Can Dr. Carrie Carlson be my primary care physician?

No, Dr. Carrie Carlson will not be your primary care physician. You will be required to have your own personal licensed primary care provider. This will be mandatory to participate in ongoing consultation with Dr. Carlson. She will collaborate with your primary care provider and communicate with them on your behalf, if you desire.

How do I make my first appointment?*

[New patient Virtual consult appointments are no longer available as of 10/31/2023]

There is a section at top of the page, “Become a New Patient” or you can click on any of the Become a New Patient buttons.

You can make follow up appointments at the Current Patient Portal Button at the top and bottom of each page.

What is included in the first initial consult appointment?

You will fill out (electronically) several pages of your personal health history and a few simple medical questionnaires when you sign up on the Patient Portal. The first consultation appointment is typically 60 minutes. We will co-create the first steps for you to feel better. I will share recommendations for labs, supplements and food plans for you to get started on. If I feel you need to see your PCP or specialist, I will share that advice as well. All of this information will be written down for you to print off and use with your regular medical team as needed.

Does Dr. Carlson prescribe prescription drugs and medications?

Yes, she is licensed to prescribe, but it depends upon each patient. Dr. Carlson will not be your primary care provider however. She will not prescribe any chronic pain medicines. She does not prescribe any type of hormone therapy.

Do you take insurance?

No, Dr. Carlson is not accepting private insurance or Medicaid or Medicare insurance at this time. We do accept HSA/FSA Cards now. Or you can request a super bill to submit on your own, for your HSA or FSA. Dr. Carlson will not file any insurance paperwork on your (the patient’s) behalf or your family’s behalf.

Is Care Functional Medicine considered a “Health Insurance Plan?”

No, it is not a health insurance plan.

Does Care Functional Medicine charge me if I cancel less than 24 hours before my scheduled appointment?

Yes, you will be charged a $50 fee on your credit card for appointments that are not canceled within 24 hours. Let’s give another patient the opportunity to schedule in that time slot.

Do you accept Medicare or Medicaid?

No, Dr. Carlson cannot accept Medicare or Medicare-eligible patients at this time.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine is the medicine of exploring root causes of “why” people become ill. Functional Medicine is a unique speciality of medicine. It works with a person’s personalized biochemistry, physiology, genetics, and health story to uncover their individual root causes of chronic disease, and chronic health symptoms. Functional Medicine is about the patient. We spend time with our patients, getting to know them. It becomes a partnership. We will create an individualized Care Wellness Plan specifically for YOU. This will typically include lifestyle treatments like specific foods or nutrition, stress managment, movement and sleep.

Dr. Carlson feels Functional Medicine offers lifestyle medicine plus a personalized look at your biochemistry labs as part of your health journey. www.ifm.org

How does Functional Medicine help?

The Functional Medicine approach is to recognize you as an individual, with your own personal health story and biology. Each patient is unique and their Care Wellness Plan will be designed according to their specific Functional Medicine lab results and health history.

People seek Functional Medicine to get an in-depth look at why they are unwell and why they have not gotten better using conventional medicine. Functional Medicine asks “why” did this person become ill. Functional Medicine utilizes specific individualized physiology and biochemistry lab testing to evaluate root causes of a person’s symptoms.

What is Dr. Carlson’s training?

Dr. Carlson enjoys learning and practicing both Functional and Integrative Medicine, to combine both types of medicines’ philosophical ideas, as well as their particular emphasis on the connection between the mind-body-spirit to achieve well-being and health. This is why she is trained in both types of medicine, certified in Functional Medicine since 2016 with IFM and is Board Certified in Integrative Medicine since June 2022.

What is Integrative Medicine?

Integrative Medicine is a form of holistic medicine, like Functional Medicine, looks at each patient as individuals with their own health story, with additional emphasis on the social and family background, upbringing, and community health. It also offers a therapeutic partnership with each patient, but may also include treatment modalities, like acupuncture, herbal medicine or botanicals, aromatherapy, Yoga, massage, Tai Chi, Reiki or Healing Touch (bioenergetics) Energy healing, and mind-spiritual connection, which are not traditionally taught in Functional Medicine training programs.

Dr. Carlson’s opinion is that the Integrative Medicine philosophy focuses training practitioners more on the mind-body-spiritual connection of health and soul well-being and this can be key to supporting a patient on their wellness journey.

As of April 12, 2022, Dr. Carlson has graduated “With Honors” from the two year Fellowship program with the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM). As of June 2022, Dr. Carlson is Board Certified in Integrative Medicine. The credentials are: ABOIM

What is similar and what is different between Functional and Integrative Medicine?

Functional Medicine and Integrative Medicine both teach patients healthy lifestyle behaviors and habits, to take charge of their health and well-being, to learn self-care for themselves, to improve physical and mental symptoms.

Dr. Carlson’s opinion is Functional Medicine utilizes and teaches a more biochemistry and physiologic approach to chronic disease, and Integrative Medicine teaches and incorporates a more mind-body-spirit approach, using more mind-body medicine tools. These tools can include acupuncture, yoga, aromatherapy, meditation, Healing Touch or Reiki, to improve health and well-being. Dr. Carlson is trained in Healing Touch, Reiki, and Battlefield (Auricular) Acupuncture.

Can I send an email to Dr. Carlson directly with questions about my individual Care Wellness Plan?

Yes, once you have agreed to the terms and conditions, various consent forms, and legal disclaimers of this clinic and are accepted to become a patient in consult with Dr. Carlson, you may send secure emails through the Current Patient Portal, which is HIPAA compliant.

If you have basic questions about services for Dr. Carlson, please email her at drcarrie@carefunctionalmedicine.com or schedule a 60 minute initial appointment to ask your questions.

(Please do not send personal health information or your private identifiable information to the email address listed above)

Once I am a patient, how many emails can I send with my questions?

Short brief questions about your Care Wellness Plan or test results typically can be addressed by a few brief emails to Dr. Carlson. However, if the questions are deemed significantly complicated or long, a follow up 30 minute scheduled appointment will be recommended by Dr. Carlson to meet your needs.

Does Dr. Carlson recommend working with a Health Coach or Nutritionist?

Yes! See Wellness Resources section at the top of the website page for her recommendations and resources. See the links listed, including local health coaches in the Sioux Falls, SD area.

Health Coaches can offer weekly guidance and accountability to you.

Personally, Dr. Carlson has hired Health Coaches in the past few years to help her reach her wellness goals. She has enjoyed each partnership!

**Health Coaches listed are independently owned and operated, the cost of hiring a health coach is not included in the services Dr. Carlson provides.

**note: Dr. Carlson does not receive any type of financial compensation or other compensation for the links associated in the Wellness Resources group.

Does Dr. Carlson recommend other Functional Medicine or Integrative Medicine resources for additional information, self-education, nutritional advice, recipes or books?

Yes, see Wellness Resources on the website page.

Who does Dr. Carlson recommend for psychological or mental health counseling?

These recommendations and suggestions would be made on an individual basis. Some patients may benefit from particular types of counseling with a licensed mental health professional. Patients with a history of significant trauma or PTSD may benefit from EMDR, for example.

Does Dr. Carlson believe in and practice “regular” Conventional Medicine?

Yes, of course she does. She is a board-certified Family Physician since 2001. Dr. Carlson believes blending today’s conventional medicine standards and tools with the art of personalized lifestyle functional medicine and mind-body-medicine. Your health care and well-being goals are important. It is Dr. Carlson’s opinion that blending integrated personalized Functional Medicine and modern conventional medicine is the future of medicine and healing.

Does Dr. Carlson sell vitamins and supplements?

Dr. Carlson will offer Fullscript as a on-line platform for delivering high-quality personalized supplements to you directly in the mail. This will be discussed in more detail at your initial 60 minute consultation. Cost of supplements is NOT included in the cost of the consult with Dr. Carlson. This is optional.

As of 4/1/24, there are discounts offered on Fullscript.

Disclaimer: As a convenience for patients, Dr. Carlson’s office has partnered with Fullscript, a virtual supplement dispensary, to manage supplement inventory and delivery on her behalf. Dr. Carlson values and trusts Fullscript to provide only medical grade supplements through their dispensary. However, you are under no obligation to purchase these products from Dr. Carlson or Fullscript; you may purchase the same products elsewhere; and your quality of care in Dr. Carlson’s office will not be affected by your decision to purchase or not purchase products through Fullscript. Disclosure: As of 4/1/24, Dr. Carlson receives a 25% commission on all Fullscript orders from her email recommendations or dispensary, if you choose to accept.

Do the Functional Medicine lab tests require a blood draw?

No, not usually. Most of the labs recommended by Dr. Carlson will be either saliva, urine, and/or stool sample test kits, which will be delivered directly to your home. There is occasionally a special test we would consider that would require a blood draw, but we will discuss it in detail first. Cost of the Functional Medicine specialized testing kits is NOT included in the cost of the consult with Dr. Carlson.

I have ordered a Functional Medicine lab test, but have questions about it, what do I do?

You will get detailed instructions on how to collect and return your lab test kit. You can always send a secure email to Dr. Carlson through the Current Patient Portal as well. Most lab test kits will be sent by Rupa Health, and they can always assist you directly with your questions.

What Functional Medicine lab tests will I need?

It depends upon your particular health concerns and symptoms. Dr. Carlson will discuss your options at your initial 60 minute phone or telemedicine video appointment. Typically, there are 1-3 labs that are recommended to evaluate your personal stress response and/or hormones (saliva/urine), a stool sample test, and/or a small urine collection kit that can offer insight to your current biological function and root causes of illness. Labs are optional, but highly recommended. The lab results can steer the direction needed to take to improve your health.

Can I order a Functional Medicine lab or test kit without a consult with Dr. Carlson?

No, you will need to have an appointment first. Labs will not be ordered until the first initial appointment.

I have a question about a supplement Dr. Carlson recommended, how do I contact her?

Please email her through your secured patient portal account, on the Current Patient Portal. Emails are typically answered within 3 business days, but the clinic is only open on Fridays. You are welcome to schedule a phone appointment as well.