Your first visit, from booking to going home

Pick the Right Booking Channel:

• "Book Appointment" on the website: Real-time slots via Fresha — see full availability instantly
• Calling the clinic directly: Insurance questions, special arrangements, complex cases
• Email: service@healthkeygroup.com: Document submission and non-urgent inquiries
• ClassPass / Fresha App: If you already have an account on either platform

Have This Information Ready:

• Your chief concern (where you hurt, sleep/mood/cycle issues, IVF stage, etc.)
• Your preferred approach: TCM-led, or TCM combined with physical therapy
• Your insurance details: carrier name, Member ID, Group Number (so we can verify coverage in advance)
• Your preferred location: Manhattan (near the Civic Center), Flushing (Queens' Chinese hub), or Elmhurst (Queens, near Roosevelt Ave)

Time to Set Aside: Plan on 75–90 minutes for your first visit — longer than a follow-up (45–60 min) — because we take the time to do a thorough intake and design your plan from scratch.

Visit Flow:

1. Arrival & Check-In (5–10 min): Arrive about 10 minutes early to fill out new-patient forms (health history, allergies, medications, emergency contact).
2. TCM Diagnostic Intake (15–25 min): Your practitioner will use the four classical methods — looking, listening, asking, touching — to read your constitution. Expect questions about your sleep, diet, mood, and cycle, plus tongue and pulse examination. Don't rush this part: it's what makes the rest of the plan precise.
3. Plan Discussion (5–10 min): Your practitioner will walk you through what they found, what they recommend, how often, and how long. Bring your questions.
4. Today's Treatment (30–60 min): Whatever modality fits the day — acupuncture, tui na, cupping, or physical therapy.
5. Wrap-Up: The front desk will go over post-treatment care, schedule your next visit, and handle payment.

• Loose, easy-to-roll-up clothing — acupuncture often needs access to forearms, lower legs, or abdomen
• For women: a sports bra or front-clasp top makes back treatment easier
• Skip heavy makeup or strong perfume on the day (these interfere with TCM diagnosis)
• Remove close-fitting metal jewelry before treatment
• Eating: don't arrive on an empty stomach, and don't eat a heavy meal right before. A light, warm snack and warm water are ideal.

After Acupuncture:

• A bit of tiredness or sleepiness the rest of the day — your body is shifting into repair mode
• Rarely, a tiny bruise at a needle site that fades in 1–3 days
• For 24 hours: drink warm water, avoid cold showers, raw or cold foods, and intense workouts

After Cupping:

• The round red marks are signs of improved microcirculation, not bruises — they fade in 3–7 days
• Avoid cold drafts, A/C blowing directly on the area, or cold-water exposure for 24 hours
• Darker marks usually indicate more stagnation in that area

After Gua Sha:

• Red patches or fine "sha" dots are normal and clear in 2–5 days
• Avoid showering for about 4 hours afterward
• Skip spicy, greasy, or cold foods on the day of treatment

After Physical Therapy:

• Mild soreness the next day is normal — similar to delayed-onset muscle soreness after exercise
• Stick to the home exercises your therapist gives you — don't add intensity on your own

HealthKey is not a 24-hour emergency facility. Call 911 or go to the nearest ER for any of these:

• Sudden chest pain or severe shortness of breath
• High fever that won't break, or altered consciousness
• Major trauma or significant bleeding
• Severe abdominal pain or bleeding during pregnancy
• Suspected anaphylaxis

For non-emergency concerns, call your clinic location during business hours.

Fertility / IVF Patients:

• Tell us in advance which stage you're in (pre-stim, stim, pre/post-retrieval, pre/post-transfer, early pregnancy)
• Bring records from your reproductive endocrinologist if available — recent labs (AMH, hormone panel) and ultrasound reports help us calibrate care
• Build flexibility into your schedule around transfer day — timing may shift based on your cycle

Pregnancy:

• Tell us your gestational week at booking (first / second / third trimester)
• Some points and techniques are off-limits during pregnancy; your practitioner will work around them carefully
• Prenatal massage is generally available after week 12, pending practitioner assessment

Chronic Conditions / Patients on Medication:

• Bring your complete medication list (prescriptions, supplements, herbal remedies)
• Tell us if you're on anticoagulants (warfarin, aspirin, etc.) — this affects how we approach cupping and gua sha intensity
• Tell us if you have a pacemaker — electroacupuncture and low-frequency electrical stimulation will be avoided

• All three locations are within a 5-minute walk of a subway station — Manhattan (J/Z to Chambers, 6 to Canal), Flushing (7 to Main St), Elmhurst (M/R to Elmhurst Ave)
• If you're traveling in for concentrated care (an IVF cycle, postpartum recovery), ask about intensive treatment packages
• Tell us your language preference at booking — English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish — and we'll match you with the right practitioner or assistant