Functional
Primary Care
vs.
Concierge
Medicine
Which model is right for you?
Make no mistake, the system is broken. A recent article in Forbes distills part of the problem: “A new patient in a large metropolitan area waits an average of 24 days to get an appointment with a traditional primary care physician. Why? Because a traditional primary care physician can have a patient panel of up to 4,000 people and see up to 40 patients a day for no more than 15 minutes at a time.” [1]
The Genius of Concierge Medicine
Concierge Medicine was designed to solve this particular problem. For a flat membership fee, a patient purchases access to their doctor. “Physicians who participate in concierge or direct primary care typically have a patient panel of no more than 600 people. They see six to 10 patients a day and spend at least 30 minutes with each of them. Patients can get same-day or next-day appointments, access advanced tests and screenings more easily, and spend the time it takes to discuss results and develop a personalized care plan with their doctor.“ [2]
Sounds great, right?
It can be, but there are also limitations.
The Limitations of Concierge Medicine
The obvious limitation is the expense. You still need to maintain regular health insurance to cover things like hospitalization, lab work, and specialty referrals. Membership fees vary by practice. Those fees paired with regular insurance premiums can be expensive.
There is another limitation worth considering. I’ve worked with several patients who tried concierge medicine and found it wanting. I’ve heard a common story that goes like this: “I loved having access to my provider. We built a relationship, and I felt like I was seen and heard. But at the end of the day, the results were the same. He still just prescribed meds to address my symptoms.”
In other words, they were paying a premium for the social connection with their provider … without any real upgrade in their care.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to read my article, “Holistic Medicine: A Better Standard of Care.“ In it, I untangle the differences between Conventional, Integrative, and Functional Medicine to select the right “tool for the job.” Conventional medicine has a valuable place in a doctor’s toolkit, provided it’s one of many tools. But our complex health needs often require a broader set of tools. You deserve a better standard of care than prescribing meds to treat symptoms. Functional Primary Care provides a balanced solution to access, expense, and expertise.
Benefits
Why Opt for Functional Primary Care?
The healthcare journey is deeply personal, often intertwined with our genetics, life stories, and daily habits. Choosing Functional Primary Care is about finding the right balance in your healthcare journey. It caters to those who wish to benefit from the principles of functional medicine without delving into its extensive depth.
The Benefits of Choosing Functional Primary Care
Empowerment Through Understanding
We demystify healthcare.
Our approach involves detailed consultations where we explain health conditions in understandable terms, interpret lab results with precision, and provide educational resources tailored to each patient's needs. Our members leave appointments with a clear understanding of their health status and a plan of action, leading to greater control over their health decisions and a deeper sense of empowerment.
Customized Roadmaps to Wellness
Every patient receives a personalized health roadmap.
We conduct comprehensive assessments that consider lifestyle, genetic predispositions, and health history. Based on this, we create a customized wellness plan that includes nutrition, exercise, and stress management strategies. Patients experience improved health outcomes, a better understanding of their body’s unique needs, and a more enjoyable journey towards optimal wellness.
Beyond Treating Symptoms
Our care goes beyond the standard prescriptions of conventional healthcare.
Unlike typical concierge services that often revert to standard medication prescriptions, our Functional Primary Care program delves into root causes. We combine modern medical practices with holistic approaches to address health issues comprehensively. This leads to more effective management of chronic conditions, reduced dependence on medications, and an overall improvement in quality of life.
From Numbers to Narratives
Lab tests are more than just numbers; they tell a story about your health.
We don’t just conduct tests; we provide detailed interpretations that link lab results to your health narrative, explaining how each value affects your body and wellness. Patients gain insightful, actionable information from their tests, leading to more informed health choices and a clearer understanding of their health journey.
A Higher Standard of Care
Our Functional Nurse Practitioners (CFNPs) offer a more robust standard of care than typical concierge MDs.
CFNPs in our program are trained in both conventional medicine and functional medicine principles, allowing them to integrate the best of both worlds. This holistic view leads to a deeper analysis of health issues and more comprehensive treatment plans. Patients benefit from a broader range of treatment options, more thorough understanding of their health, and a healthcare experience that’s tailored to their individual needs.
Expectations
What to Expect from Your Functional Primary Care Experience
Choosing a new approach to healthcare can be both exciting and daunting. When you opt for Functional Primary Care, you’re choosing a method that combines the familiarity of traditional primary care with the holistic insights of functional medicine. But what does that journey look like? Let’s walk through the Functional Primary Care experience.
Your Initial Visit: More than Just a Check-Up
Your first visit to a Functional Primary Care provider is not your average physical. While the focus will be on your immediate health concerns, the provider will also introduce foundational insights from functional medicine. This ensures a more comprehensive understanding of your health.
A Focus on Your Health Narrative
Every individual has a unique health story shaped by genetics, environment, lifestyle, and past experiences. Functional Primary Care seeks to understand this narrative. While it might not be as exhaustive as full advanced functional medicine, it includes all the foundations of functional medicine. This includes advanced gut testing, nutritional testing, inflammatory testing and so much more.
Our Nurse Practitioner will address:
- Your Family History
- Your Environmental History
- Your Personal Health Journey, and how that relates to your current health (using a holistic, functional medicine framework)
Advanced Diagnostics: A Deeper Dive
Functional Primary Care incorporates some advanced diagnostics, bridging the gap between conventional primary care and full functional medicine. While it might not involve the extensive lab work or deep health history analysis of full functional medicine, it offers much more than the routine tests of traditional care.
Your initial lab testing will include:
- Nutritional Analysis
- Gut-Health
- Hormonal (when necessary)
- Inflammatory Markers
Personalized Interventions
Drawing from the principles of functional medicine, Functional Primary Care offers interventions tailored to your individual needs. This might involve dietary changes, exercise recommendations, or specific therapies. While these interventions are foundational and might not be as extensive as those in full functional medicine, they offer a more holistic approach than conventional primary care.
A Dynamic Approach
One of the strengths of Functional Primary Care is its adaptability. As medical research evolves, so does the care provided, ensuring that patients benefit from the latest insights and advancements.
Building a Health Partnership
Functional Primary Care is not a one-off experience. It's a journey where the practitioner partners with the patient, offering guidance, support, and expertise. It’s about crafting a long-term health strategy, albeit not as intensive as full functional medicine, but more comprehensive than routine care.
Your Provider
Meet Your New
Primary Care Provider
Primary Care is only as good as your actual primary care provider. Fortunately, you’re in good hands with Jodi Caddell, CFNP.
Jodi formally joins Richmond Integrative & Functional Medicine in November 2023, but her experience with both Dr. Hartman and Dr. Jenski extends several years. Jodi's journey from a successful career in music and arts management to a dedicated nurse practitioner is a testament to her belief that it's never too late to make a life change.
Jodi’s shift towards healthcare began with motherhood. As she raised her two beautiful daughters, she found herself yearning for a more meaningful career. She wanted to make a tangible difference in people's lives. This desire led her back to school to study nursing, a decision that was further reinforced when a close friend was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. Witnessing her friend's journey from illness to remission through dietary changes sparked Jodi's interest in the healing power of food.
Her interest grew into a passion when her husband was diagnosed with Celiac disease. Once again, she saw the transformative power of lifestyle change, and she knew she wanted to help others experience the same healing. This led her to further her education and become a nurse practitioner, allowing her to build long-term relationships with her patients and guide them towards healthier lifestyles.
While working in family practice, Jodi met Dr. Aaron Hartman and was introduced to the world of integrative and functional medicine. Despite her understanding of diet and health, she realized she wasn’t yet as healthy as she could be. She often felt fatigued and noticed her memory wasn’t as sharp as it used to be. Determined to improve her own health, Jodi first began working with Dr. Christian Jenski. Then, building on that experience, she began her training through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM).
Now, with her daughters away at college, Jodi continues to learn and grow. She brings her passion for health, her deep understanding of the healing power of food, and her commitment to patient care to RIFM. She’s excited to help her patients discover their own path to wellness and guide them towards living their healthiest lives.
Jodi’s journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to start something new, to grow, and to make a difference. Whether you’re dealing with fatigue, discomfort, or other health issues, Jodi is here to walk alongside you on your path to better health.
Pricing
What’s Your Investment?
Initiation fee of $1,097 + installments of $137/month for 11 months.
Membership Comparison
Functional Primary Care
Primary Care + Standard Functional Medicine
- Access to Primary & Acute Care:
Schedule with N.P. (24–48 hrs response, weekdays) - Primary Care Provider:
Jodi Caddell, CFNP - Intake: 75 min.
- Follow-Up: 30–45 min. Quarterly
(Plus primary care appointments as needed) - Initial Lab Testing
Lab Testing Billed Separately1 - Advanced Lab Testing
Not included in FPC - Extended patient case based research
- Consultation with other functional specialists
- Referrals
- Intake (One-Time): $1,097
- Monthly: $137
Advanced Functional Medicine
Functional Medicine + Advanced Integrative Therapies
- Access to Primary & Acute Care:
Schedule with N.P. (24–48 hrs response, weekdays) - Functional Medicine Specialist:
Aaron Hartman, MD or Christian Jenski, MD - Intake: 120 min.
- Follow-Up: 30–45 min. Every 8–12 weeks
(Plus primary care appointments as needed) - Initial Lab Testing
Lab Testing Billed Separately1 - Advanced Lab Testing
Lab Testing Billed Separately1 - Extended patient case-based research
- Consultation with other functional specialists
- Referrals (via functional N.P.)
- Intake (One-Time): $2,970
- Monthly: $217
- Lab Testing is billed separately. Please read our FAQ: “Does Insurance Pay for My Labs?” Your membership level includes medical providers who understand which labs to order and how to appropriately analyze the results.