Impact Endocrinology - Direct Care
Direct endocrine care is an innovative healthcare approach designed to provide patients with direct access to their endocrinologist without the complications of insurance. Direct care practices have smaller patient panels compared to traditional practices. This allows for better access to the physician. Consultations and appointments are longer to enable thorough understanding of the patient’s medical concerns. Wait times for appointments are short to none at all, with appointments often available the same day or next day. Patients are also able to easily get in touch with the physician when a medical issue arises, typically through text, email, or phone, and receive a prompt response from the physician, ensuring their health concerns are addressed in a timely fashion.
In direct care, patients pay a fee directly to their doctor. By bypassing insurance companies, the direct endocrinology care model simplifies billing, making costs more transparent and predictable. Eliminating the insurance middleman enables the endocrinologist to spend the time that is needed and which patients deserve, including preventive measures, ongoing management of chronic conditions, and specialized treatment plans. This results in supportive and comprehensive care, enabling a stronger patient-doctor relationship, which leads to improved health outcomes and patient satisfaction. This can be especially important for those with complex health conditions.
What is Endocrinology?
Endocrinology is a subspecialty of Internal Medicine that focuses on patients who have a disease or medical condition in which there is excess or insufficient hormone production. Hormones produced in our bodies work together to maintain a balance of the intricate systems and mechanisms to keep us healthy. When these hormones are not balanced properly, we see adverse health effects and disease. For example, when insulin levels are abnormal, we may see metabolic syndrome or diabetes. Excess or insufficient thyroid hormone can cause very different complexes of symptoms and physiologic effects. Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone affect bone health. Imbalances in the pituitary gland affects multiple parts of the body. The endocrine system plays an essential role in all other systems in the body including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, immune, among others. At Impact Endocrinology, Dr. Grethen provides care for patients with a variety of endocrine diseases and concerns.
At Impact Endocrinology, Dr. Grethen sees patients with a variety of endocrine conditions including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes including patients on insulin pumps, CGMs, pre--diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, thyroid disease, adrenal disease, pituitary disease, osteoporosis, calcium-related disorders and many others. She sees patients for one-time consultations and also manages chronic complex disease over the long-term. We invite you to experience the excellent endocrine care you deserve.
