Thank you for your interest in Sanctuary Functional Medicine. Below are a list of the most frequently asked questions.
When we first meet at our office location, you should have certain things prepared to make the most of our time together. In particular:
- Please fill out the Living Matrix questionnaire sent by patient support team, and return it at least TWO weeks before our initial visit. You will be rescheduled if this is not complete.
- Please log in to your account on our electronic portal to review or add address, insurance information, contact information.
- Please complete the HIPAA consent and the Consultative Covenant sent by patient support team.
- Have any past records faxed to the office at 615 601 1648, email to nursegarrard@sanctuaryfm.org, or ask your prior providers to fax. This should be done 2 week prior to appointment.
- Bring any family members or trusted friends who either participate in your care or need to be involved in our discussion. Your health is a family affair.
Yes. Having commercial health insurance does not hinder your benefiting from Sanctuary’s care. Many–if not most–of our patients continue to carry health insurance. Here is the difference: other doctors must work for your insurance company since the company writes their paychecks. At Sanctuary, we not only work for you alone, but we put your insurance to work for you as well by serving as your advocate rather than their servant.
If you think having insurance is an obstacle, please talk to a member of our patient support team. They can explain how we can work together to restore your health with or without insurance.
At your follow-up visit for our comprehensive consultation services, we will sit down to discuss our assessment of your health, and the available options which should improve your well-being. I will answer your questions to the best of my capability, and provide you with a written summary of my care and recommendations. If those recommendations include prescriptions, I will write those for you. If they include natural remedies, I will provide guidance for obtaining them. Usually these are therapies available through our office or our online store at wholesale prices.
Yes, we have prescribing privileges, with licenses in Tennessee, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Virginia.
It is important to understand, however, that prescription medications are not the answer to all health issues. God has given us an array of (often ignored) natural remedies to care for daily health concerns. After reviewing your health history, I will recommend some combination of natural and man-made therapies to fit your health needs.
If I do recommend prescription medications (antibiotics etc), I must have seen you at least once prior for a face-to-face visit. Tennessee does not permit prescribing any medications without a documented physical visit.
Important: I do not prescribe narcotic pain medications or sedatives. No exceptions.
Today’s health care system, as well as the goal of socialized medicine, intentionally and unintentionally have cultivated our sense of entitlement to health care paid by others. However, whoever writes the check ultimately makes the decision. Consequently, the current system puts our health and well-being into hands other than those of the physician and patient. This sells our health care birthright for a mess of pottage.
Paying at the time of service means that you are not paying for bureaucracy, nor for administration, but for your health. It means that you and your physician decide your care, rather than third parties whose interest may not coincide with your own best interest. Moreover, your physician can spend more time caring for you, rather than filling out paperwork.
If you do choose to submit your bill to your insurance company for potential reimbursement, I will provide you with an appropriate invoice for the purpose. I do not guarantee that your insurance company will cover my services nor my orders.
Yes and no. I will care for those who have traditional insurance policies, if they are willing to pay for my care directly and accept responsibility for making any submissions to their insurance company. I do not submit service billing directly to such companies; nor do I receive any payment directly from them. I have chosen to not contract with such companies, so that I may remain as free as possible to care for you and remain financially able to provide for my family.
Essentially, my approach leaves no room for any conflicts of interest which might hinder me from making decisions in your best interest. I receive no incentives from pharmaceutical companies to prescribe their medications, and any goods purchased through me are sold for near cost (shipping/handling and applicable taxes added).
Simple answer: Yes, absolutely!
I do not do so out of compulsion by legal authorities, but due to the compulsion of the Bible, which directs me to care for all people, regardless of religion, race, gender, or any other factor. While I reserve the right to refuse to continue care for those who choose to not pay for their service, I commit to providing the same compassionate, excellent, thorough care for all who come to me with suffering.
Simple answer: Yes, absolutely!
When you visit your traditional physician and submit the visit to your insurance, you not only inform them of your diagnoses and what treatments or tests were ordered; they also may require your full health visit record for proof of care or audits.
In contrast, when you pay your physician directly and do not submit a bill to the insurance company, they neither have record of that interaction, nor the right to inquire about your diagnoses, tests, treatments, or the topics discussed at that visit.
With Sanctuary Medical, you can choose to submit the bill yourself—or keep it to yourself. You decide. Your privacy is in your hands.
Simple answer: Yes, absolutely!
Your records will be stored digitally with proper security. Only you and those you permit with have access to them (except as mandated by law.) The records storage will be HIPAA compliant.
Not all alternative therapies are equal. Some are proven; some are physically safe; some are spiritually safe. Others have little or none of any of these qualities. As a Christian approaching this area of medicine from a biblical worldview, I will help guide you toward the good and away from the worthless and harmful.
I prefer to approach medicine in a complementary or integrative fashion within biblical boundaries. Natural remedies and modern medicine can work together to bring healing when used wisely. If you want the best of both worlds, without fake promises or negative spiritual consequences, we should talk.
Not all alternative therapies are equal. Some are proven; some are physically safe; some are spiritually safe. Others have little or none of any of these qualities. As a Christian approaching this area of medicine from a biblical worldview, I will help guide you toward the good and
Sanctuary provides an electronic patient portal for communication ease. Like any other communication tool, it works best with clear guidelines.
The portal is NOT for emergency care. If your situation is a true emergency, you should call “911” first.
If you have an urgent message, please call the office or the provided after hours number.
The secure online portal messaging system is best used for quick questions that can be answered in the coming 24 to 48 hours. Examples include: mild symptom changes as start a supplement, questions about when to take a supplement or medicine, simple clarifications of dosing or care plan, and other similar requests.
When sending a portal message, please give us time to respond, but you may touch base again if no response in 72 hours.
Thank you for your part in communicating clearly as we work to restore your health.
In your last visit note, someone from our team will usually leave instructions on how long you should continue a given therapy. If you cannot find instructions, you can send a portal message to ask one of our nurse practitioners about reordering. At times we will tell you to not reorder in the two weeks prior to the next visit. At other times will want you continue all therapies. Again, just ask someone in the portal.
If you need to cancel either an telemedicine or an in-person visit, please either message Marlene or call the office. There are late cancellation fees applied in some cases.
When you enlist Dr. Potter’s expertise in interpreting your DNA report, here is what you can expect:
- A nurse practitioner will perform a full history and physical. Looking at your DNA report alone does no more good than a palm reading without your story.
- Dr. Potter will have reviewed and processed your DNA data through his software. From this, he will have prepared a preliminary report that will be adapted once he has your story at the visit.
- Dr. Potter will spend the final 30minutes of the visit applying his knowledge from the DNA data to your story so that you can understand how to care for your health.
- While past tests will be reviewed, no new testing will be ordered unless you decide to proceed with a comprehensive consult program.
- You will have access to a digital version of the report on your secure portal for printing and reviewing.