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OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Thursday: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Friday 8:30am – 1:00pm

CLINIC APPOINTMENTS

Mon – Thurs: 9am -3:30pm
Friday- Sunday: No appointments

HYPERBARICS

Monday-Thursday: 8:30am – 4pm
Friday: 8:30am – 11:30am

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Center for Wellness a primary care office?

Dr. Speight provides an integrative medicine approach to health and wellness.

While we offer primary care in this office, we currently do not have an on-call physician for 24 hour coverage thus it is wise to continue a relationship with a pre-existing primary care provider. We can offer work in visits for all manner of primary care issues for established patients and hope that you will consider utilizing us in this manner as well as for your nutritional and environmental medicine needs.

How are appointments scheduled?

Dr. Speight understands it takes time to listen to their patients in order to properly identify an illness and its underlying cause; therefore appointments are scheduled in 30-60 minute intervals so that one does not feel rushed.

Costs of the visit are based on a per minute basis. This ensures the most fair billing. The average primary care clinic blocks 10 minute visits with a reimbursement of $51 ($6.90/min) some specialists can be reimbursed approximately twice that amount.

Although we are not Medicare providers, that is the standardized tool that many insurance companies use for reimbursement; therefore Dr. Speight is in line with the fees that lie between Medicare and private insurance reimbursement rates. One is only billed for the actual face-to-face time with the clinician.

What is the difference between hormones placed by pellets versus creams and gels?

Pellet hormone replacement therapy utilizes a small pellet of hormones that is placed under the skin through a tiny incision in the upper region of the buttocks allowing a steady release of hormone into the blood stream for four to six months.

With this type of hormone replacement therapy you get consistent levels throughout the day and the amount of hormone is released in greater amounts when you are exercising to meet the increased demands of your body.

Gels and creams are made by compounding pharmacists as are pellets. The difference however is that they must be applied daily and sometimes twice daily to achieve proper levels.

Many of my patients have complained that they must wait 15 minutes before getting dressed in order for  the gels and creams to be properly absorbed and if they do not wait, the hormone ends up in their clothes rather than their bloodstream. That being said, bioidentical gels and creams are still a viable option for some patients, though the general consensus has been that pellets are better.

Does Dr. Speight treat thyroid disorders?

The endocrine system is a complex system that regulates multiple body processes.

A thorough review of all thyroid labs are reviewed, but moreover, there is great consideration given to the patients symptoms. Normal TSH levels are not where the investigation of thyroid disorders should end. Dr. Speight examines a full spectrum of areas that may lead to symptoms of hypo and hyperthyroidism.

The human body chemistry works in unison and when there is an imbalance in one area, it will begin a cascade of problems in other areas, therefore, often times other hormone levels need to be assessed as well. Iodine levels may be evaluated also.

Treatment can consist of supplements, compounded therapies and/or pharmaceuticals depending on the individuals medical history, imbalance and preferences.

Does Dr. Speight use growth hormone replacement therapy?

We screen for growth hormone deficiencies using IGF-1 level. If low, then a Arginine stimulation test will be ordered. If patients fail these two tests they may be candidates for growth hormone replacement therapy, but the criteria are strict and patients are only started on growth hormone if they are felt to be appropriate candidates and their lab work confirms a true deficiency: IGF-1 less than 84 and/or failure to reach a GH level of 8-10 on an arginine stimulation test.

Do you treat Parkinson’s disease?

Yes, with both a conventional drug based approach as well as nutritional support. We have found significant improvement in some patients with our nutritional protocol for this illness.

Does Dr. Speight treat ADD?

We do treat Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) using a combination of nutritional and pharmaceutical interventions where necessary.

Many adults and children respond to a specific regimen of amino acid therapy unique to each individual. It is also prudent to assess them for methylation defects and nutritional deficiencies though the deficiencies found do not always correlate with improvements in ADD.

In selected cases we may assess patients for allergies as these may contribute to their focus issues as well.

What about Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s disease?

We perform nutritional assessments in patients with Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis. Additionally early research suggests that Crohn’s disease and/or Ulcerative Colitis may respond to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. As such this is a therapy that may be offered on a case by case basis.

Why can’t I buy my supplements from the local supermarket?

Many supplements sold in supermarkets or drug stores, even some health food chains have fillers and allergens that a sensitive patient cannot tolerate.

Additionally, there may be variability of active ingredients or impure fillers that can adversely affect your health or treatment outcomes.

Does insurance cover office visits at the Center for Wellness?

Dr. Speight no longer contracts with major insurance carriers; however we can generate HCFA insurance forms so that you may submit your claim for reimbursement.

Depending on the individual policy reimbursement may be forthcoming, and in others it is not. Some procedures are denoted as “experimental”, (i.e. nutritional assessment of oxidative stress markers in the blood stream, some genetic risk screenings, and nutritional health screens) generally are not covered.

You should come expecting that you may not be able to obtain reimbursement for services. We do however see some patients receive reimbursement.

We are not Medicare/Medicaid providers.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy, do you do it?

Yes, we offer hormone replacement therapy for qualified patients at the Center for Wellness.

Assessments are very thorough, it is not a one size fits all prescription. There are various methods of hormone administration: creams, pills, sublingual troches, and pellets inserted under the skin.

The choice of delivery route varies with the individuals lifestyle, unique metabolism and personal preference. We are able to tailor to the individuals needs for optimal well being.

How long does the procedure take and what kind of limitations to activity are there?

The procedure generally takes 15 minutes from start to finish and requires that you not exercise for three days.

After that initial period, you can go about your normal daily activities. It is relatively painless and most have found the benefits well worth the minor inconvenience.

How does Dr. Speight treat fibromyalgia and or chronic fatigue syndrome?

Fibromyalgia is a complicated illness with multiple influencing factors.  We endeavor to look at all of them in a systematic fashion.

In some patients the cause of fibromyalgia seems to be a Vitamin D deficiency. In other patients, it is due in part to a hypercoagulable state (thickening of the blood) due to environmental factors playing upon a person’s own genetics. We have also seen fibromyalgia respond to the use of medications such as SSRIs, but also respond to the use of amino acids that the body then takes and converts to neurotransmitters to help with pain and fatigue.

Other sufferers respond to testosterone replacement therapy (when it is appropriate to give).  Our approach is to evaluate each person based on their symptoms, our experience, and what the medical literature has to offer. This may include testing of blood clotting factors, assessment of urinary neurotransmitters, an overall nutritional evaluation including vitamin and mineral panels and in some cases even chronic infections as they can contribute as well.

In the case of chronic fatigue syndrome patients, we may refer them for assessment of postural hypotension (low blood pressure) and if present further evaluate their adrenal gland for insufficiency.

Do you use an antibiotic protocol to treat arthritis?

This is not a protocol in which we utilize. We look at other inflammatory markers and diet related issues that worsen inflammation.

Treatment of this condition is truly an integrative approach in that both traditional and nutritional interventions are utilized.

Does Dr. Speight treat autism?

We perform nutritional assessments and make interventions where necessary.

A growing body of literature confirms methylation deficiencies in these patients as well as potential issues with their lipid membranes. Thus, we often will assess these patients using the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Red Cell Lipid Testing and offer nutritional support accordingly. This test reviews over 40 different red blood cell fatty acids. We have uniquely tailored protocols that have been beneficial in improving speech and cognitive abilities.

Does Dr. Speight treat IBS?

Yes! We have often had good success in helping patients with this disorder.

We seek to identify the underlying cause of the symptoms associated with IBS; often times the diagnosis may have been missed due to the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome can mimic that of someone with food allergies or other disorders such as leaky gut.

Do you offer weight loss programs?

The clinicians look at various causes why weight gain occurs, which can vary from a multitude of imbalances in neurotransmitters, food allergies, gut flora and more.

We do offer a weight loss program in which people have typically lost approximately 25 pounds in 3 weeks; however this is not to be considered a long term plan and is used only as a means to reset the body systems. We work with the individuals to learn how to keep their weight down in a sensible fashion and without fad dieting.

Can I buy pharmaceutical grade supplements, myself, directly from the manufacturer?

As these supplements are higher in quality, consistency of product, improved absorption and thus companies and providers encourage maintaining the patient-provider-manufacturer connection. This is not meant to be punitive, but to ensure optimal guidance and clinical outcomes.

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What Patients Are Saying

My coworkers and friends keep asking me how I lost all the weight, and I tell them Dr. Speight discovered the root cause of my health issues. Thanks to you I feel better than I have in years!!!

After ten years of being so ill, I feel fortunate to finally get my life back again. I am so grateful to have a doctor who stays current with new treatments and never gives up on the patient. I wanted to tell my story to give you hope that there is help and tell you to never give up.

What a concept: a doctor who actually listens to the patient, has no agenda other than to heal, and knows how to treat a toxic brain injury! I’ve made a dramatic recovery and have thrown away my medication.

Get In Touch!

704-847-2022

Visit Us

1258 Mann Drive

Suite 100

Matthews, NC 28105

Contact us

(828) 761-7050

centerforwellness@gmail.com

Office Hours

Monday-Thursday:
9am - 5pm

Friday-Sunday:
Closed