Functional medicine means getting to the root cause of a problem instead of treating symptoms individually. Think of the difference between thriving and surviving. Thriving involves helping your body heal and function in its healthiest state; surviving involves masking symptoms so your body can function at its most basic level.   

We believe the body has an innate ability to heal itself. 

Once we identify the root cause of a symptom, we use lifestyle modifications, diet, supplements and medications to correct the problem. Using diagnostic testing to uncover any underlying imbalances within the body, we create an individualized care plan tailored specifically to your needs.

I use my extensive training from the Institute for Functional Medicine and Integrative Nurse Coaching Academy- to find imbalances and problems that are typically misunderstood and/or misdiagnosed by conventional medicine practitioners who attempt to address the symptoms, not the root cause/damaged system.  I incorporate my coaching background to help clients facilitate change at their own pace, in a way that works for them.

No. I practice as a consultant in functional medicine, nurse coaching, and education.  I do not provide any primary care practices and require that all clients maintain a relationship with their own primary care provider and that they have had a physical exam within the past 12 months.  If I suspect a disorder or condition that is not appropriately treated with functional medicine interventions or virtual visits, the client will be directed to promptly consult their primary care provider or emergent services (if indicated) about any suspected and concerning problems, when appropriate.  I have several years of experience in primary care and woman's health and there is certainly a strong need for both in many cases.  This falls far outside the scope of virtual functional medicine consulting.  If you ever have concerns of an urgent nature, you should consult your primary care provider or emergency services, as appropriate.

Why do you only accept functional medicine consultation clients from Idaho State?  RN and ARNP licensing requirements only allow me to provide counsel to clients in my state of license, which is Idaho State.  Potential clients outside of Idaho state should attempt to find a provider in their local area.

I can see coaching clients from any State. 

Many health insurance companies do allow consulting and coaching by an RN or ARNP such as myself to be paid for through FSA and HSA accounts.  You are able to pay using these cards through my payment system.  I encourage all clients using these accounts as payment to confirm that their insurer permits coaching by an RN or ARNP.  Some insurers may require a letter of medical necessity (LMN) from your primary care provider to be submitted to them prior to approval.  More often than not, your insurance will allow you to use FSA and HSA funds to receiving coaching from me, but be sure to confirm this prior to scheduling.

We don't take health insurance because when clinics bill health insurance companies directly, the providers are required to become participating providers. The provider must sign a contract that allows the insurance company to determine which services they will and will not provide and how much they can charge for those services.  A participating provider must agree to accept the fees the insurance company establishes, regardless of whether the fees are reasonable or applicable to that practice. In general, these established fees cover the actual cost of the briefest (and I believe the lowest quality) care. Providers who are participating providers are required to accept discounted fees for their services, and they cannot bill the client for the difference between their fee and what the insurance company will pay.  Most providers and clinics cope with the requirements of being participating providers by keeping their office visits very brief so that they can see many clients within a given time frame.  Unfortunately, I have found that I cannot be a participating provider in the insurance networks and provide the time-intensive, well-researched care that I offer.

I offer a messaging service to my current clients to answer clarifying questions between visits.  You will get access to this and the messaging service after scheduling your first visit.  If you have new concerns, ongoing conditions, or questions that require a detailed response, an appointment will be necessary.  This can often be arranged within several days, depending on schedule availability.  Beyond this, I am very firm in devoting my business hours to my scheduled clients and reserving my private hours for my family.  I answer messages during business hours, and strive to reply promptly.  If I am unavailable for any extended reason such as vacation, you will receive a notification.

I will wait 15 minutes on the platform for our scheduled appointment.  If you arrive in that time, we will get started, but our end time remains as scheduled.  For example, if we are scheduled to meet from 1pm-2pm, and you log in to our meeting at 110pm, we will have fifty minutes to meet.  No partial refunds will be provided for visits started late, as I will be present the entire scheduled time

In order to reserve your time with me, all appointments require a $100 deposit.  

We have a less than 1 business day cancelation/reschedule fee policy for our patients. Please be aware that Gretchen Fors NP does not overbook or double-book her appointments and her time is reserved exclusively for you. In order to accommodate those on the waiting list, we appreciate ample notification when rescheduling and for cancellations.

You pay up front before booking the appointment by credit card. This fee is non-refundable in the event you cancel or reschedule less than 1 business days before your scheduled appointment or do not appear for your appointment. 

Return patients are charged the full office visit fee for either less than a 24 hour business day cancellation/reschedule or for not appearing for their appointment. 

If for any reason you cannot make your appointment, please let me know at least 48 hours before your scheduled time, so we can reschedule accordingly. 

New client paperwork requires at least 48 hours to complete and review, and my returning clients typically schedule weeks in advance.  Therefore, I am not able to reschedule with short notice in most instances and would otherwise lose income when a client no-show or late cancels an appointment.  

You are not required to do ANY tests in order to see benefits when working with me, but most clients prefer to use some testing data to find subtle underlying causes of their symptoms.  This generally offers more rapid results and helps to target your therapy.  Common tests may include typical annual labs, nutrient deficiency testing, food allergen and reaction testing, comprehensive stool testing, cortisol testing, various hormone levels, Omega 3 indexing, and organic acid testing.  Testing can be done using blood, urine, saliva, or stool, depending on the test performed.  I do encourage clients to upload their labs from the past two years via the patient portal for me to review at least 48 hours before their initial visit.