Functional Medicine Consultations

What a Visit Involves

Most people start with a 60 to 90 minute initial consultation, in office in Salt Lake City or by telehealth. Before that visit you complete an intake covering your health history, symptoms, medications, supplements, sleep, stress, diet, and what a normal day actually looks like. During the visit we go through that history in detail, focusing on when things changed and what has already been tried. If prior labs are available, we review them together. Most people leave the first visit with lab orders, a starting plan, and a clear explanation of what we are looking for and why. Results are usually back within one to two weeks, and a follow-up visit is scheduled to review them and build the longer term plan. Care is iterative: we make a change, give it time, measure, and adjust.

How a Root-Cause Evaluation Works

A functional medicine consultation is longer than a standard visit because the history is the most valuable diagnostic tool available. We go through the timeline of your symptoms, what was happening in your life when they started, what has been tried, what helped and what did not, and what your day actually looks like: how you sleep, what you eat, how much you move, what stress you carry, and what medications and supplements you already take. From there we look for patterns rather than isolated complaints. Fatigue with bloating, cycle changes, and afternoon crashes is a different picture than fatigue alone. The goal of the first visit is a working explanation of what may be driving your symptoms and a short, specific list of what is worth investigating first, rather than ordering every test available.

What Happens After the First Visit

Testing, when it is indicated, is chosen to answer specific questions raised by your history. At the review visit we go through the results together, including what is normal, what is borderline, and what needs attention, and we put them next to how you actually feel. The plan that follows is usually a combination of nutrition, sleep and movement changes, targeted supplementation where a deficiency or a clear need is documented, and medication when it is appropriate and within scope. We prioritize, because doing three things consistently works better than doing twelve things briefly. Follow-up is part of the model, not an afterthought. Plans are adjusted based on your response, and care is coordinated with your primary care provider and specialists so nothing conflicts. Conditions outside the scope of this practice are referred out.

Your Visit May Include

• Complete medical history review, including childhood illness, surgeries, and family patterns
• Symptom timeline mapping so we can see when things shifted
• Lifestyle assessment covering movement, work demands, and recovery
• Nutrition evaluation and a look at your typical week of eating
• Medication and supplement review, including doses and interactions
• Sleep evaluation, including sleep timing, quality, and waking patterns
• Stress assessment and how your body currently responds to load
• Review of prior labs and imaging you already have
• Personalized treatment recommendations you can actually carry out
• Coordination with your primary care provider or specialists when appropriate

How the Evaluation Usually Proceeds

• First visit: full history, physical exam when in office, and lab orders based on what your story suggests
• Testing: standard blood work first, with specialty testing added only when it will change the plan
• Review visit: we go through every result together, in plain language, including what is normal and what is not
• Plan building: nutrition, sleep, stress, movement, targeted supplementation, and medication when indicated
• Follow-up: repeat labs and symptom review at intervals that fit the concern, often 8 to 12 weeks

Nothing is ordered as a package. Testing is chosen for your situation, and you always hear the reasoning before anything is ordered.

Who This Is Often a Good Fit For

• People who feel unwell while their standard labs read normal
• People carrying several overlapping concerns, such as fatigue plus weight change plus poor sleep
• People with a chronic condition who want lifestyle and nutrition addressed alongside their current care
• People who want more visit time than a standard 15 minute appointment allows
• People who want to understand the reasoning behind each recommendation

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from a regular primary care visit?

Mostly time and scope. A functional medicine consultation is built around a long history intake, so we can look at how sleep, nutrition, stress, hormones, and digestion interact rather than addressing one complaint per visit. It is not a replacement for primary care, urgent care, or specialty care. Many patients keep their primary care provider and use this practice for root cause work alongside it.

Do you take insurance?

Visits are cash pay or covered through membership. Routine laboratory testing can often be billed through your insurance when appropriate, and cash pay lab pricing is available if you prefer or if you do not have coverage. You are told the cost of any recommended testing before it is ordered.

How long before I notice a difference?

It depends on what is driving your symptoms. Changes tied to sleep, blood sugar, or nutrient status often show up within a few weeks. Hormone and gut work is usually measured in months, not days. We set expectations at the first visit and use repeat labs and your own symptom tracking to judge progress rather than guessing.

Do I need to stop my current medications?

No. Do not stop any prescribed medication on your own. We review everything you take, and any change is made deliberately, with your prescriber involved when the medication was prescribed elsewhere. In many cases medications stay exactly as they are while we address the underlying contributors.

Can I be seen by telehealth?

Yes. In-office visits in Salt Lake City are Monday through Wednesday, and telehealth visits are Thursday and Friday. Telehealth works well for history-heavy visits, lab reviews, and follow-ups. Some situations, such as a needed physical exam, are better in person, and we will tell you when that is the case.