Birch Center for Health

Office Policies

Location

We are located in Pittsburgh’s historic south side, at 1931 East Carson Street, which is close to the corner of 20th and East Carson, across from Utrecht Art Supply. We are a red door, which says “The Birch Center.” Go in that door and up the stairs.

Office Hours

We are in the office Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 9 pm, by appointment.

Appointments

We encourage you to schedule appointments in advance to ensure you receive and retain the time slot you most desire. If you are unsure about an appointment, please call the office. If you receive our voice mail, please leave a message with your name and number and we will call you back promptly.

Parking

There is street parking available along East Carson Street. The meters along East Carson Street have 2 hour limits. There is a metered parking lot across the street on East Carson near 19th, and one on 20th street as well. Free parking is available on Sarah and Sidney streets (parallel to East Carson), just be sure to check signs for street cleaning days.

Cancellation Policy

The Birch Center requires a minimum of 24 hours notice to cancel an appointment. If you have missed or rescheduled an appointment with less than 24 hours notice, you will be responsible for the full charge of the office visit.

Late Arrivals

We understand that occasionally unforeseen circumstances arise that prevent you from being on time to a scheduled appointment. If you find that you are running late, please call the office to let us know. We will make every effort to accomodate your circumstances.

Payment and Insurance

The Birch Center is set up for direct pay only. We do not bill insurance companies but are happy to provide you with the documentation you may need to submit for reinbursement. Please pay at the time that services are rendered. Checks, cash, visa and mastercard are acceptable forms of payment. If a check is returned, a fee of $25.00 will be applied to your account.

Needles

This office only uses sterile, disposable needles.

Attire

Loose, comfortable clothing is recommended as acupuncture involves palpation and treatment of various parts of the body. Draping will be provided to ensure modesty. Please refrain from wearing excessive jewelry, as some metals may interfere with the efficacy of the therapy. In consideration of our environmentally sensitive patients, we ask that you refrain from wearing perfume, strongly scented oils or lotions on the days you visit the Center.

Preparation

Please make sure you’ve eaten before you arrive for acupuncture. It’s best to have a light meal an hour or so before your session so you do not arrive hungry or stuffed. Also, please refrain from drinking alcohol before your appointment.

Prescription Medication

Please continue to follow advice of your medical doctor. Take your prescriptions on schedule, but mention them to the acupuncturist, so we can properly evaluate your condition.

Cell Phones

For your safety and comfort, we kindly ask that you turn off cell phones while at the Center. For emergency purposes, you may keep your phone close to your person and in a non-ringing mode.