FAQs – The Desire To Live Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct Primary Care FAQ

DPC is a new model of healthcare delivery that focuses on putting the patient first and restoring the patient-provider relationship. That means treating the patient when they need it, never rushing through appointments, and being proactive in creating treatment plans.

For a low, flat monthly fee, you get unlimited office visits with no copays, direct access to your doctor by cell phone, text, email, or video chat, same day or next day visits, extended, relaxed office visits, access to discounts on labs, pathology, and imaging, all without the need for insurance. We remove the intrusiveness of health insurance and deliver affordable and personal care, unparalleled by any other model.

Does Desire to Live Now accept insurance?

No, and happily so. While the benefits of an insurance company might apply to the fixing of a damaged fender on your car, we see no reason for any insurer to have a voice about either the quality or the cost of your care. We forgo insurance payments to save our patients from the arbitrary, intrusive decisions made by insurers.

Do I still need insurance?

Yes. There are certain types of care we cannot provide for you, such as ER visits, surgeries and hospital stays, and you would still need insurance to cover these emergency situations. We suggest you opt for a lower cost, higher deductible plan that would still offer you coverage, but would lower your monthly premium, and pair this with a health savings account to save for those catastrophic events, that should be few and far between. If you are young and healthy, you may also want to opt for a Health Share plan. With Direct Primary Care, you would not need to worry about meeting a deductible, since you will not need it for any of the care we provide for you, and this could save you up to thousands per year on health costs.

Functional Medicine FAQ

What is Functional Medicine?

Even traditional doctors understand that diet and lifestyle changes should be the first treatment for addressing chronic disease (unfortunately, formal medical training doesn’t include nutrition or any other subject involving diet and lifestyle changes). Functional Medicine is the method of finding and treating the Root Cause of chronic disease. It is a patient-centered model of health care meaning; treatment is focused on the whole person, not just one particular part related to one particular disease or symptom. It is science based and personalized. The basic principle is that each person is biochemically unique and, therefore, no one treatment is right for everyone. Lifestyle Medicine is the method of using lifestyle intervention, or “therapeutic lifestyle change”, to prevent, treat, and even reverse chronic disease.

What health problems do you treat?

We treat nearly all health conditions if not directly, then indirectly, through diet and lifestyle change. On occasion, we will refer a patient to a specialist if the doctors feel that specialized testing or an evaluation by a specially trained physician is necessary for getting you well.

Do you ever prescribe medications?

If necessary, of course! Prescription drugs are often a critical component in treating acute illness, but they are not always the best option when treating chronic disease. We feel that > 80% of chronic illness can be treated and even reversed through diet and lifestyle strategies. Our belief is that food is the most powerful medicine on the planet. We have seen targeted dietary interventions, combined with high quality dietary supplements have yielded amazing results in some of the most difficult to treat patients.

Do you see children?

We do not see children under the age of 16 for either Direct Primary Care or Functional Medicine.

What do I need to do to become a patient?

We require that all potential patients schedule a “meet & greet appointment to help determine if we are a good fit for your healthcare needs and it allows you to get a clear understanding of what to expect as a patient before establishing care. If all is well, then we will begin a “new patient orientation” which involves intake forms, and a complete wellness evaluation. This is a critical part of establishing care with us and letting us know your short and long term health goals. To schedule a meet and greet, call 512-643-3631 or click the link on our website.

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy FAQ

What is the difference between synthetic hormones and bioidentical hormones?

Synthetic hormones are manufactured to mimic the actions of your own hormones but the structure differs from your own hormones. This can lead to similar but not identical actions to your hormones and can also allow for increased risk of side effects. Bioidentical hormones are made from a type of yam and are identical in molecular structure to your own hormones.

How do you evaluate my hormone levels?

We will have you fill out a detailed survey of your symptoms and concerns and we will then draw a blood panel looking at thyroid hormones, testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, certain vitamin levels, kidney function, liver function, cell counts, electrolyte levels and blood sugar. When they are resulted our nurse practitioners will meet with you for about 60 minutes to determine the best plan of care for you specifically.

How can I take the hormones?

For women, we offer oral, vaginal creams or pellets that are inserted every 3-4 months into your hip. Our medical professionals can help determine which method is best for you. Progesterone is frequently prescribed as a capsule. For men, we offer topical daily creams, weekly injections (in clinic or at home), or pellets that are inserted every 5-6 months in the hip.

What hormones do you replace?

The hormones used in our BHRT treatments plans vary between patients. Depending on your age, symptoms, hormone levels, past medical history and other factors we may replace testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

Am I too young for hormone replacement therapy?

Most of our patients are over age 35, however, there are some exceptions. The main concern is that you are finished having children as bhrt should not be used in women who are likely to become pregnant. You do not have to wait until menopause to benefit from optimal hormone levels. If you are younger, may still want future children, or are not ready for hormone replacement therapy we still may be able to help use supplements, nutrition, lifestyle, and peptides to improve your overall hormonal health.

Do you help with thyroid issues?

Absolutely! Our team is very adept at managing hypothyroidism with a variety of treatment options. Some patients may only need nutritional and supplement support while others will need prescription thyroid replacement. We frequently use a combination of T3 and T4 to provide better symptom improvement for our patients.