Leaf411’s New Scheduling System FAQs

FAQs

1. Where do I go to set up an appointment?

From the Leaf411 homepage, click on the “Let’s Talk!” button, which will take you to the Leaf411 client portal hosted on the vcita scheduling app.

2. How do I schedule an appointment? Should I choose the 30-minute or 15-minute option?

After you click on the “Let’s Talk” button on Leaf411’s homepage, you’ll be redirected to our scheduling page hosted on the vcita website.

Select the Leaf411 30-minute nurse guidance call if it is your first time contacting us through this online appointment service. Even if you’ve previously called the hotline, you will want to select the 30-minute option for your first scheduled appointment.

This 30-minute guidance call allows the nurse to cover one ailment or concern. For example, if you are seeking guidance on using cannabis for insomnia and also for migraines, those are two different issues that may require different products and approaches. Therefore, we would ask for you to schedule two separate appointments–one appointment to discuss cannabis and insomnia, and a different appointment to cover cannabis and migraine pain.

The 15 minute follow-up call is ideal for any remaining questions you have about your primary issue after the initial consultation. The shorter time takes into account the nurse already having your history with your previous 30 minute guidance call so it should allow enough time.

On the scheduling website, a calendar will pop up with available dates and times. Pick the time slot that works best for you and then complete your contact information and you’re good to go! The Leaf nurse will call you at the number you provide on the day and time you selected.

3. My availability has changed after scheduling an appointment. What should I do?

We ask that you provide at least 48 business hours’ notice if you need to change or cancel your appointment. You can cancel the appointment through the confirmation email you receive or by calling the Leaf411 office at 844-LEAF411 (844-532-3411).

4. Is my information safe with vcita?

You can trust that our new scheduling system provided by vcita will keep your information secure. The HIPAA-compliant site will allow you to pick a day and time when our nurses are available for a phone appointment, and even gives you an option to select your preferred nurse if more than one nurse is available at your preferred time. You’ll also have the ability to send and receive documents or messages to our team via the client portal, and will receive reminders about upcoming appointments. 

5. What if I have a quick question, can I still call the hotline instead of making an appointment?

We are moving all of our services to the online appointment system. Even a quick question often has additional concerns—for example, an inquiry about a particular product might be followed up by questions about how it will interact with other medications or supplements. 

If you are unsure about whether your question warrants an appointment or have other questions about scheduling, please call and leave a message at 844-LEAF411 (844-532-3411). A nurse will return your call within 24-48 business hours.

6. Does the nurse call me or do I call them at the appointed time? Is this a video call?

The Leaf nurse will call you at the number you provided at the date/time you selected when signing up for an appointment. The appointments are conducted only by phone, not by video at this time.

7. What happens during the call?

Generally, you can expect the following steps during your call: 

• Background information: We gather demographic data at the time of scheduling your appointment to ensure our services match caller needs. This information also helps us determine what cannabis and CBD hemp options exist based on laws in your home state. We may gather some of this information up-front or as part of the conversation, depending on the caller’s and nurse’s needs.  
• Triage: Our Leaf nurses ask a series of questions to understand your main healthcare need and goals for using hemp CBD or marijuana, including whether you’re completely new to the plant or an experienced user. We’ll also ask questions about your activities of daily living to make sure that our education is tailored to your day-to-day realities.  
• Reviewing your history of marijuana and hemp use: When considering marijuana or hemp CBD as a therapeutic tool, it’s important to factor in where you’re coming from. Are you an experienced current user, or was the last time you consumed over 20 years ago? Have your past experiences been positive or negative? It’s okay if you have hesitations or concerns based on past experiences! Our Leaf nurses are non-judgmental and provide balanced information based on your goals and preferences.   

Offering education and guidance: Once we have a clear sense of your health needs and goals, we provide evidence-based education and guidance that empowers you and can save you time and money when it comes to finding the best cannabis options for pain, insomnia, or other needs. Our Leaf nurses also understand that most callers want relief without impairment so that they can go about their daily lives. Depending on your previous experience, we may start with Cannabis 101 education on your endocannabinoid system, followed by general guidance on product types and routes of administration. For example, our Leaf nurses may suggest starting with a ratio product that contains specific amounts of THC and CBD. Our Leaf nurses also take into account any physical limitations that you may have to recommend easy-to-use product formats, like gummies that can easily be divided into smaller doses.

8. What will not be provided during the nurse guidance call?

It’s important to understand what types of information we can and cannot provide based on our professional scope of practice. Our Leaf411 nurses work within their scope and standard of practice. Registered nurses (RNs) provide guidance and education; however, they do not practice medicine and are not legally allowed to give specific dosages to take at a specific time of day for a specific length of time.

If you have multiple health concerns that are beyond what our nursing guidance can provide, we will suggest a consultation with a cannabis-trained advanced practice nurse (Nurse Practitioner) or a cannabis-trained physician who can take you into their private practice as a patient. We have wonderful resources for trained cannabis clinicians listed under our Resources tab on our website.

Unfortunately consultations with private practice cannabis clinicians are not covered by insurance carriers yet, so please check pricing in advance and assume that it will be an out-of-pocket expense for you.

9. What happens after my call?

Our Leaf nurses understand that as you begin trying different products and learn more about cannabis, additional questions may come up. We take notes as part of our nursing practice which will be uploaded to your online account following the call. That makes it easy for us if you have follow-up questions so that we can pull up those past notes and pick up right where we left off. You can also schedule your follow-up consultation with the same Leaf nurse you previously talked to.

Schedule your Leaf411 cannabis consultation today!

With our recent transition to a schedule-based system, our goal is to make trustworthy guidance on cannabis use more accessible and convenient for you. We look forward to hearing from you! Visit our homepage to get started scheduling your nurse consultation, or call us at 844-532-3411 if you have questions about the new scheduling system.

The Leaf411 cannabis nurse hotline provides free, anonymous education and directional support to the general public about the safe use of legal cannabis. We partner with select business members who meet our rigorous standards to extend our education and outreach efforts.