Their success is my success, and that combination results in the many referrals our clinic receives! ...
Q & A With Tammy Lalonde, CEO & Chief Clinical Officer at Red Leaf Wellness
What services does Red Leaf Wellness Offer?
Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Functional Medicine, Herbal Consultation, Nutrition Consultation, Osteopathy, Qigong, Craniosacral Therapy, and Reiki
How did you come up with the idea to start Red Leaf Wellness, and what purpose did you intend to serve with the concept?
Caring for people is my passion and one of the greatest callings life has to offer. I am a seasoned Paramedic and Acupuncturist with extensive experience assisting patients as they cope with obvious and invisible injuries. I have been there for those in desperate medical, psychological or traumatic situations, delivered beautiful babies in vehicles parked along the side of the road, and administered care in such odd locations as on a domestic airliner at 30,000 feet or when flying emergency medevacs over Arabian desertscapes. I know full well how to care for those in true crisis but have also witnessed so many more whose illnesses and injuries could be traced back to their treatment of the body as a whole, whether through their diet, fitness levels, or neglect. As my career has evolved, so has my focus, which has shifted to helping a greater number of people early on to prevent minor issues from evolving into larger and costlier illnesses. In my practice I have found a niche offering by pairing these strengths in emergency care and women’s health with the respected skills and techniques from top practitioners in traditional Chinese medicine. All care is focused on returning the body, mind, and spirit to a whole.
Which milestones have marked meeting benchmarks towards the fulfillment of your personal goals/ the company's vision and goals?
As to meeting my own internal aspirations, it has been an exhilarating and wild ride along the way as we continually push beyond our annual performance targets, each year besting the previous in terms of growing our service capacity, broadening the depth of services we offer, and solidifying partnerships with other leading clinicians and practices. Externally, we have also been humbled to have been consistently recognized as a leading Acupuncture and Massage Therapy destination in Edmonton by multiple authorities (e.g. Vue Weekly Magazine, Edmonton’s Three Best Rated, Community Votes, Best of Edmonton, Top Choice Awards and others).
Which steps have you taken for the company to achieve the level of consumer trust that has been nationally recognized?
We are a socially ethical company whose entire model is predicated on achieving and maintaining consumer trust. First, we carefully curate our clinical team ensuring we not only have the top clinicians who are widely recognized for their professional achievements, but also that the skills brought to the table are integrated and leveraged by other team members, as well as external partners, to ensure patients have truly comprehensive care. Second, we establish dedicated referral pathways so that we can draw on expertise within our community. We are not afraid to refer outwards. We know where our strengths are, but also where a patient is best served by meeting with our partners instead, and because of this willingness to put patients before profits, we find our patients feel we have their best interests in mind. Finally, we focus on customer support beyond the visits to our clinic. This may take the form of check-ins to see how patients are doing, helpful guides and instructional content through our communication channels, and through regularly eliciting feedback on how we can be improving. We think the only way to ensure we are continuously improving is to hold ourselves open and vulnerable to critical feedback.
I would also mention that we are a clinic that stands behind inclusivity and diversity, ensuring every patient that walks through our door leaves not only having been heard, but receiving the same quality of care and compassion that we provide to all.
What part of your education or other experiences do you feel was the most helpful in preparing you for success?
I think part of my success comes from my past clinical experience as a paramedic, which was based on reactive care in the time of unfortunate trauma and health crisis for others. As an “adrenaline junkie”, for years this was okay, until it wasn’t. I began to look beyond my critical care training and question why there was no focus on health prevention to avoid the plethora of medications patients would be on and the limited “symptom relief” type of care they were receiving. This questioning and exploration helped shape and alter my career focus eventually leading me to pursue my Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. This drive has spilled into each of my patient’s visits to heal them from the inside. Their success is my success, and that combination results in the many referrals our clinic receives!
Which strategies have you found the most effective in growing your audience/ bringing awareness of your service to a larger consumer group?
We started to spread our love for healing others through our Instagram and Facebook pages (@redleafwellnessYEG), as well as through our Red Leaf Wellness Community Facebook page to reach as many people as we could, and to provide helpful information for anyone looking to take a forward step on their journey to better health. We also provide a monthly newsletter accessible through www.redleafwellness.ca with other health tips and tricks. But above all, we have our own patients to thank when they spread the word to their friends and families.
Which partnerships, if any, have been the most constructive in bringing your goals closer to becoming a reality?
Part of our goal to provide our patients with the best of care was to bring together a broader team of carefully curated health care providers under one network to make it easier for patients to get quick access to what they need. Late last year we began the Restore+ Network (www.restoreplusnetwork.com) which is an integrative care network bridging primary care, complementary care, and mental health services. Members of the Restore+ Network partner closely together to develop a comprehensive, whole health treatment plan to assist with your health journey.
Are there any challenges that made it difficult to continue operation and that you managed to overcome? What was your approach to get past these?
As everyone can attest, probably the largest challenge we have collectively faced has been to remain solvent during a global pandemic. Our operations saw us carefully managing growth during this period, deliberately opening a new location and cautiously adding new staff. Oftentimes we had sleepless nights and anxiety on whether we could continue to pay bills and make payroll. We certainly feel fortunate to have been able to continue to expand during these times and have many dedicated staff and loyal clients to thank for this.
Over the last year I thought I would add to the challenges and complete my Doctoral degree whilst managing my clinic full-time. At the tail end of this experience I can look back now and say it has been worth it, though early on I certainly had my share of reservations.
How do you balance work, passions/hobbies, and relationships?
This question is so important! Thank you! I’m not going to lie; it can definitely be difficult at times to maintain a life-work balance. I am lucky that my joy is in my work and helping others, but I do make sure that I have at least two days a week in which relaxing with my partner and family take priority.
What are your future plans to build on your personal/ company achievements and fulfill your vision for success/ what developments can your audience or clientele look forward to expecting next?
Onwards and upwards! We have currently broadened our service offerings in such areas as Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy and Qigong, which are classes designed for purposeful movements and breath, that bring a balance to both our health and our minds, and bring longevity to our lives. Our longer-term strategy is to expand our locations within Alberta, but also into other provinces. Our investments in robust digital systems and automation make it easier for us to scale up. Stay tuned!
What advice would you like to give readers that hope to achieve success in your field?
Approach your practice from a mindset of abundance! Knowledge is a privilege and it is meant to be shared with others. If we approach our lives with fear and scarcity, it prevents us from growing as individuals and as leaders. And enjoy what you do on a day-to-day basis…life is too short to not be facing each day with joy.
Is there anything else you would like to share with Winner Magazine readers?
There is an old Chinese proverb, “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” This is how the practitioners at Red Leaf Wellness provide each of our patients the best care possible, by providing all the tools necessary for a path to wellbeing! If you have any questions about how our mighty wellness team can help you, our incredible front of the house staff are well versed in health care, and will guide you to the practitioner that will best fit with your health and wellness needs.
We thank Tammy for sharing these insights and experiences with Winner Magazine's readers. If you are looking for Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, or other Healing Services in the Edmonton Area, we would recommend reaching out to Tammy at Red Leaf Wellness!