Direct Primary Care & Functional Medicine

What is Direct Primary Care?

Direct primary care is a growing practice model in which health care providers contract directly with their patients instead of insurance companies. This model reestablishes a direct relationship between patient and provider which has tragically been lost due to the traditional model. It results in improved quality of care, access, and convenience.

This is similar to a concierge model but direct primary care focus on value of care ensuring that high quality service can be provided at affordable rates.

What does direct primary care services provide at Covalent Health?

Patients have the option of paying for individual services on a as needed basis (i.e. annual physical, follow up, or telemedicine service) or they can bundle the services through a monthly membership fee that includes the following: 

The direct primary care program at Covalent Health includes:

• An in-office preventive health visit once a year
• One urgent telemedicine visit every two months
• One chronic condition telemedicine visit every three months OR one in-office chronic health consultation every six months
• Two unscheduled phone consultations every three months
• Discounts on supplements

Other direct primary care services offered by Dr. Suarez include:

Functional Medicine

Dr. Suarez is one of only a handful of medical doctors who is both board certified in traditional medicine and certified through the Institute of Functional Medicine. Functional Medicine is a holistic approach to evaluation and treatment of conditions and symptoms as well as a field that promotes longevity and wellness through the application of lifestyle modifications, supplementation, and medications including peptides and hormone replacement therapy.

Functional Medicine practitioners evaluate the root cause of patients’ symptoms and conditions in order to individualize their treatment plan which typically includes a nutrition plan, exercise program, stress management techniques, supplementation, and medication when necessary.  

Lab work

Lab work analyzes samples of bodily fluids like blood, urine, or saliva. At Covalent Health, Dr. Suarez uses lab work to diagnose underlying medical issues like hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and high cholesterol. 

Referrals to specialists

Dr. Suarez treats most acute and chronic illnesses, but some conditions require more specialized care. If necessary, Dr. Suarez can refer you to a specialist nearby. 

Medical Weight Loss

Dr. Suarez also specializes in Medical Weight loss and has established a successful program in effective, healthy weight loss. Dr. Suarez individualizes your treatment plan after a thorough evaluation to provide you a nutritional plan, exercise program, supplement protocol, and medication management which include peptide therapy most commonly Semaglutide (also known as Ozempic or Wegovy). The program includes an initial evaluation and treatment plan along with weekly follow up visits in order to address barriers, keep patients accountable, and adjust supplements and medications as needed. 

Men’s and women’s health

Men and women experience many of the same health problems, but they’re also susceptible to sex-specific issues. Dr. Suarez provides complete men’s and women’s health, including prostate exams, Pap smears, breast exams, and family planning.

Pre-operative evaluations

For individuals who are preparing for an upcoming surgery, Dr. Suarez offers pre-operative screenings in-office to ensure that they’re healthy enough for the procedure. He performs a physical exam, a pre-operative cardiovascular screening, interprets any lab results, and provides a pre-operative clearance letter if the patient is healthy enough for surgery.

A pre-operative exam where labs and an EKG are performed at Covalent Health is $350. If the patient’s EKG and labs are performed outside of the office, the pre-operative exam fee is $200.

Who can benefit from direct primary care?

Anyone who wants to live a long, healthy, and active life can benefit from direct primary care. Whether you just moved to the Miami area or it has been more than a year since your last physical examination, Dr. Suarez at Covalent Health is ready to help you maintain or improve your health.

Establish direct primary care at Covalent Health by calling the office or using the online booking feature today.