Spring Forward

Tracy McDaniel • March 14, 2023

We're so happy to celebrate this almost-Spring with you!   We're also thrilled to announce that OSFM is back to being fully-staffed.  Thank you all for your patience as we navigated our lean season.  As it turns out, we are now more well-staffed than ever, with 2 docs offering telemedicine in addition to our in-house providers.   


In this season's newsletter, we'll cover

- Provider updates

- Expanded telehealth services, and how to schedule them online

- Apple Health, Molina and Coordinated Care- Please select your PCP before your visit

- Hearing Screening

- Masking  Policy update

- New online dispensary

- Dr. McDaniel is offering Craniosacral therapy

- Celebrating the return of the WATER COOLER!


Pro Tip on scheduling telehealth visits.  You'll need to select the visit type SECURE ONLINE VIDEO VISIT and may need to click the button that says ONLINE as well, or at least shouldn't select IN PERSON.  In addition, if you want to view the schedules for all our providers you may need to select the blue button in the middle of the screen that let's you see the schedules of providers you've never seen included in your search.  Remember you can also call the clinic if you need a same day appointment and your doctor doesn't appear to have a visit available- we hide some appointments for urgent care needs.


We announced recently that Dr. Whitaker had her baby Levon, and now she's returned to practice.  As always she's available for full spectrum naturopathic primary care including pediatrics.  Welcome back Dr. Whitaker and Congratulations!


Dr. Short is also returning to OSFM. This last year has brought a new chapter to her family life and she is now only able to see patients via telemedicine. She will primarily focus on women and children’s mental health, in addition to providing parenting support for caregivers.


Dr. Short has a long-standing interest in assisting her patients’ in finding mental and emotional balance, and a desire to help patients feel more whole. She is able to provide both natural and more conventional treatments depending on her patient's needs.   She looks forward to reconnecting with former patients and supporting new families too.


For those of you with Apple Health- we have an important message and task for you!  Molina and Coordinated Care both require that you choose a Primary Care Provider for your plan.  That PCP must be your doctor at OSFM, or your visit may not be covered.  It's okay (not ideal, but okay) if you've selected another doctor in the practice, but an OSFM physician must be selected before your visit is billed or it  may not be covered at all.  In that case you'll be billed for your visit - and we hope to avoid that!  The process is fairly quick, we're seeing about 5-15 minutes for people to make the change.  You can do this by:


  • Logging  onto your app and select a PCP right there, very quick if you have the app and account
  • Calling the telephone number on your card and speak to someone- they can make a same day change this has mostly been surprisingly quick and easy for folks


For Apple Health clients, you do not have to make these changes during open enrollment, you can do it anytime.  You can also change from another Apple Health plan to one we take, which are Molina and Coordinated Care.


OSFM now has hearing screening equipment.  We are able to do routine hearing screens for kids starting at 4 years of age and every couple of years through elementary school.  The screener works for adults as well.  Feel free to ask at your next visit if you would like a hearing screen.


Masking Update.  On April 3, Washington State will no longer require masks in healhcare settings, long term care facilities and correctional facilities.  This is BIG news and we expect, and even welcome, some awkwardness as we move into this new phase.  We have been talking to you all about this often, so we know that many of you are no longer masking and will be thrilled with the change. We also know that many of you are still quite concerned about COVID and other infections and will not be excited about this change at all.  The OSFM staff and physicians have been discussing how to ease this transition, managing our own sense of risk as well as meeting you in yours.    We'll likely stop wearing masks during well visits as long as everyone is well, but will likely revert to wearing a mask for many reasons day to day. 


  • Please DO wear a mask if you or anyone in  your household is sick
  • Please know that we welcome you to ask us to wear a mask during your visit!  We're quite used to them, and it will not be a hardship for us at all!  If you're more comfortable with your provider masked,  just ask


For more information about this change, see this announcement from the Department of Health https://doh.wa.gov/newsroom/masking-requirements-healthcare-long-term-care-and-correctional-facilities-end-april-3


Online Dispensary.  Many of you have used Emerson Ecologics or Wellevate for ordering dispensary items over the years.  We're switching to a company called FullScript.  One reason is that we can access it from within our EHR program and send you specific recommendations.  We're not attached to you buying any supplements from us in-house or online, although we do appreciate the support when you do. We ARE attached you having our specific recommendations.  So you may get a link to this new dispensary during one of your visits or by email afterwards.  And let us know if you haven't received the information and would like it- we'll get you set up. 


Dr. Tracy McDaniel is now offering CranioSacral Therapy and Osteopathic Cranial Techniques- you can sign up for a full 50 minute session if you'd like. She's also incorporating some of this work into visits as treatment for certain medical conditions.  Please call the clinic to schedule, as we don't have this set up on the portal yet.   When this work is billed to insurance it often comes out of the same "bucket" as chiropractic visits and can be billed when medically necessary.  Cash visits are $175 and do not need to have a diagnosis to justify the treatment.  She's looking forward to offering treatments to infants in the future.  For information about craniosacral therapy https://www.upledger.com/therapies/


And possibly the MOST EXCITING news to share...  our WATER COOLER and TEA STATION are back online.  Woo Hoo! 

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