What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease. Each symptom or diagnosis may contribute to an individual’s illness or dysfunction. A particular diagnosis can result from more than one cause. For example, chronic pain syndromes may arise from various factors, including inflammation. Inflammation, in turn, can lead to multiple diagnoses, such as depression. The exact manifestation of each cause depends on a patient’s genes, environment, and lifestyle. Therefore, medical interventions that target the correct cause will provide lasting benefits beyond mere symptom suppression.
At FCFM, we treat individuals with various dysfunctional conditions, primarily musculoskeletal, to improve their functionality. While we use standard medical approaches to identify the root causes of a person's dysfunction or health condition, we also recognize the importance of engaging patients in a therapeutic partnership. This partnership includes medication, physical therapies, counseling, and clinical nutrition to promote overall wellness.
How long are office visits?
Sometimes, patients mistakenly anticipate that lengthy office visits are necessary or desirable and feel the need to discuss their conditions at great length. At FCFM, we use investigative tools popularized by the Institute for Functional Medicine, such as the IFM Matrix, Timeline, and the GOTOIT framework, to identify root causes efficiently. This approach improves efficiency and allows practitioners to allocate time to other clients' needs. Please write down your concerns and provide them to the front office staff for inclusion in your records. Bring past SOAP notes and lab results.
During your first office visit, we will identify your chief and related complaints, review systems, conduct a thorough physical exam, and perhaps order pertinent labs and imaging studies. This visit will take approximately 45 minutes.
In your second office visit, we will review your past records and discuss recent labs and imaging studies. These follow-up visits will last approximately 30 minutes, during which we will propose a therapeutic approach.
Subsequent follow-up visits will also be scheduled for 20 minutes, addressing a maximum of 2-3 complaints and/or 2-3 orders or prescriptions. If you require more time, please inform the staff ahead of time, and be aware that insurers may not reimburse for extra time.
Anticipate approximately 60 minutes for a first time psychiatric visit and 30 minutes for a follow up visit.
Why did I receive a “no show” fee?
Appointments are made to provide for an orderly approach to care and to make certain that needed medications and procedures occur for the benefit of health and safety. When one makes an appointment and then does not keep it or call ahead at least 24 hours to reschedule, another patient who may have really needed to get in, is denied care because we didn’t have enough time to notify them. Having lost the income from that visit, we bill a “no show” fee.
Is the “no show” fee covered by insurance.
No.
Is there a recourse to the “no show” fee?
Yes. We recognize sometimes people will forget or have a minor emergency intervene; so, we waive the “no show” fee if one makes a new appointment and keep it within a week, as the schedule permits.
How long does it take for a new patient to get for an initial office visit?
We pride ourselves on getting new patients in relatively quickly and we also have a provision to move someone up more quickly if another cancels a visit and then you are willing to come in with a short notice. We anticipate that, generally, no one will wait longer than 2 weeks.
Do you provide care for people with chronic pain problems?
Yes, we do. However, pain management is made complex, because while we desire to relieve pain we DO NOT want to contribute to opioid abuse. Furthermore, we have obligations to protect our patient’s health and uphold statutory guidance. All participants who are accepted for pain management must agree to random Urine Drug Tests, fill out extensive paperwork agreement forms, and agree to limit prescription to one provider and one pharmacy. We insist on prior clinical records, performing our own physical assessments, consult the state Prescription Monitoring Program with each prescription and also offer suboxone therapy where and when appropriate.