Most Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
How Much Does the Program Cost?
Each one-, two-, and three-week program has a different rate. The cost of the program also varies depending upon the particular types of medical testing that your doctor feels is necessary to evaluate your health condition. Please contact a Patient Enrollment Specialist at (800) 488-1500 or
click here to discuss your individual health issues. A security deposit will hold your reservation.
Can I Bring Someone Along?
Yes, Dr. Whitaker actually encourages you to bring a companion with you to participate in the educational portion of the program. This is great support while you are at the clinic, it also helps you implement the program when you return home. Your companion receives a significant discount on the educational program and meals for the entire week. Your companion may also choose to be a patient and go through the medical evaluation if desired, which would be an additional expense.
Will the Program Benefit Me?
If you suffer from any of the following health conditions or are concerned about any of the following, you can certainly benefit from the program: heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, prostate problems, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chronic fatigue, menopause, andropause (declining hormone levels in men), and anti-aging. (This is not a complete list of conditions we treat at the Whitaker Wellness Institute.)
Where Will I Stay?
While you are here you will stay at the Irvine/Orange County Airport Hilton, located just a few blocks from the Whitaker Wellness Institute. This is where all of the lectures and classes take place and where your meals are served. A free shuttle will take you back and forth for your appointments.
What Other Services/Treatments are Available?
We offer a wide variety of alternative therapies that have been proven to be beneficial. These include: EECP, EDTA chelation, IV therapies, hormone replacement therapies, human growth hormone treatment, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, personal nutritional counseling, chiropractic care, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, and reflexology to name a few.
Are My Meals Provided?
Yes, you will enjoy delicious and healthy meals designed by our gourmet chef and nutritionist and catered and served in our private dining room at the hotel. You will receive all of the recipes used throughout the week, so you can prepare them when you return home. There are also healthy menu items at the Hilton restaurant approved by the Whitaker Wellness Institute that you may enjoy, if you wish.
What About Exercise?
During the program you will learn why exercise is such an integral part of improving your health. Our exercise physiologist will test your exercise capabilities and help design a safe exercise program for you to follow. We also have group exercise and water aerobics classes that you are encouraged to attend, (weather permitting).
How Do I Get to the Clinic?
Many of our patients traveling from out of state fly into the John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA). Most major airlines fly into this airport. The Hilton provides a shuttle from the airport to the hotel.(Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Long Beach/Daugherty Field Airport (LGB) are also within a 50 mile radius of the Whitaker Wellness Institute, however, you would be required to provide your own transportation to and from the airport to the Irvine/Orange County Airport Hilton.)
What is the Schedule for the One-Week Program?
The program begins on a Sunday evening and ends the following Saturday morning.
Click here for the current schedule. Your days will consist of medical testing, therapies, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with scheduled classes, and seminars throughout the day. Evening lectures by our renowned staff are also given nightly. You will also have some free time to enjoy the Newport Beach area if you so desire.
How Fast do the Programs Fill Up?
We limit the number of patients in each program to ensure that each person receives individualized attention while they are here. For this reason the programs tend to fill up quickly. Please contact a Patient Enrollment Specialist for current availability at (800) 488-1500 or
click here.
How Do I Reserve a Space in the Program?
Please call a Patient Enrollment Specialist to reserve a space at (800) 488-1500 or
click here. A deposit will be required to reserve an actual attendance date.
Will My Insurance Cover Any of the Program Costs?
We will bill your insurance company or provide you with an itemized statement that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement of the medical charges.
How Will I be Evaluated Throughout the Week(s)?
At the Whitaker Wellness Institute you will have the time to thoroughly discuss your health concerns with your doctor. You will undergo a complete physical including blood work and any other additional testing the doctor feels is necessary to properly evaluate you. You will also be monitored daily by our staff to measure your progress. You will have a subsequent visit with your doctor towards the end of the week to measure your progress and have all of your questions answered.
What Qualifications do the Doctors at the Clinic Have?
All of our doctors specialize in alternative medicine. They have been handpicked by Dr. Whitaker and follow his treatment philosophy. Our physicians are well-versed in conventional medicine, yet they also understand the power of diet, exercise, nutritional supplements, and alternative therapies as well as their respective roles in healing and maintaining the body. They also meet weekly with Dr. Whitaker and his researchers to review the latest advances in alternative medicine, new therapies, and nutritional supplements.
What's the Difference Between an MD and a DO?
All licensed physicians, whether they are MDs (Medical Doctor) or DOs (Doctor of Osteopathy), have similar education and training. Both require four-year undergraduate degrees, with an emphasis in the sciences, followed by four years of post-graduate medical education. MDs and DOs both choose specialties after completing their residency programs — which typically calls for an additional two to six years of medical training. They must pass similar licensing examinations in order to practice medicine. Most important,
both MDs and DOs are medical doctors who can prescribe medications, perform surgeries, and treat patients in hospital and clinical settings.
Will I be Able to Get Off My Medications?
Our patients are often able to drastically reduce and even eliminate some of their medications, including insulin, once they go through the program. However, this is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
How Should I Dress?
We recommend that you dress very casually. The weather is mild and sunny most of the year in southern California, although it gets rather cool in the winter months. Sweats, shorts, (in the summer) and tennis shoes are appropriate. Dressing in comfortable layers is always advised.
Will My Diabetes or Heart Disease be Reversed?
The program was designed to help you do just this. This program is based on Dr. Whitaker's belief that these and other medical conditions can be dramatically improved, if not reversed by diet and lifestyle modifications in addition to vitamin and mineral supplementation and implementation of alternative treatment options. By going through the program it is likely that you will notice an improvement in your symptoms, possibly as soon as the first week you are here.
How Many Patients Attend the Program at a Time?
We limit each program to no more than 35 to 40 patients. We have found that it is beneficial to go through the educational portion as a group. Although the program is individualized for each patient, this gives you the benefit of a support group, in addition to one-on-one attention from the staff. Many people find that they have formed a special bond with the other patients by the end of the week.
If I am Healthy, Can the Back To Health Program Benefit Me?
This program is very beneficial for those who are healthy. For you, our focus revolves around teaching you to live a healthy lifestyle and preventing future health problems.