Telemedicine & Virtual Consultations
Distance shouldn't stand between you and the care you need. We offer secure virtual visits alongside our in-person care, for patients across the country and beyond.
Is Telemedicine for You?
Some patients aren't able to drive to our office, don't have a schedule that allows an in-person visit, or live in another part of the country. We don't think distance should stand between you and the care you need.
For patient convenience, we offer both in-person visits and virtual health consultations, also called “telemedicine.” We currently see patients across the country and even outside the United States. Contact us with any questions — we're here to help.
970-532-2755
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I communicate with the doctor?
Communication happens by phone or through the secure video platform built into our HIPAA-compliant electronic health record (EHR) system — not consumer apps like Skype or FaceTime — so your health information stays private and protected.
What if I need labs or natural medicine products?
We work with labs across the United States, and many tests can be run at home using take-home kits we provide. Any natural medicine products ship directly to your door — or wherever you're staying, including a hotel while traveling.
What if I want to fly out for one of my visits?
We're located about 50 minutes north of Denver International Airport, just off I-25, with plenty of lodging options nearby in Longmont or Loveland.
More About Virtual Health Consultations
Our HIPAA-protected EHR video platform lets us do more than talk — we can visually examine your concerns, share lab results, and walk through diagrams to help you understand your condition. We use secure screen sharing so you can see exactly what we're looking at.
Many patients choose telemedicine when they can't make it into the office — whether they're out of state, traveling, or working around a scheduling conflict. It's also helped us stay connected with patients and avoid gaps in care during natural disasters and other emergencies.
Many of the labs we use offer take-home versions of their tests that are just as accurate as what we'd run in-office. For diagnostics like bloodwork, we're networked with laboratories nationwide, so convenient access is available in nearly any state.
Telemedicine appointments are treated the same as our in-office visits. Your first appointment typically runs 60–90 minutes depending on the complexity of your case, with follow-ups from 15–60 minutes. Please have any old labs ready in advance, and a written timeline of your symptoms or a food diary can help us too.
Ready to Schedule a Virtual Visit?
Reach out and we'll help you find the right fit — whether that's an in-person appointment or a virtual consultation from wherever you are. Call 970-532-2755
Do you have concerns about your cardiovascular health or have a family history of heart disease? Is your cholesterol elevated, but you do not like the idea of taking medication for the rest of your life? Are your labs normal now, but you are interested in preventing heart disease later in life?
Cardiovascular health and disease is so much more than how high your cholesterol is. Advanced lipid fractionation and cardiovascular inflammatory panels can be drawn right in our office. These blood markers can not only give us a picture of your vessel health but also used as a predictive and preventative measure. Markers often tested are, but not limited to: Lipoprotein A, homocysteine, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein and size particular profiles.For more information see below about the “Cardio IQ” panel.
Let our Doctors help you. We can discuss personal and family history risk factors with you, as well as helping to lower your risks and improve your cardiovascular health through lifestyle and nutritional modification. In addition, we can perform EKG exams and Doppler ultrasound to help evaluate your current cardiovascular health.
Why is it important to get tested?
Almost half of all heart attacks strike people who don’t know they’re at risk – people without well-known risk factors such as fatty diets, hypertension, smoking, or high cholesterol. In fact, most patients report that their first sign of cardiovascular disease was a heart attack! That’s one reason cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in America today, claiming more lives than cancer, accidents, and AIDS combined. However, with our comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, you can find out if other hidden factors may be affecting your heart’s health and take steps to protect yourself.
What kinds of treatment can improve these markers?
The good news is that almost all these hidden factors that affect cardiovascular disease are modifiable. Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels can often be managed through an active treatment program that addresses diet, exercise, and stress reduction. C-reactive protein can be reduced using anti-inflammatory agents. And despite being strongly influenced by genetics, homocysteine and Lp(a) can be modified with nutritional therapy. In fact, research evidence confirms that comprehensive lifestyle changes may be able to reduce the effects of even severe heart disease after only one year, without the use of drugs.
Have you been diagnosed with high cholesterol?
Information courtesy of Quest Diagnostics
One of the great mysteries of cardiology is the fact that 50% of people with coronary artery disease have blood cholesterol levels similar to those of people who do not develop the disease. In fact, a recently published study of over 17,000 people with low LDL cholesterol levels showed that a surprising number of them still developed heart disease. In other words, the majority of people at risk of having a heart attack may be unaware of this risk and may not be taking appropriate preventative action. The stories of people surprised by sudden heart attacks are becoming more common and it is perplexing that these patients had not been identified as at risk for heart disease. Obviously, today’s routine cholesterol tests are failing to identify the majority of people who are at risk for heart attacks. The limited focus of these tests on “good” and “bad” cholesterol is simply not good enough when it comes to identifying individuals at risk.
Fortunately, the prevention of coronary artery disease has taken a big step forward. We offer tests that can detect inherited abnormalities that are beyond the reach of conventional HDL and LDL analysis. For the first time, a comprehensive panel of tests can be run that helps doctors to personalize treatment that halts and in some cases reverses the progression of heart disease. Patients also may have access to the 4myheart Program for cardiovascular disease risk reduction at no additional cost or obligation.
How do I know if an advanced cardiovascular test is appropriate for me?
If you have had two or more of the following, testing could be considered:
- Heart disease or a heart attack (This counts as two)
- Diabetes (This counts as two)
- Family history of either heart disease or a heart attack before the age of 55
- Total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL
- LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) > 130 mg/dL, or
LDL cholesterol > 100 mg/dL if you have had a heart attack
- Triglycerides > 150 mg/dL
- HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) < 40 mg/dL
- Systolic blood pressure (the top number) > 140 mmHg
- Diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) > 90 mmHg
- Obesity
- Cigarette smoker
- Physical inactivity
Lipid Subfractionation by Ion Mobility
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ApoB – LDL Particle Number
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Lp(a) Extended Range
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Homocysteine
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Lp-PLA2 – Inflammation in the Artery
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CRP (hs) – Inflammation in the Body
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Fibrinogen – Inflammation Marker and Clotting Factor
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Insulin – Hormone
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NT-proBNP – Stress on the Heart
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Vitamin D – Hormone
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Omega-3 – Fatty Acid
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4q25-AF Risk Genotype
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9p21 Genotype Test
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ApoE Genotype Test
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CYP2C19 Genotype Test
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KIF6 Genotype Test
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LPA-Aspirin Genotype Test
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LPA-Intron 25 Genotype Test
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