Health Sharing Ministries and Direct Primary Care
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About Dr. Sharyl Truty
Posts by Dr. Sharyl Truty:
Treating Pain without Medication – Part 1
The opioid epidemic has gained the national spotlight. Locally, there is a bill in the Florida State Legislature to restrict the prescription of controlled substances by physicians including opioid pain medications.
Regardless of whether you are dealing with fibromyalgia, chronic back pain or rheumatoid arthritis. There are 5 main key cornerstones to pain recovery.
- Manual therapy
- Acupuncture
- Strength Restoration
- Remapping the Mind
- Anti-inflammatory Diet
To be able to truly break the pain cycle, requires the attention and work of all five. However, the biggest challenge that most pain patients face is affordability and access to the providers in each of these areas. Unfortunately, pills and tablets are cheap and the effort and price required for these interventions is expensive.
As a society, the epidemic will not go away until these core access issues are addressed. However, each of us an individuals can make an independent choice to work on each of these five areas on our own. In upcoming blogs, I will explore each of these cornerstones and the rationale behind their effectiveness and also examine cost effective ways that each of us can integrate these into our busy lives.
As someone who deals and has dealt with chronic pain on a daily basis, I can understand the emotional as well as physical challenge of dealing with such a chronic disease. However, the body has a tremendous ability to heal and with a new perspective and a willingness to step into a new frame of mind there is much hope. One simple change a day is all it takes.
Optimize Your Health, Simplify Your Life,
Sharyl Truty, MD
Dr. Sharyl has been engaged in family medicine, sports medicine and orthopedics for over fifteen years in many different capacities. She is the physician-owner of Balanced Physician Care, a holistic, direct primary care medical practice in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Her practice provides a unique solution for individuals and small business owners who are seeking answers to better healthcare. She is Board Certified in Family Practice and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine. She was team physician for the Chicago Red Stars women’s professional soccer team, completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, and has received her acupuncture training at the UCLA physician certification program. She currently lives in Jacksonville Beach with her husband, Myke and 4-year-old son, Lukas.
Fantastic Fungi
I remember disliking mushrooms as a kid, I would go out of my way to pick them out of any food that I ate. As I grew to an adult, I grew to like them more. As an integrative doctor, I am absolutely in love with Asian medical mushrooms. The medical benefits of these little fungi are impressive and for any of those still harboring a strong mushroom a dislike, worth rethinking.
Asian Mushrooms for Thyroid.
One of the least known facts is that mushrooms can help thyroid disorders. While the exact way this is done is still unknown, from observation, Asian mushroom extracts have the ability to normalize the thyroid hormones in the body. Regardless, if you have a high thyroid disorder or a low thyroid disorder, the edible Asian mushrooms may help decrease your need for medication. Most often increasing shitake and maitake mushrooms in your diet can be helpful.
Asian Mushrooms for Cancer Prevention.
Immune cells in our body have receptors for mushroom compounds. In particular:
1) Maitake mushrooms have shown promise in fighting prostate cancer and breast cancer.
2) Chaga Mushroom extract has shown to have activity against cancers of neuroectodermal orgin: melanoma, neuroblastoma, leukemia and ovarian cancer
3) Reishi mushroom extract has shown to have activity against colon, bladder, breast and prostate cancer.
Asian Mushrooms for Memory and Mood
A mushroom called Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus) has shown promise in improving memory while the supplement is taken. This does seem to reverse when the extract is stopped. However, there is also promise in this mushroom showing promise in decreasing anxiety and improving mood and concentration.
Remember not all mushrooms are edible and some can contain toxic compounds, so be sure to purchase extracts that have a high quality and purity. Furthermore, for those edible mushrooms like Shitake and Maitake be sure to always cook them before you eat them for this same reason.
Optimize Your Health, Simplify Your Life,
Dr Sharyl Truty, MD
We have Myco Forte Mushroom Extract available for $23.00 for 1 oz or $37.00 for 2 oz at Balanced Physician Care
904-930-4774
References:
Mushrooming Immunity and Mental Clarity – Lisa Alschuler, ND, FABNO
Asian Mushrooms in University of Arizona Fellowship content – Dr. Andrew Weil, MD and Dr. Donald Abrams, MD
High Deductible Blues
It is the beginning of the year and you have health insurance, right? You chose a high-deductible plan because it was the best you could afford. However, with a high deductible plan you essentially are likely going to pay for everything out of pocket unless you end-up having a medical event or surgery that puts you in the hospital.
What is your strategy for your health? Do you have a plan or will you just worry about it when it happens? Let us play through a few scenarios and see which one seems to work better if you have a high deductible plan.
Scenario #1
It is Friday night and you start getting a headache and over-the-counter medications just don't cut it. The Urgent Care is closed at 8pm and your choice is the ER. You go to the ER and are seen your blood pressure is high and the cause of your headache. After a CT scan, bloodwork and a long night in the ER. Your health bill totals over $3000.
Scenario #2
You cut your hand on Thursday morning making breakfast. It is not a deep cut, but enough that you need stitches. You to the local Urgent Care and they say they are unable to stitch you up because the cut it is located in a place the provider is not comfortable with, so they tell you to go to the ER. You head to the ER and there is a long wait. After about 4 hours and over $1000 later you are finally done. You get an antibiotic to take to prevent infection, but you go to the pharmacy and it costs $70. What choice do you have? Do you need it? Is there an alternative? There is no one to call.
Is there another option? You're a victim of the system what can you do?
There is another option.
Scenario #3
You had a headache a week ago and emailed your new DPC physician. She reminded you to check your blood pressure and because it was high and you had no other issues she called in a higher dose of your medication and you came in to the office the next day at a convenient time for you. She was able to quote you the price of your medication over the phone, so that it only cost you $4. Today, you cut yourself with a kitchen knife. You called her and you were in the office later that day and out in 30 min all stitched up. You only lost 90 min at work.
The cost a Direct Primary Membership.
Direct Primary Care Membership + a High Deductble Plan
Gives you COMPLETE coverage at a low fixed cost. (Like adding a "rider" to your insurance plan)
For less than $1500 a year (Less than the cost of 1 ER Visit)
- You get personal care on nights and weekends
- You get complete advice at the tips of your fingers thorugh email.
- You get care in your home or work through home phone calls and video visits
- You get the best deals in town on health testing because your DPC membership shops for them.
- You save on prescriptions because you and your doctor discuss the price before you leave.
- Your get a doctor who coordinates specialists and helps you sort through conflicting advice.
- Consider a long-term view of your health. Add some kick to your health care plan.
Call about Direct Primary Care today!
Dr Sharyl Truty MD is Physician Owner of Balanced Physician Care located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. She has been engaged in family medicine, sports medicine, acupuncture and orthopedics for almost 15 years in many different capacities. Dr. Sharyl is Board Certified in Family Practice and Sports Medicine, and fellow of the Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Arizona (Dr Weil) and a graduate of the UCLA Physician Acupuncture Program. Please call 1-833-HEAL JAX to find out on how to become a member.
Doctor/Patient Relationship
The patient/doctor relationship, it’s what healthcare is all about. It’s the path in which data are gathered, diagnoses are made, treatments are discussed, and healing begins.
For many years, doctors have recognized that the well being of their patients depends upon effective communication between themselves and the patient.
Today, effective communication plays an even greater role, especially when most of us are self-diagnosing our ailments using the latest web post or some blog post 😉
You have a say in your healthcare decisions!
When you are actively involved in the decision making process, you get the combination of your doctor’s expert medical knowledge and your right to be fully informed of all treatment options, including potential side effects, success rates, harms and benefits.
This provides you with the information and support you need to make the best healthcare decisions for yourself.
A good relationship benefits everyone. A relationship built on mutual respect, knowledge, trusts, shared values, and perspectives about disease and life allows for better quality and better transfer of information regarding your disease or illness.
To help build or enhance a strong relationship with your doctor, you should:
- Bring medical problems to the attention your doctor in a timely fashion
- Provide all relevant information about your medical condition
- Work with your doctor in a mutually respectful way
And remember you have the right:
- You have the right to information regarding the benefits, risks, and costs of treatments
- You can accept or refuse any treatments recommended by your doctor
- You deserve courtesy, respect, dignity, responsiveness, and timely attention to your needs
- Confidentiality
- You have the right to continuous healthcare as long as further treatment is medically needed
We all know there are A lot of medical choices out there, but on the same note it can be difficult to find a doctor that you can build a quality, healthy, healthcare relationship with. Here are some suggestions to help in your search. Is your doctor willing to:
- Sit down with you and give you the time needed to adequately discuss your medical issues
- Develop an understanding of you as an individual, not as a disease or a medical condition
- Show you empathy and respect
- Listen attentively and create a partnership
- Elicit your concerns and fears about your disease or condition
- Answer questions honestly
- Inform and educate you about treatment options and the course of care
- Involve you in decisions concerning your medical care
Healthcare seems to be getting more rushed, more high-tech, and less personable all the time. The practice of sitting down with your doctor, and honestly and respectfully discussing your disease, condition, or concerns cannot be replaced. I have great news...
That's what you get with a Balanced Physician Care Membership!
The true benefits of personal healthcare will always continue to cultivate therapeutic benefits that are commonly believed to improve the patient’s experience.
Sources:Fundamental Elements of the Patient-Physician Relationship—The American Medical Association
The Influence of the Patient-Clinician Relationship on Healthcare
Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials by John M. Kelley, Gordon Kraft-Todd, Lidia Schapira, Joe Kossowsky, Helen Riess
Patient-Physician Communication— American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Science of Detox
What exactly is “detox?” Is this something you should do?
According to a 2009 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, Americans are carrying in their body over 219 toxic chemicals at any given time. Fatigue, irritability, joint pain and brain fog symptoms can be a result of an increased toxic burden. A detoxification program is a great way to clear your body of toxins to prevent disease, improve metabolism, lose weight and improve mental clarity. (more…)
Health for the Holidays
Do you have someone on your list that you just do not know what to get? What would be something unique? Often most of us are so busy throughout the year that receiving a gift that reminds us to take care of ourselves can be the most valuable.
5 Holiday Health Gifts Ideas from Balanced Physician Care
1) Vitamin Vitality - From my perspective the 4 most important supplements are a quality multivitamin, fish oil supplement, a probiotic and melatonin. These four make up the core pillars of support for an anti-inflammatory and functional medicine lifestyle. Quality is key when it comes to these four. While many can be found in local stores often the quality or composition combination is poor and does not support the body.
2) Acupuncture Restoration - Many people are often hesitant to try acupuncture, but once they do they can feel the amazing energy and support it provides the body. Even if there isn't a specific health issue, acupuncture can be a powerful tool for not only detoxing the body, but the mind as well.
3) Integrative or Functional Medicine Consultation - How may different diet theories have your read about in magazines? How many different supplements or nutrition shakes do you take? Do you get confused on what you are ordering it from Amazon? Spending just an hour in person or on the phone with an expert in holistic medicine such as Dr. Sharyl Truty, MD can help to focus you or your loved one's health goals for the new year.
4) Herbal Relaxation - There are a variety of herbs that can take the edge off of our stress. The formulations created by our supplement supplier, Orthomolecular, are the highest quality products. Often people do not feel herbals work for their anxiety, but this is because they have 't been a formula that fits them personally or that has a high quality standard. Our Bontanicalm, Cerenity and Adapten-All formulations can add much needed support during stressful times. We even offer IV infusions in 2020.
5) Health Care for an Entire Year - Does this seem a little far fetched? Well for a little less than $1500 your could provide someone with 80% of the health care that they need for an entire year. In a time of health care uncertainty wouldn't it be nice to have peace of mind in 2020 without all the hassle? Our Direct Primary Care Membership does just that.
Join our mailing list, check out our website or call us (904.930.4774). Give a unique gift this year to your friends and loved ones. Give the gift of health and vitality.
904.930.4774
