FAQs

What type of healthcare do you provide?

The type of care that we provide at Premier IFM is a truly all inclusive form of alternative healthcare. Not solely focusing on homeopathy, naturopathy, alternative, integrative, or functional medicine, but a combination of all of them. We practice Evidence based natural health care, meaning that everything we do or recommend is rooted in research, science, and evidence in the efficacy of the treatment. By practicing in this manner we are able more effectively tailor treatment to the individual person and get better results, faster.

What is functional medicine?

The best way to describe the Functional Healthcare that we practice in our office is, all inclusive. I’ll be honest, not every patient needs every aspect of what a functional medicine physician can do. But, everyone does need many of the aspects of what we do.

Let me explain. Functional medicine is rooted in the fact that disease and illness has a cause. Occasionally someone gets some unexplainable disease, but the majority of the time there is a reason for someone getting something. One doesn’t catch diabetes or cancer. They develop it. Functional medicine looks to find the cause of the disease or illness and remove or fix it, thus eliminating the cause and fixing the persons ills. This approach really is the future of healthcare. It is very effective for chronic disease cases or those within to optimize health.

However, for those that are looking for an alternative natural form of healthcare for a more acute need, the full functional approach may not be needed. Thats why we also practice what some call alternative medicine, holistic medicine, naturopathy, naturopathic, integrative medicine, natural medicine etc.

What is need from the functional medicine approach that not all alternative, natural, or holistic doctors use is the need for evidence based care. Evidence based care means that treatments are proven effective, safe, and most importantly, not harmful. This is the basis of our practice. Everything is evidence based.

Unfortunately, most “natural” doctors don’t practice this way and often use methods that are questionable at best.

What is the difference between Alternative, Integrative, Chinese, Ayurvedic, Natural, and Functional Healthcare?

Alternative Medicine - Any of a range of medical therapies that are not regarded as orthodox by the medical profession, such as herbalism, homeopathy, and acupuncture. This term is a fairly all inclusive definition and can include anything from crystals, reiki, voodoo, etc. Basically as long as its not medications, surgery, or something taught in traditional medical school, its alternative. As a general rule is doesn’t mean much and many laypersons can also use this term. Be careful!

Integrative Medicine - Healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. With integrative medicine generally we are still talking about alternative medicine practices. The main difference is that now we are beginning the look at how all aspects of the body work together and how one system can affect another system. In my experience, this type of practice is generally on in which a few different types of doctors work together in the same office to provide care to one patient. An example may be an office with a doctor of chiropractic, acupuncturist, herbalist, physical therapist, osteopathic doctor or any combination of those.

Chinese medicine - A healing system developed in China more than 2,000 years ago, incorporating therapies that are in some cases millennia older. One of its guiding principles is to "dispel evil and support the good. Generally performed by a practitioner that has learned from older teachers and passed down from generation to generation. It may include herbs, roots and many times the practitioners are also acupuncturists. This form of medicine is generally rooted in traditions.

Ayurvedic medicine - One of the world's oldest holistic (whole-body) healing systems. It was developed thousands of years ago in India. It is based on the belief that health and wellness depend on a delicate balance between the mind, body, and spirit. In my experience this is similar to chances medicine. Like the chinese medicine some of the practices may or may not be efficacious and/or harmful.

naturopathic “natural” medicine - Naturopathic medicine refers to an approach to treating people, and tends to favor natural and low-force interventions. Treatment guidelines generally follow what they call they therapeutic order. Naturopathic doctors are currently licensed in only 16 states and many times it is easy for anyone to call themselves a naturopath.

Functional Healthcare - Functional healthcare was explained in the previous faq, and it is explained many times over throughout the website. I would like to reiterate that the form we practice I like to refer to as Integrative functional medicine. I would explain it as being all of the previous forms of “alternative” healthcare rolled into one, mixed with a bunch of research, evidence based care, and scientific evidence. In todays day and age with all the research and technology available to us, we can pretty much see or measure anything we want to in the body. If its not evidence based healthcare, its not healthcare.

What kind of conditions do you help?

We help with all kinds of health issues. Our practice tends to be approximately 1/2 chronic patients and the other half are more acute care patients that are looking for an alternative route to medications and drugs. The chronic patients tend to require a functional healthcare approach whereas the latter are addressed with alternative or naturopathic medicines. By using evidence based care to assess each patient we will work to restore balance and health to each patient.

How do I know if you can help me?

Each patient is an individual and should be treated as such. We never truly know if we can help you until we talk to you and / or see you.

Many doctors will address sickness only within that specific function of the body, and not address its myriad other systems. Unfortunately, it's not that simple. We must always evaluate how one reaction may have a beneficial or detrimental reaction somewhere else in the body. The body is not a closed set of systems; it is multiple systems working in concert. 

The body is very adaptable and able to compensate for many different things for a long time. However, after so long the body is no longer able to adapt. 
At this point, the body, mind, and/or soul become sick.

Do you provide care for non-chronic conditions too?

Absolutely. Much of what we do revolves around the chronic conditions that requires Functional Medicine to recover and get down to the why someone has a particular problem. That being said, we have many patients that also just want an alternative healthcare provider and are looking for alternative naturopathic solutions to acute health issues.

How much does a visit cost?

Part of my goal in my practice and on my website is to give you as much information as possible so that you can make an informed decision. That being said, I generally have two types of clients. The first is the wellness client. This client is healthy and looking to stay healthy. Usually this person will only require a couple visits up front and then periodic evaluations based on what their goals are. Prices vary per client.

How long does care take?

Care can range anywhere from one visit to a much longer period depending on the issue present. It really depends on how long your particular problem has been present and how severe your condition is. If you have a child that comes in for an ear infection, obviously the visit won’t be long and may only include some natural ear drops. On the other end of the spectrum is someone with IBS, Thyroid, adrenal fatigue and eczema. This person may take upwards of a year or more to recover and get back to balance.

Do you take insurance?

Yes and No. While we do not bill insurance directly, we can help you bill your own insurance for the visit. There are a few different reason we do not accept insurance.

1) It is a pain in the butt and the amount that they pay does not make it financially feasible.
2) Insurance doesn’t cover the necessary time spent with each patient.
3) Did I mention it’s a pain in the butt?
4) I am blessed enough to have a busy enough practice that I don’t have to take insurance.

To help you bill your insurance for your visits we will (upon request) proud you with what is called a “superbill”. This is basically an itemized statement with all the ICD10 diagnosis codes and CPT procedure codes. You can submit this to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Some of the most common insurance companies patients are able to to do this with include Blue Cross, Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and some others. I can never guarantee if and how much an insurance company will decide to reimburse.