Question 1

How soon can I expect to see results?

Accepted Answer

Improvement in symptoms is unique to the individual. Many factors influence your course of recovery including how long you’ve been unwell, other supportive measures you’ve been doing until now, your genetics, and your capacity to adopt a variety of therapies and interventions that may be recommended.

Question 2

How often will I be having visits?

Accepted Answer

This of course will be very specific based on a person’s health issues. Some patients at Elevate Health feel well and come in to see us once a year to make sure they are still on track for continued good health. Other patients have significant illness and are severely symptomatic. They may need to see us every 2-4 weeks, at least initially, until their symptoms are under better control. And the majority of patients are somewhere in between. We generally like to book two initial visits about one month apart. After that, we’ll have a better sense of what your appointment frequency will look like.

Question 3

Do I have to do lots of diagnostic tests to figure out the root causes of my issues? And will my insurance cover these tests?

Accepted Answer

There are a variety of diagnostic tests we can utilize to get a clearer picture of what is going on with you. However, often we can get a pretty good idea of factors that need to be addressed from your history and physical exam.

Sometimes doing a trial on an intervention - be it a dietary change, nutritional supplement, exercise, medication or other - is the best diagnostic tool. Some people love data and have the resources to collect it regardless of insurance coverage. Others prefer to experience their body’s response to interventions as the path to diagnosis. And some may not have the resources to do a lot of out-of-pocket testing.

Many tests are often covered by insurance. Though we use standard tests done in Western medicine, we take a more nuanced approach in interpreting results by using a “functional range” rather than a lab’s standard “reference range.” And there are tests that are either not covered by insurance or paid for up-front before submittal to your insurance for reimbursement.

Together, we’ll go over in detail all the diagnostics that we think are applicable in your case. And then we can decide together which ones to prioritize, considering your preferences and financial resources.

Question 4

What kinds of diagnostics do you use in Functional Medicine?

Accepted Answer

Tests may look at status of:

Vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids.
Advanced lipid panels.
Inflammation markers.
Detoxification and oxidative stress.
Endocrine markers including pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, pancreatic, and sex hormones.
Antibody screens for autoimmune processes.
Stool tests to evaluate gut microbiome health.
Presence of parasites, fungi, viruses and bacteria.
Blood, hair, urine and stool for environmental toxins.
Breath tests for H pylori and small intestine bacterial overgrowth.

Question 5

How does Functional Medicine work with Primary Care?

Accepted Answer

At Elevate Health we integrate the functional medicine approach into all of our care.

When we address primary care preventive health issues such as cardiovascular health or cancer prevention, we utilize validated screening tools along with counseling of lifestyle factors, and supplements and medications used proactively to prevent disease.

For example, consideration and mitigation of one’s environmental toxicities can reduce risk of cancers, heart attacks, and dementia.

When we see you for an acute health issue such as a bladder infection, asthma exacerbation or sports injury, we utilize a large tool kit of conventional therapies (e.g. antibiotics, inhalers or pain medications) as well as natural medicine therapies (e.g. herbals, gut health restoration, acupuncture, and massage.)

Question 6

Are nutrition counseling and health coaching a necessary part of Functional Medicine?

Accepted Answer

We think that finding ˜and eating!˜ your optimal diet at this time in your life is a cornerstone of your journey to more vibrant health.

That’s why we have a nutritionist and health coach on staff, and have included her services in your membership. She will not only help you to identify foods and activities that will have you feeling your best, but will help you to identify and overcome the obstacles that keep you from them.

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