Congratulations! You have entered the online home of Urban Wellness Group.

 

 

Dr. Jennings is back from Haiti where she was offering medical aid.  You can follow her blog by clicking here

 

 

Would you like to learn more about our services?  Contact our front desk to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultatation.

 

Interested in Billing Insurance?  Contact our office with your insurance information and we can check your benefits.

Urban Wellness Group bills all major insurance that accepts Naturopathic Physicians, Licensed Acupuncturists, and even Massage Therapists.   Many of the practitioners at UWG are in network providers in following Networks:  Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, Providence, Cigna, Aetna, Lifewise, ODS, CHP/Kaiser, and American Specialty Heath (ASH).  We also regularly bill MVA and Workers Compensation claims. 

 

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Have you or anyone you know been involved in a motor vehicle accident?

 

UWG offers immediate same day appointments for anyone involved in motor vehicle accidents:  503.445.9771

 

Auto Injury Treatment at UWG

After a car accident, any type of body ache or pain is an indication that an area has suffered damage. The most common observation among auto injury cases is that many did not seek immediate clinical attention only to see the condition get worse. It is a misconception that only high speed accidents cause damage. Low speed accidents also cause damage to the body that can result in lifelong problems if not corrected. Consider that many injuries take days, weeks, or even months to appear. If you were in any type of auto accident and are experiencing discomfort please come in for an assessment.

The good news is that your auto insurance will cover your medical bills and it will not raise your premiums. Your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance allows you to receive healthcare for up to one year from the date of the accident and your benefits can be used for a wide variety of healthcare services.

 

Whole Body Treatment

Experience and expertise are essential in helping people recover from auto injuries. Hyperextension in various places upon impact can result in a number injuries and abnormalities that cannot be viewed upon x-ray and there may be no visible damage. As a result, the seriousness of an injury is often initially overlooked. We treat these symptoms with the following modalities: Acupuncture, Massage, and Chiropractic Services

Common Symptoms

·     Neck / Shoulder pain and stiffness

·     Headaches

·     Low back pain

·    Sensations such as burning or "pins and needles"

·     Irritability

·     Poor sleep

·     Fatigue

·     Difficulty with concentration or memory

·     Depression

·     Dizziness / Light-headedness

·     Pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand

·     Ringing in the ears

·     Blurred vision

 

Whiplash and Holistic Medicine

Chiropractic services, acupuncture, and massage, have proved to be very effective in relieving neck pain and other symptoms associated with whiplash injuries. Since whiplash can include aspects that go far beyond the local injury, you shouldn't ignore the rest of the body. This type of injury can pull the long muscles on either side of the spine, which reach all the way to the tailbone and may cause discomfort in other parts of the body. Headaches may also be the result of swelling due to the injury. Make sure to communicate any discomfort to your doctor.

The doctors at Urban Wellness Group may prescribe additional treatments, such as cervical pillows, lumbar support, and natural herbal medicine. When prescribed by a licensed physician these treatments are also covered 100% by your insurance provider.  

Finally, the incident that caused the whiplash in the first place can be traumatic. Holistic medicine and bodywork helps relax a client's psyche as well as their muscles, helping her or him work through the emotional issues induced by the accident.

 

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care is exceptional in the treatment of soft tissue injuries, especially of the spine. Most chiropractors use muscle stimulation or relaxation, and spinal adjustment techniques, to treat the muscle problems associated with whiplash injuries. Your chiropractor may also help stretch the muscle to relieve any tension, and apply pressure to trigger points to relieve your pain.

 

Acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used increasingly in the West for treating a wide variety of painful conditions.  Treatment with acupuncture has proven to be of great benefit to those suffering whiplash, neck, or back injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents.  Additionally, acupuncture treatment may reduce anxiety and emotional discomfort that often accompanies traumatic accidents.  Acupuncture needles are FDA approved and classified as a “medical device” for the treatment of pain.  Acupuncture has also been endorsed by the National Institutes of Health for treating a wide variety of conditions including chronic pain and muscle spasms.

 

Massage

Massage causes a general relaxation of the client's muscles and helps to relieve muscular pain in common types of whiplash injuries. In addition, massage increases the amount of oxygen that reaches the healing tissues and opens those tissues so they can receive oxygen and nutrients, thus speeding the healing process. Specific bodywork methods ease acute whiplash discomfort and help prevent chronic fallout.

 

Five Frequently asked Questions

 

1.      What exactly is Personal Injury Protection (PIP)?

Personal Injury Protection, which is commonly known as "PIP," is a form of insurance coverage that is included by law in every motor vehicle insurance policy in Oregon. It provides compensation to the insured for the insured's medical expenses and wages loss, up to $15,000 of coverage for most, for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident, without regard for whether the insured was at fault for causing the accident.

2.      Will my auto insurance premium go up if I use my PIP?

No. Using your PIP will not raise your insurance premium.

3.      Is there co-pay and what is my out of pocket expense?

There is no co-pay. Your insurance company is required to pay all of your medical expenses within the first year that are related to the accident, up to your policy limit ($15,000 for most people).

4.      What do I need to get started with PIP and see a doctor?

We can help guide you through this process; it’s much easier than you think. Simply call your auto insurance company and get your  claim number and we can do the rest.

5.      What if I’m on my bicycle or a pedestrian?

Even if you are on a bicycle or a pedestrian, your personal injury protection should pay your medical expenses if you are struck by a motor vehicle. If you do not have auto insurance and do not have health insurance, than the other driver’s insurance should pay your medical bills.

 

Oregon Law and What To Do In Case of Auto Accident:

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/driverid/accidentresp.shtml

 

What you must do after a car accident according to the Oregon DMV official

website:

Report the Accident to DMV
You must report the accident to DMV in certain situations (see details) by submitting an Accident and Insurance Report Form within 72 hours.

Note: If you would like to maintain a record of your accident report, make a copy before sending the original to DMV.

 

If you have a traffic accident or collision, you must:

1. Stop at Once
   Stop at the accident scene or as close as possible without needlessly blocking or endangering other traffic. "Hit and run" is a serious traffic crime. Conviction will mean your driving privileges will be revoked or suspended.
2. Render Aid
   Give any reasonable aid to injured persons. Remember, injured people should never be moved carelessly. In many cases, they should not be moved at all until it is possible to get an ambulance or someone trained in first aid to the scene. If a driver is involved in an accident in which a person is killed or rendered unconscious, the driver is required to remain at the scene of the accident until a police officer arrives. Failure to do so is classified and punishable as a "hit and run."
3. Exchange Information (printable checklist to keep in your car)
   Give to the other driver, passengers in the vehicle, or any injured pedestrian your:

a)     Name,
b)     Address,
c)     Driver license number,
d)     License plate number of your vehicle, and
e)     Your insurance information.

4. Report the Accident to DMV

Note: If you would like to maintain a record of your accident report, make a copy before sending the original to DMV.

 

Online Presentation

DMV has created an 8 minute multi-media presentation of this information.

 

Unattended Vehicles

If you hit a vehicle no one is in, try to find the owner. If you cannot find the owner, leave a note where it can be seen. The note should include your:

1. Name,
2. Address,
3. Driver license number,
4. License plate number of your vehicle,
5. Your insurance information, and
6. A brief description of what happened.

If you damage property other than a motor vehicle, you also must try to find the owner or someone in charge to report the damage. 

 

Animals

If you hit and injure an animal, stop and make an effort to check the extent of injury. Give reasonable attention to the animal. What you can do may vary with traffic hazards at the time or the animal's demeanor. If possible, you should try to get the animal out of the way of traffic. Immediately report the animal's injuries to its owner. If you are unable to locate the owner, report the injuries to the nearest police agency.

 

Reporting Accidents

You must file an Accident and Insurance Report form with DMV within 72 hours when:

1. Damage to the vehicle you were driving is over $1,500, or
2. Damage to any vehicle is over $1,500 and any vehicle is towed from the scene as a result of damages from this accident, or
3. Injury or death resulted from this accident, or
4. Damages to any one person´s property other than a vehicle involved in this accident is over $1,500, or
5. You are the owner of the vehicle involved in a reportable accident and the driver fails to report the accident.
   
   

Accidents in areas open to the public for the use of motor vehicles must be reported. Some drivers who are in accidents offer to fix the damage and try to get the other driver not to file a report. If you agree to do this, you are breaking the law if the amount of damage is more than $1,500. Always remember to keep a copy of your report for your own records.
 
If the vehicle involved in the accident is owned by someone other than the driver, the owner must fill out the report if the driver does not. You must file a report even if your vehicle was the only one in the crash. If you do not report an accident when required to do so, your driving privileges will be suspended.
 
If you were in a collision and the other party did not have insurance, you can report the collision to DMV even if the crash was under $1,500. However, the accident may also go on your driving record, if you do not clearly indicate on the accident report that your damages were less than $1,500.

Police Report
You must fill out an Accident and Insurance Report form and return it to DMV even if a police officer files a report. A police report does not replace your requirement to file an accident report with DMV. You must do that yourself.

 

Filling an Accident Report

1. Fill out an Accident Report Form
   Be as accurate as you can. Give as much information as you can about where, when and how the crash happened. The accident will be listed on the driving record of those drivers involved in the accident who meet the reporting requirements. Download an Accident and Insurance Report form, or  Pick up a report form at a police department, sheriff´s office or a local DMV office.

Liability Insurance
If you are the driver or owner of a vehicle in an accident that must be reported, your report must show the name of your liability insurance company, not the insurance agent or agency, and the policy number. The insurance coverage you report is checked by DMV with the insurance company shown on the report.

If you did not have liability insurance at the time of the accident, your driving privileges will be suspended for one year. You must then file proof of future financial responsibility (SR-22) before your driving privileges will be reinstated.

An SR-22 filing is required for three years after the suspension ending date even if you were not at fault in the accident.

Insurance companies and agents must tell DMV about any accident where they have reason to believe a driver is uninsured. If the information is correct, the uninsured drivers driving privileges will be suspended for one year. After that, they will be under the future financial responsibility law for three years. This law applies even if the damage is $1,500 or less.

2. Keep a Copy of Your Accident Report Form
   Under Oregon law 802.220(5), DMV can not provide you a copy of your accident report. If you wish to have a complete copy of your report (front and back), you will need to make a copy for your records.
3. Deliver Completed Accident Report Form to DMV
   Deliver your completed Accident and Insurance Report Form to any DMV office or mail the form to:
   
   

Accident Reporting Unit
DMV
1905 Lana Ave NE
SalemOR97314

 

Remember to call us immediately to schedule an assessment. 503-445-9771

 

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New! UWell E-News for March 2009

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Natural Health Pharmacy online store now available to UWG patients!

Urban Wellness Group is proud to be affiliated with Natural Health Pharmacy – your premier source for superior quality herbal, homeopathic, and nutraceutical products.  For more info, click here.