Introduction
Yes, Dr. Powers is accepting new patients. To become a new patient, please download and fill out the New Patient Packet: New Patient Packet. Please return the completed packet by fax 434-208-2682, US mail, email to drpatriciapowers@gmail.com, or drop them off in the secure dropbox mounted outside next to our front door. Dr. Powers will confirm receipt and schedule your new patient visit.
Holistic Medicine (also known as integrative or alternative medicine) focuses on the optimal functioning of the entire body rather than targeting individual symptoms. The systems within your body are inter-dependent, so it’s important to look at your body as a whole. Imbalances in one system can lead to issues/imbalances in other systems. Additionally, emotions, environmental and lifestyle choices play key roles in how well your body can function. In holistic medicine, patients and practitioners work together to address the underlying causes of disease, using a personalized, systems-oriented approach, then work together to implement solutions to those underlying causes.
Dr. Powers focuses on helping people of all ages struggling with chronic issues, including thyroid problems, growth and weight issues, diabetes, hypoglycemia, menstrual cycle abnormalities, menopause problems, environmental toxicity, chronic fatigue, brain fog, mold and chronic Lyme, long COVID, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, chronic gastrointestinal and skin problems, and chronic pain. . Her approach is to restore these systems through a combination of diet and lifestyle changes, targeted supplements, referrals when appropriate and attention to emotional and spiritual issues that may be blocking healing.. Her training is in pediatric endocrinology, and she sees many adults, also.
She has an interest and expertise in Lyme and coinfections, GI problems, toxicities including heavy metals, endocrine disrupting chemicals, mold and EMF (electromagnetic field) radiation.
Dr. Powers also offers preventive screening visits to optimize health. This includes a review of diet, lifestyle, toxin exposure, and familial risks.
No longer! After much consideration, she believes that these prescription hormones are not safe or effective, so she is not prescribing them for anyone who is not already on them. If someone is interested in addressing the underlying causes of the endocrine dysfunction, she will help in this journey as the patient works to get off of hormone therapy. Sometimes patients can stop hormones quickly, others benefit from a slower taper. She can prescribe estrogen and progesterone, but not testosterone (her DEA registration expired).
Yes
Yes
No, Dr. Powers does not do primary care.
Endocrine problems of all types: thyroid, adrenal, PTH and bone disorders. Menstrual cycle problems, infertility, PCO, primary ovarian failure, menopause problems, early or late puberty, growth hormone deficiency.
Diabetes: type 1, type 2, type 1.5, Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes
Chronic infections: Lyme and coinfections, parasites, viruses and retroviruses
Toxicity: heavy metals, environmental toxins, EMF (electromagnetic field) radiation
Chronic problems: fatigue, weight gain, brain fog, autoimmunity, mast cell activation/histamine, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, ADD, ADHD, autism, allergies, asthma; dermatologic conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis
Nutrition, nutritional deficiencies, special diets like GAPS, SCD, low FODMAP, low histamine
GI problems: IBS, SIBO, dysbiosis, parasites, celiac, malabsorption, food sensitivities, chronic diarrhea, constipation.
COVID: acute COVID infections, long COVID, COVID-19 vaccine injuries
Yes, she will be happy to see you in the office; she is usually in the office on Mondays and Thursdays.
No, Dr. Powers does not accept any insurance and is considered an out-of-network provider. Dr. Powers has opted out of Medicare, also.
Yes!
Results vary by each person. Some people feel dramatic improvement within the first month, others may take longer. Remember, your body didn’t get to this state overnight. Years of stress and illness take their toll, and it takes a proper amount of time to restore. On average, it takes one month of repair for each year you’ve suffered from a specific problem.
Dr. Powers is happy to answer brief questions via email that you have about your protocol or symptoms. You can send a secure email through a HIPAA- compliant, password-protected portal. If it is a complex question which requires further back and forth communication, Dr. Powers will recommend scheduling a 15 minute visit, either in person or by phone or video.
The address is 800A Blue Ridge Ave. Bedford, VA 24523
Licensing and malpractice guidelines require that out of state residents travel to my office for every visit. I cannot offer telemedicine for out of state residents.
Consultation Process
o become a new patient, please download and fill out the New Patient Packet: New Patient Packet Please return the completed packet by fax 434-208-2682, US mail, email to drpatriciapowers@gmail.com, or drop them off in the secure dropbox mounted outside next to our front door. Dr. Powers will confirm receipt and schedule your new patient visit
The waiting time for a new patient appointment is typically 2-3 weeks. We do have a cancellation list.
Dr. Powers reviews all of your paperwork including any labs you have sent in advance of your meeting. During your visit, she may ask more questions or request more detail regarding your symptoms, your history and the like. She may do a physical exam, and then will discuss her impressions, diagnostic possibilities, recommend some things to start immediately, and discuss possible lab tests or procedures. If lab tests are ordered, then typically she will collect the results and email them to you. Generally, she sees people back in 3 weeks or so, to check on progress, changes, referrals, and any lab results that may be available. She will go deeper into changes you can implement to build on the foundation established at the first meeting.
Dr. Powers has clinic hours on Mondays and Thursdays.
TThe initial visit is 60-120 minutes. Typical follow-up visits are 30-45 minutes, depending on how many questions you have.
Yes, please feel free to bring someone. Dr. Powers goes over a lot of information during these visits, and it helps to have someone along to remember what all was discussed. She also has lots of handouts to help jog your memory. You can also record your visit.
Labs
Dr Powers believes that lab testing reveals only limited information on how your body is functioning. Her position on this has developed over decades of ordering many lab tests and coming to the realization that they are far less informative than she was taught.
Dr. Powers will be happy to discuss the pros and cons of any lab tests you might want, so you can make an informed decision to order them, or not.
Costs and Insurance
To simplify the process, we recommend calling your insurance company prior to your visit to find out about what your specific plan will cover. Insurance plans will consider Dr. Powers an out-of-network provider. We’re more than happy to provide diagnosis and procedure codes. Since Dr. Powers is a Medical Doctor, we find that most patients are reimbursed for a portion of their visits. Additional information can be found in the following document: Insurance and Out-of-Network Providers
Dr. Powers charges $450 per hour. Although the initial visit is often longer than one hour, the maximum fee is $450. Beyond that, all consultations will be billed for the actual time used, and prorated accordingly. If you have extensive medical records to review, there may be an additional fee. Subsequent visits are billed according to the same schedule.
Cash, check or charge (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover) and Health Savings Accounts. We charge a 3% processing fee if you pay by credit/debit/HSA.
Payment is due at time of consultation.
We will provide you a superbill that lists traditional ICD-10 diagnosis codes and CPT codes that you may submit to your insurance company. Most insurance companies will not reimburse for supplements. You are responsible for billing your insurance company; the office staff will not submit your bills to your insurance company for reimbursement. Please note that we cannot guarantee reimbursement.
Check with your insurer in advance for their policies on out-of-network providers. Additional information can be found in the following document: Insurance and Out-of-Network Providers
Products
Yes! Dr. Powers now carries a limited number of supplements and remedies that are generally not available at other local stores. She also uses an online supplement company called Fullscript that carries many high quality brands.
- Pre-approval is required on all returns. Refrigerated items cannot be returned. There is a 15% of purchase price restock fee, which may be refunded on unopened and non-refrigerated items.
- No supplement returns will be accepted after 30 days on all regularly stocked items. Special orders cannot be returned.
- Prepaid tests can be returned for credit within 3 months of purchase.
- Keep copies of your test results and consultation reports. Some like an accordion folder, some like a binder with dividers. Some keep their own spreadsheets to follow trends.
- Bring a list of your current supplements and medications to appointments.
- Be willing to look outside the areas that insurance covers and consider acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, chiropractic, homeopathy, naturopathy, herbalists, massage therapists, and the like.
Resources
| Guided Imagery: | Belleruth Naparstek |
| YouTube video for stress reduction by Belleruth Naparstek | |
| Affirmations : | Belleruth Naparskek YouTube video |
| Tapping: | Nick Ortner YouTube demonstration |
| Diana Harbour L. Ac, M. Ed., Blue Crane Acupuncture, Forest VA | |
| Deep Breathing: | Brian Abelson demonstration |
| Organizations: | Bigelsen Academy |
| New Biology Clinic | |
| Weston A. Price Foundation |