Local patient help
Your First Visit to Alternative Health Grand Forks, Step by Step
What happens when you book, send records, arrive and sit down with Dr. Ewals for the first time, and what comes after your visit.
- Call Will at (218) 274-4500 to book, and you pay the clinic fee when you schedule.
- Email recent notes from MyChart to info@alternativehealthgf.com before your visit, or have your clinic fax them to (701) 757-0974.
- Dr. Ewals sees every patient, and the visit is a conversation plus a focused exam.
- Paying for a visit does not guarantee certification, treatment or a state card.
- There's a parking lot on site, a wheelchair-accessible ramp and an accessible restroom.
Walking into a new clinic can feel like a lot, especially when you're tired, in pain or unsure what anyone will ask you. Here's how a first visit at Alternative Health Grand Forks usually goes, from the first phone call to what happens after you leave. If something here doesn't fit your situation, Will can tell you.
Booking with Will
Will is our office manager. He answers the phone, books visits, takes payment and explains how to send records. Call him at (218) 274-4500. He'll ask which state you live in, because North Dakota and Minnesota run separate medical cannabis programs, and which kind of visit you need. Medical cannabis care and men's health care are separate services.
You pay when you schedule. A new medical cannabis evaluation is $250, and a men's health consultation is $200. We don't accept insurance. If you need to change your appointment, rescheduling is free.
There's a parking lot on site, a wheelchair-accessible ramp and an accessible restroom. Will can tell you how long to plan for and when to arrive. Ask him anything that would help you feel settled before the day.
Sending Your Records
For a medical cannabis evaluation, records that document your diagnosis matter a great deal. Ask the clinic or hospital that treated you to fax them to us at (701) 757-0974. If you can download the notes from MyChart or another patient portal, email them to info@alternativehealthgf.com instead. It's often faster.
Under HIPAA, you have the right to see and get a copy of your health record and to share it with anyone you choose. The HealthIT.gov guide to getting your health records explains how. Records requests can take time, so ask as soon as you book. Our records request letter tool can help you write the request.
Arriving at 2502 S. Washington St
We're at 2502 S. Washington St, Grand Forks, ND 58201. It's fine to bring a friend or family member. MedlinePlus suggests a trusted person can help you remember what was said and take notes.
Before you leave home, check that you have:
- A government-issued photo ID.
- A list of every medicine, supplement and vitamin you take, including any CBD or cannabis products.
- A short note on your symptoms: when they started and what makes them better or worse.
- Confirmation that your records were sent, or copies in hand.
- Your questions, written down.
- Anything else Will asked you to bring.
What the Conversation Is Like
Dr. Charlotte Ewals, a board-certified family nurse practitioner, sees every patient herself. For a medical cannabis evaluation, she'll go over your records, ask how your condition affects sleep, work and daily life, and review your medicines and health history. She'll do an exam that fits your condition.
She'll also talk honestly about risks and unknowns. Research on cannabis for many conditions is still limited, as the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health explains. Be candid about what you use and how you feel. The more she knows, the safer her advice can be.
Ask questions until things make sense. At the end, she decides whether certification or treatment is appropriate. The answer might be yes, not yet or no, and you'll get a clear reason either way.
Telehealth, Where It's Allowed
We offer telehealth visits for patients in North Dakota and Minnesota, as well as in-office visits in Grand Forks. Will can tell you which works best for your visit. For more, read questions to ask about telehealth evaluations.
After Your Visit
What happens next depends on the visit. If you're certified for medical cannabis, you still apply to your state. In North Dakota, you apply through the state's online system, and ND HHS decides on your card. Minnesota has its own registry, run by the Office of Cannabis Management. For men's health care, any lab work is billed separately from the clinic fee.
| When | What you do | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Before | Call Will, pay the clinic fee, ask for records to be faxed, write down questions | Book your visit, confirm your state and visit type, watch for your records |
| On the day | Bring ID and your medication list, share your history honestly, ask questions | Review records, talk through risks, examine you, explain the decision |
| After | Finish any state application, follow the plan, call with questions | Submit any certification to the state system, arrange follow-up if needed |
If the answer at your visit was "not yet," that usually means something specific is missing, such as a record or a check-in with another doctor. Will can help you plan the next step and rebook when you're ready. If the answer was no, you can still ask why, and what other options you might discuss with your own doctor.
If new symptoms feel urgent at any point, such as chest pain or trouble breathing, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Next Steps
See our visit page for practical details, read what an evaluation costs, or go straight to booking your visit.
Sources
This guide is general information, not medical advice for your situation. Medical disclaimer
