the previous three months and whatever treatments plans have been initiated to date. We require that you assist our staff in compiling a comprehensive past medical dossier. We regret that current medical approaches to illness do not, at this stage of medical knowledge and funding, financially support these programs.

Patients usually visit the Hoffman Centre after having exhausted their options following visits to other health care providers, including those that are traditional or integrative, alternative, naturopathic, or functional in nature, and remain symptomatic with unresolved issues. In order to provide the answers patients require that haven’t been provided by previous assessments, extensive functional medicine laboratory tests will be required. This is especially the case if your presentation is complex, long-standing, and involves multi-systems.

At the Hoffman Centre, we’re unable to provide insights not previously uncovered by previous workups if we can’t measure the full extent of a patient’s biochemical, structural, toxicological, mind-body, emotional, and brain imbalances that weren’t investigated previously. The number of tests required may be considerable, with between four and fifteen different tests ranging from $500 to $3,000 per individual lab test. Please note that individuals with singular issues, such as hormonal imbalances, will not require such an extensive workup.

In every circumstance we attempt to limit testing to the absolutely essential procedures that will provide insights into your disease or symptom profile that are uncovered at your initial half-day appointment. The number of tests required to obtain an assessment of your health most often depend on:

• Your age
• The length of time experiencing symptoms
• The extent of bodily organs involved

Please note, it’s impossible to provide a quote regarding which tests you’ll require without a thorough history and timeline of illness being obtained at your initial appointment, either in-person or on Zoom or a similar online video platform. After this initial meeting to learn more about your history, you’ll be provided with a list of potential tests that will assist in uncovering the potential causes and imbalances, including antecedents, triggers, and mediators, of your symptom profile. Many patients erroneously believe that their symptom complexes or conditions are due to one single factor. We have found through many years of experience, that this is very seldom the case. Furthermore, we stand by our clinical principles of not diagnosing or treating a patient without measuring objectively what factors may be contributing to their symptom complexes. Our staff members that answer phone enquiries will be unable to provide a pre-appointment specific quote for these very reasons. Please note that in every case we attempt to work within a patient’s budget and payment timeline.