Functional Medicine & Primary Care
A functional Medicine consult is a systems based approach to healthcare. https://www.ifm.org/functional-medicine/what-is-functional-medicine/. This may allow you to find root causes and develop a personalized program to address your particular health concerns such as headaches, anxiety, fatigue, gut issues, female hormones, inability to lose weight and more.
A comprehensive basic functional medicine work up often includes:
1. Adrenal Hypothalamic Pituitary saliva test by Genova (checks DHEA & the circadian rhythm of your cortisol)
2. Stool PCR microbiome, parasite, virus, yeast and bacteria, immune function, pancreatic function, gluten sensitivity test GI Maps by Diagnostics Solutions
3. Metabolism testing by checking organic acids, amino acids urine & serum testing, with Genova's NutrEval or OMX via Diagnostic Solutions
4. Less often needed are food sensitivity, Dutch Hormone Urine Testing, and more.
The testing mentioned above is done in addition to a comprehensive local blood lab testing which should include Vit D, Vit B12, fasting insulin, GGT, tTG IgA, ferritin, thyroid comprehensive testing, and more. Currently I accept insurance still and the testing above costs about $800-1000 if your insurance doesn't help with coverage. Medicare, plain covers over $680 of the cost of those tests. Please keep in mind that nationally there are well know functional medicine docs that will charge up to $5000 for the above mentioned workup coupled with a health coach to assist in lifestyle changes to make the treatment protocols successful.
TELEHEALTH VISITS AVAILABLE
A comprehensive basic functional medicine work up often includes:
1. Adrenal Hypothalamic Pituitary saliva test by Genova (checks DHEA & the circadian rhythm of your cortisol)
2. Stool PCR microbiome, parasite, virus, yeast and bacteria, immune function, pancreatic function, gluten sensitivity test GI Maps by Diagnostics Solutions
3. Metabolism testing by checking organic acids, amino acids urine & serum testing, with Genova's NutrEval or OMX via Diagnostic Solutions
4. Less often needed are food sensitivity, Dutch Hormone Urine Testing, and more.
The testing mentioned above is done in addition to a comprehensive local blood lab testing which should include Vit D, Vit B12, fasting insulin, GGT, tTG IgA, ferritin, thyroid comprehensive testing, and more. Currently I accept insurance still and the testing above costs about $800-1000 if your insurance doesn't help with coverage. Medicare, plain covers over $680 of the cost of those tests. Please keep in mind that nationally there are well know functional medicine docs that will charge up to $5000 for the above mentioned workup coupled with a health coach to assist in lifestyle changes to make the treatment protocols successful.
TELEHEALTH VISITS AVAILABLE
ABOUT MY PRACTICE:
I practice both a blend of functional medicine and primary care in the office and with televisits. Exploring the specific root cause of a patient's illness has been rewarding. Functional medicine allows me to better investigate the reasons for fatigue, hormone issues, blood sugar problems, digestive problems, allergies, being overweight, and illness prevention.
As a courtesy, I may bill insurance for you. Please check yearly with your insurance to see if I am an In-Network for your specific plan. Health insurance companies offer large numbers of plans and can change physician in-network status each year and not notify me. Some do cover the cost of the functional medicine tests mentioned above and I may provide you with the info needed to ask your insurance. Plain medicare covers about 3/4 of the total cost and some supplemental plans seen to cover the rest of the expense.
My "In-network" insurance list may include:
Aetna (not all), Coventry/First Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Family Care OHP-no new patients, First Choice, Liberty Share, Moda (not all), PacificSource (not all), Providence PPO & EPO, Regence, and United.
I may bill other out-of-network plans for you. If you’re without insurance, I offer a 30 % discount for same day payment via cash or check and will consider trading services.
I may help you coordinate the care you may receive from other providers or specialists, or even prevent or lessen the need for them with a functional medicine approach.
I prefer to rely more on a healthy lifestyle and less on pharmaceuticals. My interests are strong in nutrition, lifestyle and in “food as medicine.” I offer a systems based approach to illness to find the root cause by casting a wider net than with conventional medical tests by testing how well your HPA axis is functioning, your gut microbiome and metabolism via organic acid & amino acid testing. I use the Kalish functional medicine method and collaborate with a wide array of traditional medical specialists and alternative holistic providers to provide my patients with great healthcare.
I practice both a blend of functional medicine and primary care in the office and with televisits. Exploring the specific root cause of a patient's illness has been rewarding. Functional medicine allows me to better investigate the reasons for fatigue, hormone issues, blood sugar problems, digestive problems, allergies, being overweight, and illness prevention.
- Your time is respected and the appointments are scheduled to begin on time.
- Routine phone calls and texts are returned within a few business days. Please be respectful of time between 9pm-7am.
- Please use the Patient Portal messaging for non-urgent issues.
As a courtesy, I may bill insurance for you. Please check yearly with your insurance to see if I am an In-Network for your specific plan. Health insurance companies offer large numbers of plans and can change physician in-network status each year and not notify me. Some do cover the cost of the functional medicine tests mentioned above and I may provide you with the info needed to ask your insurance. Plain medicare covers about 3/4 of the total cost and some supplemental plans seen to cover the rest of the expense.
My "In-network" insurance list may include:
Aetna (not all), Coventry/First Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Family Care OHP-no new patients, First Choice, Liberty Share, Moda (not all), PacificSource (not all), Providence PPO & EPO, Regence, and United.
I may bill other out-of-network plans for you. If you’re without insurance, I offer a 30 % discount for same day payment via cash or check and will consider trading services.
I may help you coordinate the care you may receive from other providers or specialists, or even prevent or lessen the need for them with a functional medicine approach.
I prefer to rely more on a healthy lifestyle and less on pharmaceuticals. My interests are strong in nutrition, lifestyle and in “food as medicine.” I offer a systems based approach to illness to find the root cause by casting a wider net than with conventional medical tests by testing how well your HPA axis is functioning, your gut microbiome and metabolism via organic acid & amino acid testing. I use the Kalish functional medicine method and collaborate with a wide array of traditional medical specialists and alternative holistic providers to provide my patients with great healthcare.
For in person and tele appointments click on the green button above. You may also schedule a free 10 minute "Meet & Greet" session to see if a Functional Medicine consultation is right for you.
Healthcare with Heart
ALEKSANDRA GIEDWOYN, M.D.
Born and raised in east Portland, I graduated with a BS in Biochemistry from Lewis & Clark College. As a first generation Polish-American, I received my M.D. from Karol Marcinkowski Medical School and finished my Family Medicine internship and residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. I am both board certified in Family Medicine 2002 & IFMCP (Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner). Also I have started my 2nd year with the advanced program at the Kalish Institute Functional Medicine Mentorship program.
I opened my solo micro Family Medicine practice in 2017 to offer slow medicine and have discovered functional medicine along the way. Both as an employed physician and as a patient, I have experienced mainstream medicine to resemble an assembly line form of care. Patients who are motivated to understand why they have a medical problem, rather than just wanting a pill to solve the problem, often need longer appointments than the typical 10-20 minute visits. Longer visits, new patient 50 min, follow up visits 30- 45 minutes, allow for a more holistic healing and future health success by using a systems based approach.
I am often asked how my last name is pronounced. It has a short vowel in the first syllable, and the later part rhymes with "coin" , "Ged-voin".
Since the 1990's I have been commuting to work by bicycle year round. Now I walk to work. In my free time I am an avid outdoor adventurer. I also enjoy yoga, meditation, and foraging wild foods.
Born and raised in east Portland, I graduated with a BS in Biochemistry from Lewis & Clark College. As a first generation Polish-American, I received my M.D. from Karol Marcinkowski Medical School and finished my Family Medicine internship and residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona. I am both board certified in Family Medicine 2002 & IFMCP (Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner). Also I have started my 2nd year with the advanced program at the Kalish Institute Functional Medicine Mentorship program.
I opened my solo micro Family Medicine practice in 2017 to offer slow medicine and have discovered functional medicine along the way. Both as an employed physician and as a patient, I have experienced mainstream medicine to resemble an assembly line form of care. Patients who are motivated to understand why they have a medical problem, rather than just wanting a pill to solve the problem, often need longer appointments than the typical 10-20 minute visits. Longer visits, new patient 50 min, follow up visits 30- 45 minutes, allow for a more holistic healing and future health success by using a systems based approach.
I am often asked how my last name is pronounced. It has a short vowel in the first syllable, and the later part rhymes with "coin" , "Ged-voin".
Since the 1990's I have been commuting to work by bicycle year round. Now I walk to work. In my free time I am an avid outdoor adventurer. I also enjoy yoga, meditation, and foraging wild foods.
