If you would like to share recent labs with me, please upload them to your online chart under the 'Labs & Documents' tab of the portal. Click on the pink button "UPLOAD NEW DOCUMENT." Please upload relevant labs as a single report vs one page at a time. If you are doing this from home, you can utilize an app like TurboScan to create a multiple page PDF and upload that directly from your computer. You may also fax them to (303) 351-1100. Please do not mail hard copies to the office.

If you are interested in a more customized plan for supplements, testing and diet during your initial visit, I highly recommend the Nutrition Genome DNA Kit. This report looks at nutrigenomics, which is the study of how foods affect our genes, and how genetic differences affect the way we respond to food. You can order this test yourself. Be sure to complete this test at least 5-6 weeks prior to your initial visit, and upload your report in the portal under the 'Labs & Documents' tab.

It is also important to know all medications and supplements that you are taking. Please have these handy during your visit so that we can evaluate them accurately and thoroughly.

Read more about what to expect here.

All of the above! I am a fully licensed physician in all three states, and have offices in both Colorado and Michigan. No matter where I am, your consultation will be scheduled virtually via telehealth. My office is very familiar with virtual consultations and I’ve been working with patients remotely for over 3 years.

Fitting in self care is a challenge. Telemedicine is a modern day solution that makes getting good care more convenient... No waiting in a doctor's office and less time away from work and family. My practice was built to facilitate virtual consultations, and connecting with patients remotely is easy. There’s no need for fancy software on your end, as long as you're comfortable with using the internet. Lab orders, lab results, supplement recommendations, actionable plans and handouts will all be readily available from your online patient portal. Functional medicine lab kits and supplements can be shipped directly to your house, and prescriptions can be sent to your local pharmacy. You'll have direct access to our registered nurse through portal messaging between visits. Remote telemedicine consultations by secure video are only available to new patients in Colorado, Michigan and Texas. Established patients routinely follow up by phone or secure video.

Here’s how online scheduling works:

• Register as a patient before scheduling your first appointment. Please read and sign the Policies & Consents within the patient portal under the Questionnaires tab.
• If you are already registered as a patient, you can log on to the patient portal here.
• Follow the Request Appointment icon on the right side of your screen & use the drop down menu to request an appointment date and time. You will be asked to enter payment information in order to request an appointment, but you will not be charged until the day of your appointment.
• We will check our schedule and confirm your appointment by email (watch for an email from do-not-reply@md-hq.com). We may need to modify the time +/- 15 minutes, so let us know in the appointment notes if you do not have flexibility with this.
• Fill out the New Patient Questionnaires or Follow Up Questionnaires 48 hours prior to your visit.
• You can modify your appointment online up to 72 hours before your scheduled appointment time. Otherwise, please give us a call at (303) 704-4487. Please be courteous and provide at least 2 business days notice for all cancelled or rescheduled appointments so that we can run an efficient practice and meet the needs of other patients who are waiting to be seen. You can read more about our cancellation policy below.

Please reach out to us if you have additional questions or wish to speak with someone prior to scheduling. You can reach us directly at admin@drchristinemaren.com, or (303) 704-4487. If we are unable to pick up your phone call, please leave a message and my office staff will happily respond within 1-2 business days. Please note: the office is not open on nights, weekends or holidays.

Functional Medicine is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. Read more here.

Just what is functional medicine and why do some DOs gravitate to it? I was honored to be featured in this article from the American Osteopathic Association.

I work with a wide variety of patients, some of whom are looking to optimize their health and others with specific health concerns. Some commonly addressed conditions include:

• Aging
• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Autoimmune Disease
• Breastfeeding
• Cardiovascular disorders (hypertension, high cholesterol)
• Celiac Disease
• Chronic Disease
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Detoxification
• Depression and Anxiety
• Diabetes and Pre-diabetes
• Digestive Disorders (IBS, SIBO, candida overgrowth, parasites, IBD, reflux, H. Pylori)
• Environmental Allergies
• Environmental Toxins
• Fatigue
• Female Disorders (PCOS, low libido, PMS, menopause)
• Fibromyalgia
• Food Allergies and Sensitivities
• Gluten Sensitivity
• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
• Hormonal Health
• Hypertension
• Infections (acute and chronic low-grade such as Candidiasis etc.)
• Infertility
• Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Leaky Gut
• Male Disorders (hair loss, low libido)
• Mercury and Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Metabolic Syndrome (pre-diabetes, insulin resistance)
• Migraines and Headaches
• Mold and Mycotoxins
• Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neurodegenerative Disorders
• Nutrient Deficiencies
• Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum Health
• Sleep Disorders (insomnia)
• Skin Disorders (acne, eczema, psoriasis)
• Stress-related Conditions and Adrenal Disorders
• Thyroid Disorders
• Weight or Metabolism Concerns

Functional Medicine consultation services may or may not be covered by your insurance plan. I encourage you to call the customer care number on your insurance card to find out if your plan covers an “out of network” doctor. I do not bill your insurance directly but will give you a receipt for services, which you may submit for reimbursement. You may also use pre-tax dollars from a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for your consultations and lab fees. I am not a participating provider in Medicaid or Medicare. You can read more about why we do not bill insurance directly here.

The initial consultation fee is $750 and follow up visits are $500/ hr (i.e. a 30 min visit is $250). Anticipate a 30 minute follow up at 2 weeks to review conventional biomarkers, and a 45-60 minute follow up at 6 weeks to review the functional medicine labs. These fees do not include lab work. More details can be found here.

Conventional labs (Quest, LabCorp, CPL) can bill insurance directly - this should be done at your discretion, and I encourage you to call the customer care number on your insurance card to make sure you are using an in-network lab. We have negotiated cash pay rates through Quest for patients who are not billing through insurance, or for Medicare patients. Functional medicine labs are largely cash-pay, but I offer the ability to bill through insurance when possible. Costs are transparent and we will discuss pricing of these labs during your visit, as they will require an investment on your part. Most patients invest an average of $500-$1500 in advanced lab testing at their initial visit.

I order a comprehensive diagnostic panel through conventional labs like Quest or LabCorp. I also order specialized functional laboratory testing through GI Map, Doctor's Data, Great Plains, Genova, DUTCH, CYREX, Nutrition Genome and others. This includes but is not limited to comprehensive stool testing, urine organic acids, nutrient levels, food sensitivity, complete hormones, cortisol (adrenal), heavy metals, genetics, mycotoxins and environmental chemicals.

Please be courteous and provide at least 48 business hours notice for all cancelled or rescheduled appointments. This helps ensure that I can run an efficient and effective practice, and meet the needs of other patients who are waiting to get an appointment. You will be asked to put a credit card on hold when you book an appointment. Cancellations prior to 48 business hours will not be charged. Cancellations after 48 business hours will be charged $250.

Although I am board-certified in family medicine, I am specializing in functional medicine and my practice structure does not allow me to be available at the level of acuity necessary for a primary care practice. I am your functional medicine consultant, and require that you maintain your primary care physician (PCP) for routine screening exams such as pap smears, colonoscopies, prostate exams, etc. and for urgent situations requiring immediate care or hospitalization. I am happy to work collaboratively with your PCP and/or specialists and ask that you continue that relationship.

Short answer - YES. My practice is about 20% men, mostly referred by their wives:)