Your First Visit At Vero Health Center In West Des Moines, IA
Content Reviewed by: Dr. Josiah Fitzsimmons, DC, BCN on November 9, 2026
Iowa Chiropractic License #085940 (NPI: 1568993574)
What To Expect At Your First Appointment
Every first visit at Vero Health Center follows a structured sequence designed to move you from uncertainty to clarity. Your appointment is built around understanding your health history, evaluating how your spine and nervous system are functioning, and determining whether neurologically based chiropractic care is a good fit.
Step 1: Schedule your first appointment
Contact us by phone, text, or online. Our team responds quickly, helps you schedule, and makes sure you know what to expect before you arrive.
Step 2: Talk through your symptoms and goals
The first thing we do is listen. We review your health history, current symptoms, how long they have been present, what you have tried, and what you want to get out of care. That conversation helps us determine whether your situation is a good fit for our approach.
Step 3: Complete your neurological and structural assessment
We perform a thorough neurological and structural assessment to identify the cause of your symptoms, not just their location. This may include thermal-infrared technology to assess the spine and nervous system, surface electromyography, or sEMG, to evaluate how the muscles along your spine are responding, and a full spinal examination to identify structural shifts, movement issues, and possible subluxations.
If clinically necessary, digital X-rays may also be recommended to evaluate spinal curves, degeneration, loss of disc space, or structural changes that cannot be fully assessed through the other evaluations alone.
Step 4: Review your findings
We walk you through what we found in plain, honest language. You will see how your nervous system, muscles, and spinal structure may be connected to your symptoms, and you will leave with a clearer understanding of what is driving your condition.
Step 5: Review your care plan and ask questions
We outline a specific plan based on your findings, explain what results you can realistically expect, and answer every question before any decision is made. There is no pressure.
Step 6: Begin care when appropriate
If you are ready to start, care begins when appropriate. Your first treatment is specific to your findings, with gentle and targeted chiropractic adjustments designed to reduce stress on the nervous system, support better brain-body communication, and help your body function more effectively over time.
How To Prepare For Your First Visit
Arriving prepared helps your appointment run smoothly and gives us the most accurate picture of your situation.
What to Bring:
- A valid photo ID
- Your insurance card if applicable
- Any relevant prior imaging or test results you have available
- A list of current medications or supplements
Your new patient paperwork can be completed online before your visit or in our office when you arrive.
Insurance, Pricing, And Payment Information For New Patients
We explain the financial side of care clearly before any treatment begins.
Is there a new patient offer?
Yes. New patients can claim our $37 New Patient Special, which includes a consultation, neurological evaluation, muscle assessment, doctor examination, and report of findings. If clinically necessary, digital X-rays may also be recommended and discussed with you clearly. Mention the offer when you contact us to book your first visit.
Do you accept my insurance?
Vero Health Center is in network with most major insurance companies including: Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare.
Is direct billing available?
Yes, direct billing is available where applicable.
What if I prefer to pay directly?
Most of our patients are on structured care plans and pay directly. We explain the full scope and cost of any recommended plan before you commit to anything.
When are costs explained?
After your examination and report of findings, before care begins. You will have a complete picture of the recommendation and the cost before making any decision.
What payment methods do you accept?
For the most current information on accepted payment methods, please call the clinic.
Do you handle motor vehicle accidents or personal injury cases?
Yes. We evaluate and document injuries from auto accidents and personal injury cases.
For questions about the motor vehicle accident or personal injury process, please call the clinic.
How To Know If Vero Health Center Is The Right Fit For You
Vero Health Center is different from traditional chiropractic offices because our care starts with the nervous system, the master control system of the body. Instead of focusing only on short-term relief through muscle and joint work, we evaluate how your spine, nervous system, muscles, and structure are functioning together.
Your first visit includes a neurological and structural analysis designed to identify where stress, subluxation, or spinal dysfunction may be interfering with communication between your brain and body. This helps us build a care plan around your actual findings rather than guessing based only on where you feel pain.
Chiropractic care at Vero Health Center focuses on the spine, nervous system, joints, and the musculoskeletal conditions that affect them. Back pain, neck pain, disc injuries, sciatica, headaches, nerve symptoms, and post-injury recovery are common starting points.
We also address conditions beyond the spine. Neuropathy treatment, spinal decompression, regenerative care, hormone therapy for men and women, gut health, and weight management are available for patients whose needs extend beyond traditional chiropractic scope.
Our approach to recommendations is straightforward. We tell you what we found, what we believe will help, and why. If your situation calls for imaging, a referral, or a care pathway outside what we offer, we will say so.
If you are not sure whether we can help, book a first visit and let the examination decide.
Meet The Practitioners Behind Your Care
Dr. Josiah Fitzsimmons, DC, BCN | Founder, Vero Health Center
Dr. Josiah Fitzsimmons graduated cum laude from South Dakota State University and earned his doctorate at Palmer College of Chiropractic. He founded Vero Health Center in West Des Moines in 2017 and holds Board Certification in Neuropathy through the American College of Physical Medicine. He leads a team of ten doctors and focuses his clinical work on neurologically based care, using neurological and structural assessment to identify the source of each patient’s symptoms before recommending a plan.
The first visit is built around understanding your situation before making a recommendation. You will not leave without knowing what we found and what the most useful next step is.
Frequently Asked Questions From New Patients
Do I need a referral to book at Vero Health Center?
No referral is required. Book directly by phone, text, or online. Our team will confirm your appointment and let you know what to bring.
Can I book a same-day appointment?
Yes, same-day appointments are available when there is space in the schedule. Contact us directly and we will find the earliest slot that works.
How do I complete my new patient paperwork?
You can complete your new patient paperwork online before your visit or in our office when you arrive.
Will my insurance be accepted?
We are in network with most major insurance companies including: Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and United Healthcare.
How much does the first visit cost?
New patients can claim our $37 New Patient Special, which includes the consultation, neurological evaluation, muscle assessment, doctor examination, and report of findings. We explain any costs beyond the special clearly after the examination and before care begins, so you will have a specific number and a clear plan before making any commitment.
What if other care has not worked for me?
That is exactly the situation our evaluation process is designed for. Identifying the actual cause rather than managing the symptom often produces different results than prior care that addressed the surface presentation only.
Do you treat auto accident injuries?
Yes. We evaluate and document injuries from motor vehicle accidents, including whiplash and related spinal trauma. Contact us as soon as possible after an accident.
Are walk-ins accepted?
Yes, walk-ins are welcome when there is space in the schedule. Calling ahead is always helpful, but you can come in without a prior appointment.
What happens after my first treatment?
We track your progress throughout the plan and communicate changes clearly. You will always know where you stand and what the next step is.
Is language support available?
Interpreters are available upon request. Please call ahead or note your preferred language on your new patient form.
Book Your First Appointment
If you have read this far, you have a clear picture of what to expect. The next step is a single appointment, and it does not commit you to anything beyond that first conversation. Our team is ready to schedule you and answer any remaining questions before you arrive.