Education-Based Practice Questions

• Why is SevaMed becoming an education based practice?  Show || Hide

  A: In medicine, it is fairly typical for patients to be ‘secondary’ decision makers in their care.  Once a physician feels that they’ve identified the problem, they order testing, write prescriptions and schedule procedures that they feel are necessary with patient ‘consent’.  We believe that patients have many critical pieces of information about their body that would majorly impact the decision making process.  However, without proper education of the health condition, patients might not be able to process their thoughts, participate in a productive 2-way conversation with their doctor and create the best plan for them.   

  This is where education comes in.  Living Wellness University (LWU) has been developed from Dr. Saxena’s years of experience and listening to patients and their most common concerns and questions.  She is very confident that this is the way medicine will be practiced in the future and is committed to revolutionizing using the most effective and productive partnerships between doctor and patient seen at any doctor’s office. 

• Will SevaMed Institute continue to take insurance?  Show || Hide

  A: Absolutely.  In fact, staying insurance-based is extremely important to Dr. Saxena.  Actually, the vast majority of physicians who practice Functional or Integrative Medicine are cash only and do not accept insurance for their services.  Dr. Saxena feels very passionately that this type of care should remain available to everyone and is keeping SevaMed Institute available to all patients who rely on insurance to receive their medical care.

• What does it mean to be an "education based" practice?  Show || Hide

  A: An ‘education-based’ practice finally places the patient at the center of his/her care.  We want you to understand important details about your conditions so you can sit with us side-by-side in the decision making process.  Living Wellness University is how we can help you.

  As part of your care at SevaMed Institute, you will be required to register with Living Wellness University so you can view certain lectures, doing your part in bringing a solid foundation of knowledge about the assigned topic(s) to your appointment.  For example, if your most recent blood work shows a newly diagnosed diabetes problem, you may be assigned lectures related to diabetes, diabetes medications, heart disease and/or lifestyle solutions related to lowering blood sugar naturally.  Knowing this information in advance of your appointment, you will best contribute towards the most productive, intelligent and respectful recommendations for you.  

  We will be educating and transitioning our current patients on this change and are excited to have all interested patients join us in this new partnership-based approach. Although we will begin recommending LWU lectures through the rest of the year, we are providing time for current patients to process our ‘change’ and will formally require patients to register with Living LWU as of January 1, 2012 if they are on board with us.  All new patients will be required to participate in the ‘education-based’ approach upon registration with SevaMed Institute.

   
• How is LWU different than WebMD or other medical information internet sites?  Show || Hide

  A: As Specialists in Functional and Integrative medicine, all of the educational material at Living Wellness University provided by Dr. Saxena is based on Functional and Integrative medicine perspectives and principles that patients seek at SevaMed Institute.  These innovative, ‘less medication’ focused approaches are not found on traditional medical information sites.  Additionally, the educational material on Living Wellness University is easy to understand, provides the conventional, functional and Integrative perspective all in one place.  The audio-visual lectures delve much deeper into each health topic with the intent of answering your questions and reducing anxiety, not creating more questions and increasing fears like most other websites.

• What should I expect in my visits?  Show || Hide

  A: When patients come to their appointments with a strong understanding of their issues, the visit is more collaborative and medical decisions are made in an informed, educated manner.  Patients also enjoy the ability to create well-prepared questions and concerns, and always have the ability to go above and beyond with their education at home, not being limited by the constraints of the appointment time, insurance and finances related to multiple doctors’ visits.

  At your appointment, you can expect an enhanced, deeper discussion with your provider.  You will no longer feel that you have to make on-the-spot decisions with not-enough information, later festering about whether you made the right choice or not.  As we know, people are less committed to following through on their decisions if they are not confident they are the best ones.  This leaves both patient and physician in more risky situations.  We are excited to strengthen this common sense need for comprehensive, easy-to-access healthcare information to you in the convenience of your own home. 

• How is my care managed?  Show || Hide

  A: Your specific, individualized care plan is organized and led by Dr. Saxena and then put into action by the appropriate ‘specialists’ on our team.  Every member of the SevaMed Team has their own area of passion & expertise, and the timing of when you see them is determined during our weekly team meetings when we discuss & coordinate our patients’ personalized care plans.  So rather than being cared for by one doctor, your care is carefully orchestrated among a team of experts, each with something unique to add to your experience.

• How do I register for Living Wellness University?  Show || Hide

  A: Registration is simple.  Visit LivingWellnessUniversity.com or click here to register.  Follow the prompts to purchase securely online.   We require only one membership per household.  In this way, all the members of your family that reside together will benefit with only one registration.

• What if I am unable to afford the Living Wellness Univesity registration fees?  Show || Hide

  A: We have priced this comprehensive, online medical information tool in a way that allows the majority of our patients to participate with minimal yearly expense.  However, we understand that some families might have significant hardships at this time and considerations will be made with documented proof of financial hardship.  We will use a sliding scale fee system and/or payment plans to help facilitate access to this required information.  Please call the office if you believe you qualify for more direction.

• What if I do not have a computer or internet access?  Show || Hide

  A: For these patients, we will have DVD versions of the lectures available to sign out at the office.  This will ensure your registration still achieves the goal of educating you on your healthcare conditions.

• What happens if I do not register or cancel my registration?  Show || Hide

  A: We are deeply committed to changing the way we practice medicine for many reasons.  First, we’ve experienced how well it works – we know that better educated patients, get healthier. We’ve already received such positive feedback regarding our education-based methods and want the involvement of our entire patient community.  Finally, we don’t believe the current model works well for us either – we want you to be an educated partner in your care so that we can optimize our visits with you and feel good about the decisions we make together.  Living Wellness University truly helps both patient and provider to work closer together for the best results for you. 

  We also understand that this ‘education-based’ approach is not for everyone.  If you choose to not register or cancel your registration, we strongly recommend that you seek the services of another physician or practice that is a better fit for your healthcare philosophy and needs.

SevaMed Administrative Questions

• How do I become a patient of the SevaMed Institute?  Show || Hide
  A: Please contact our New Patient Coordinator at 813.269.2700. The NPC will discuss the details regarding our practice, insurance plans we accept, the services we provide. Then, the NPC will coordinate your first appointment with Dr. Saxena and guide you to the appropriate paperwork to be completed prior to your appointment with the Doctor.
• Can I keep my Primary Care Physician?  Show || Hide
  A: Absolutely. The SevaMed Institute serves both a Primary Care role and an Integrative Specialist role. While we are glad to become your Primary Care Practice, we are equally delighted to provide our expertise to help manage a specific aspect of your health.
• Are my visits covered by insurance?  Show || Hide
  A: Provided we accept your specific insurance plan, office visits are typically covered. If we anticipate that a service/procedure may not be covered, we will do our best to notify you prior to the rendering those services.
• What insurance plans are accepted?  Show || Hide
  A: We are currently accepting all PPO plans as well as many other types of coverage. Please contact Rhea, our New Patient Coordinator, if you have any questions regarding the plans we accept.
• How important is my New Patient Paperwork?  Show || Hide
  A: We have all had the experience of filling out page after page of medical information only to find that it is not reviewed. Our practice is very different. Your New Patient Paperwork is incredibly important as you will review it alongside Dr. Saxena at your first visit and it will serve as the foundation of your Patient Care Plan. We also suggest that you complete the paperwork in advance and with ample time allotted to ensure complete and accurate responses.
  
  If you have not completed your New Patient Paperwork, please plan to arrive no less than 30 minutes prior to your appointment. Unfortunately, incomplete paperwork usually results in a less comprehensive visit as you will work with Dr. Saxena to complete the paperwork during your visit time rather than moving forward with your Patient Care Plan.
• When should I arrive for my appointment?  Show  || Hide
  A: Please arrive for your appointment 10 minutes prior to your scheduled visit time. If you have not completed your new patient paperwork, please plan to arrive no less than 30 minutes prior to your appointment.
• What is your cancellation policy?  Show || Hide
  A: Scheduled time with our professional staff is considered to be extremely valuable and we have come to rely on a mutual respect for one another’s time. Your appointment time is exclusively yours and we never ‘overbook’ or ‘doublebook’ patients. If you find it necessary to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact our front office as soon as possible. For scheduled office visit appointments, we require at least 2 business days notice to avoid a $25 cancellation fee. If you fail to give this advance notice, we will bill you accordingly. In all fairness to our staff and other patients who may be on a waiting list for an open appointment, we ask that you respect this policy.
• How long is a typical visit?  Show || Hide
  A: The length of office visits varies based upon reason for the appointment. New patients should expect a minimum of 30 minutes for their first visit with Dr. Saxena. After you are established as a patient visits are typically 15-20 minutes. Additionally, your appointment time is exclusively yours and we never ‘overbook’ or ‘doublebook’ patients.
• What if I need medical assistance when the office is closed?  Show || Hide
  In the event of a suspected medical emergency, call 911 immediately. If admitted, please notify the hospital physician that you are Dr. Saxena’s patient.
  
  

  1.	After-hours services are available for urgent medical issues only. An urgent medical issue is one which cannot wait to be answered before the office reopens on the next business day.
  2.	Information to include in your message: patient name, phone number where you can be reached, nature of your urgent medical issue. Please speak slowly and clearly when leaving your message.
  3.	The provider will return your call within 2-3 hours. In the rare event that you do not receive a return call within 2-3 hours, please call again and leave another message.
  4.	Please do not leave routine prescription refill requests, scheduling issues/cancellations or referral issues on the on-call provider voicemail. These issues are only managed by the administrative staff during regular office hours. The medical providers are not responsible for relaying this information and it is possible that your issue could be left unresolved.

SevaMed Clinical Questions

• What are the goals of the first visit?  Show || Hide
  A: In general, the goal of the first visit is for Dr. Saxena to appreciate the nature of the factors that may have resulted in the symptoms or disease you are trying to improve. By analyzing details starting at your fetal exposures all the way to your current medical stressors, Dr. Saxena determines if there are reversible triggers to your chronic symptoms and diseases. Many times, she will use an integrative approach bringing in a more comprehensive view of your problem. After understanding a possible set of causes, the visit ends with the development of a working Patient Care Plan to direct future care.
• What is a Patient Care Plan and how is it carried out?  Show || Hide
  A: A Patient Care Plan is a mutually determined/agreed-upon strategy developed by you and Dr. Saxena. The Care Plan is based on your specific health goals along with consideration of your current health status. As soon as your first visit with Dr. Saxena, you can expect to receive an enumerated ‘plan of attack’ to help you achieve your health objectives.
• What is Case Conference?  Show || Hide
  A: Case Conference is a weekly meeting among the clinical staff. This time is used to discuss patient care plans and allows Dr. Saxena to follow patients throughout their care plan.
• What is Dr. Saxena’s view of prescription medications?   Show || Hide
  A: It has been said that, “It is not the disease a person has, but the person that has the disease”. To that end, Dr. Saxena views each patient’s unique history and current situation to offer the most appropriate form of treatment. In many cases, a simple shift in lifestyle through nutritional counseling and education very often can allow a patient to avoid prescription medication if he/she desires. Then again, there are often instances where a prescription medication may be the best course of action.
  
  Our providers will always offer both conventional/prescription options along with other scientifically-based integrative options. Ultimately, the decision is made between patient and practitioner working as a team to uphold the patient’s desires with the provider’s clinical expertise/guidance.
• What is Dr. Saxena’s view of antibiotic use?   Show || Hide
  A: There is little doubt that conventional medicine’s greatest successes come in the area of acute illnesses such as cuts, broken bones, and infection. When considering antibiotics, Dr. Saxena does not believe in the use of antibiotics when the key clinical signs of infection are not present or if the signs appear overwhelmingly viral (caused by a virus). Other than the situation described above, our providers work closely with our patients to understand their specific desires regarding the use of antibiotics. Often a wait-and-see approach is indicated; however, sometimes more aggressive therapy is warranted based on the severity of the illness. It is in situations such as this where the provider’s expertise is considered along with the patient’s desires to arrive at an appropriate care path. You will always receive the latest recommendations based on clinical literature along with other clinically supported options for consideration.
• What is my responsibility as a patient?   Show || Hide
  A: This may seem like an odd question, however, at the SevaMed Institute we take a different view on the traditional Doctor-Patient relationship. As a patient in our practice, you are not a passive participant, nor are you a clinical specimen to be handled. To us, you are an extremely relevant partner in your health and care plan. It is for this reason that we ask only one thing of each patient….to give 100% effort regarding his/her health. In return, you can expect that we will match your 100% effort! Together, we can achieve your loftiest health goals.
• What kind of outcomes can I expect?   Show|| Hide
  A: As stated earlier, we give 100% effort to each/every patient and, in return, we expect that as a partner in your healthcare, you will also give 100% effort. More often than imaginable, a desired clinical outcome is directly related to the amount of dedication/attention it is given. We work with you to incorporate our recommendations into your lifestyle.
  
  There are also times when a patient has exhausted every conventional avenue for a given health problem. In cases such as these, we sometimes see small changes having a big impact, however, there are also instances where time and effort are valuable partners in the process.
• How do I have a prescription refilled?   Show || Hide
  A: In order to create the safest environment with the fewest medication errors for you, we request that refill requests follow this protocol. Please call your pharmacist and have him/her fax a prescription refill request to 813.269.2701. The pharmacy fax request will contain the exact name, dosage, and quantity of medication being requested. We require 3-4 business days for routine refill requests for long-term medications. If you use a mail order pharmacy, please also have them fax a prescription refill request. Please note that same day/next day refill requests cannot be guaranteed.