Accurate Supplements

In an effort to make certain supplements more easily available and affordable, a limited number of products are available for sale at Accurate Clinic. Only those supplements that Dr. Ehlenberger highly recommends that patient consider taking, and only those supplements that we believe we can offer at a savings of cost to the patient are included.

A common business model exists now in which many of the higher end companies (Thorne, Orthomolecular, Metagenix etc.) that sell health supplements to the public only do so with the advice and recommendation of a physician. To purchase the product online at retain cost, the company requires that the patient provide a code for a physician registered with the company. The other option is for the physician to purchase the product at a wholesale discount, usually about 60% of retail, and sell the product in their clinic. When the patient purchases a product online, the physician receives a check for the difference in wholesale vs. retail. The physician generally sells the product in the clinic with some markup for overhead costs and profit.

This situation creates an ethical dilemma in which a product I recommend, if purchased either way, results in me receiving a profit giving rise to a potential conflict of interest. To resolve this conflict, Accurate Clinic has a policy in which the product will be sold at a discount on the web-based retail price (usually about 15% off retail) to save the patient money.

If the product is purchased on line at full retail price, this will result in the commision check to be sent to a local non-profit rescue dog service (New Orleans Bulldog Rescue). If this is not feasible, the product will be sold at the same retail price, clinic and web site, but the profit commission check is declined and Dr. Ehlenberger will receive no money from the onsite sale.

By establishing this policy we provide the patient with the opportunity to purchase recommended products at an outside location in which Dr. Ehlenberger will receive no profit or commission. We believe this is the best resolution to the ethical dilemma.

For more information about New Orleans Bulldog Rescue click here.

For more information, please contact Accurate Clinic.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as, “those treatments and healthcare practices not taught widely in medical schools, not generally used in hospitals, and not usually reimbursed by medical insurance companies.”

Complementary medicine comprises non-conventional medical treatment that is used in conjunction with standard medical interventions, whereas

Alternative medicine refers to treatment interventions that are used in place of standard medical care.