Getzwell Pediatrics » functional medicine

How Eating at Home Can Save Your Life

jgetzelman — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 07:49:21 +0000

I just finished reading How Eating at Home Can Save Your Life and am moved to share this striking article by Mark Hyman, MD, a brilliant and forward-thinking functional medicine physician. Most of you know that I have a passion for nutrition, gut health, and food as medicine, and many of you have chosen GetzWell in part because what is on your own and your child’s plate is very important to you. I advocate a whole foods, organic diet and encourage parents to offer a variety of colors and flavors in children’s diets as soon as babies begin to eat solid foods. Many of GetzWell’s kiddos shun juice, sweets and empty carbs preferring veggies and other whole foods, and they enjoy the fantastic health benefits that come from eating well.

For those who have been following GetzWell’s Facebook posts, you know we have been delving more deeply into how human health is inextricably linked to the health of our food supply and the sustainability of our planet. As Dr. Hyman tells us, “The ecology of eating — the importance of what you put on your fork — has never been more critical to our survival as a nation or as a species.” I couldn’t agree more.

Let’s harness the power of our forks and “vote” by purchasing local, sustainable and organic food whenever possible. The “extraordinary thing is that we have the ability to move large corporations and create social change by our collective choices,” says Dr. Hyman.

In Health,

Julia Getzelman, MD

Redefining Pediatric Medicine: Why GetzWell Pediatrics’ Unique Approach Requires Us To Be Out-of-Network

jgetzelman — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:38:49 +0000

Since its inception, San Francisco’s GetzWell Pediatrics has sought to redefine the field of pediatric medicine by providing customized health care for children and families. Some wonder why GetzWell is structured as a ‘fee-for-service’ or ‘direct pay’ practice rather than one that contracts with insurance companies. The reason is that GetzWell’s 21^st century integrative approach to health care is fundamentally at odds with the traditional insurance-based medical model.

In the traditional model, insurance companies set prices for physician services that encourage a rapid turnover, high volume practice. An insurer might set a price for a 5-7 minute visit at $35, for instance, but only pay $50 for 15 minutes or $70 for 30 minutes of care. In order to cover the exorbitant overhead that accompanies an insurance-based practice (including an entire staff of billing specialists and collection agents), physicians must see as many patients per hour as possible to make their practices viable. This turnstile approach has led to a ‘quick fix’ culture in medicine and discourages the development of meaningful relationships between families and their care providers. GetzWell Pediatrics categorically rejects this system as it isn’t the best way to care for kids (or anyone, for that matter).

Moreover, just because GetzWell is fee-for-service does not mean patients cannot use their insurance. In fact, most patients with PPO insurance receive some, often significant, reimbursement (subject to the specific terms of each policy). It is a very easy process to seek reimbursement or credit from insurers following office visits. Each time a patient receives care, GetzWell generates a ‘superbill’ reflecting payment along with a description of services. By simply mailing or faxing the superbill directly to the insurer, most families report they are reimbursed or otherwise credited within 4 weeks (based on the specific terms of their policy).

By remaining ‘out of network,’ GetzWell’s doctors and patients collaborate to make important health care decisions without interference from insurance companies. Insurers are relegated to a still important but secondary role whereby they cover some primary care costs plus emergencies, severe illness and catastrophic matters. As a result, the quality of care at GetzWell is unsurpassed and many unique services are available including:

Individually tailored care plans to fit the needs and lifestyles of patients by focusing on the underlying causes of illness and health and not merely suppressing symptoms;
Guidance about safe vaccination and individualized vaccine schedules based on each child’s risk factors and the family’s beliefs and lifestyle;
24/7 direct access to GetzWell pediatricians by phone and email;
More time spent per visit in order to answer questions, get to know parents and children, foster trusting relationships, provide education and discuss options as part of a holistic plan of care (e.g., a typical well child visit lasts 40 – 45 minutes in contrast to about 12 minutes in a traditional pediatric practice);
Options outside of typical prescription medications including food and lifestyle interventions, homeopathy, supplements, and developmental/emotional advice;
A combination of Western medicine and complementary and alternative approaches to illnesses or chronic problems that cannot be “fixed” by typical 20^th Century approaches;
A collaborative team comprised of board certified pediatricians plus an experienced certified lactation consultant, a pediatric nurse practitioner with a specialty in children’s development, and a psychotherapist with a focus on families and mothers (because transitioning to parenthood is one of life’s toughest yet most rewarding challenges!).
At GetzWell, we love what we do and this is reflected in the warmth with which families are greeted upon entering the office, the undivided attention patients receive at every visit, the unparalleled access and, most importantly, the result—having a child who is unusually healthy, seldom or never requiring antibiotics or other prescription medications. We value each patient, family and interaction and cherish the opportunity to practice medicine in a way that’s consistent with our deepest principles and beliefs.

GetzWell’s mission is based on the conviction that parents and trained health care professionals, not the insurance companies, should decide how kids are cared for. This is why we are ‘out-of-network.’

Please call us at 415.826.1701 to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you!

GetzWell Pediatrics 1701 Church Street San Francisco, CA 94131 www.getzwell.com.

Integrative medicine

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:07:12 +0000

Integrative medicine – Integrative medicine blends the best of conventional, complementary and alternative medical approaches, addressing not only physical symptoms, but also psychological, social, environmental and spiritual aspects of health and illness. It believes in stimulating the innate human capacity for healing, empowering patients in their own care, while providing them with choices in healthcare that are proven to be safe and effective.

Functional medicine

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:06:33 +0000

Functional medicine – Functional medicine represents an evolution in the practice of medicine that better addresses the healthcare needs of the 21st century. By shifting the traditional disease centered focus of medical practice to a more patient centered approach, functional medicine addresses the whole person, not just an isolated set of symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners are often medical doctors (MDs) that were educated and trained as conventional Western medicine physicians, but who have elected to expand their practices by spending extra time with their patients, listening to their histories and looking at the interactions among genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that can influence long term health and complex, chronic disease. In this way, functional medicine supports the unique expression of health and vitality for each individual. Functional medicine focuses on wellness and health optimization through nutrition, diet, homeopathy, acupuncture and exercise, use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques, and combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.

Complementary and alternative healing modalities

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 18:04:44 +0000

Complementary and alternative healing modalities – Complementary and alternative therapies follow these basic principles: (1) complementary and alternative therapies are based on the body’s innate ability to heal itself, (2) complementary and alternative medicine does not rely on prescription drugs, surgery, and other conventional medical procedures, however, these options and their potential benefits are not discounted either; (3) complementary and alternative medicine looks at the underlying cause of the problem and addresses the whole person (mind, body, emotions, spirit) without just masking the symptoms; and (4) the goal is to create optimum health by focusing on preventing disease and helping patients feel the best they can as much as treating disease.