SELF EMPOWERED HEALING
with JOANNE ("JP") PIZZINO, MD, MPH
Tuning Into YOU Unlimited

What does “telemedicine” mean?

• Telemedicine leverages technology to bring the best Functional Medicine doctors to the comfort and convenience of your home or workplace. Using video conferencing on your camera-equipped computer, you will meet face-to-face with your doctor for a deep dive into your health. In addition to standard medical history, I combine your own knowledge of your body with the most advanced medical science to find which of the seven essential functions are out of balance.

Can telemedicine replace my regular local doctor?

• Telemedicine is a value-add to standard medical care. Our longer visits, up to 75-minutes, allow more in-depth guidance, support and education to empower you to manage and change chronic conditions. This is not usually offered by most brief primary care visits. We can assess certain aspects of physical examination, for instance the clues of dark circles under your eyes, ridges or spots on your nails, swollen joints, or read the cracks and indentations on your tongue for information about the seven essential functions. And it is still a good idea to have a primary care provider (PCP) locally as telemedicine cannot cover all possible health issues.  For instance, acute problems often need hands-on care. If you have chest pain, a local examination is needed to determine if this is pneumonia or a heart attack. Certain areas such as internal ears and genitals still need a local exam. If you fall and are hurt, xrays may be needed to determine if bones are broken, so we encourage you to keep a local PCP relationship for these issues. However, if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, frequent digestive issues, allergies, headaches, or other unexplained symptoms, want to prepare for pregnancy or otherwise maximize your health, a Functional Telemedicine visit can get to the root of the problem. If you prefer to solve your health issues without medications, or wonder if there are alternatives to surgery, I can explore all these options with you.

How do I get laboratory tests through a telemedicine visit?

• As your legal physician, I can order lab tests through local laboratories, such as LabCorp or Quest that can work with your insurance provider. Testing for COVID-19 antibodies is available. I can also order specialty Functional Medicine test kits using saliva, urine or stool to be sent to your home for you to obtain for own samples. These are especially helpful for hormonal issues, and gastrointestinal complaints.

What if I need medications?

• I can e-prescribe medications to your local pharmacy, and fax specialty prescriptions such as bio-identical hormone replacements to compounding pharmacies who can mail your prescription to you.

What if I need help with nutrition or other lifestyle changes?

• Functional Medicine specialists excel at providing detailed prescriptions for condition-specific nutrition, better sleep without medications, movement & exercise, stress management, and many other lifestyle skills to empower you to build optimum health from the inside out. Parsley Health also includes health coaching, as we see this as key to implementing your personalized health plan into action in your life.

What if I need to contact my doctor between visits?

• You will have a secure online portal to all your health information through CHARM Electronic Health Record. You can see your laboratory results, follow the detailed health plan we provide for you, and contact us 24/7 through email. We even answer urgent questions on weekends.

How often do you see a doctor through telemedicine?

• Solving chronic health problems is a journey. We often have visits every 4-8 weeks in the beginning as we are gathering detailed history, and special laboratory tests, including hormone patterns, nutrient levels, inflammatory markers, and information on your detoxification abilities. Our initial Self Empowered Healing Journey consists of 10 hours of consultation spread over 3-6 months. 

Can telemedicine help me if I am concerned about COVID-19?

• We offer consultations about COVID-19 prevention and treatment alternatives.