What happens when your clinician listens to you? Why do I have to pay? Why PIM?

What happens when your clinician listens to you during your medical appointment? The answer may surprise you. 

We notice that when our patients experience empathy and feel listened to, it affects them. It can often feel like a relief - like a calmness to now have labs that can be ordered - avenues to explore, and to know that answers are coming. There is a reason why you are not feeling well, and now “we” are going to look for it – together. You now have clinician partner and are not alone. Amy Nutter, MSN, ACNP, BC, IFMCP,  our newest team member, already booking into June is one of the best  listeners we know. 

Whether it’s unexplained fatigue, autoimmune thyroiditis or another autoimmune conditions, perimenopause, too few or too many hormones, blood sugar issues, bowel issues, the list goes on – what our patients tell us is that this is the first time they have had the opportunity share their story – and have been heard.

At Philadelphia Integrative Medicine, we want to find out what is underneath. What is driving your physical symptoms? Some come with established diagnoses, for example inflammatory bowel disease, long-haul Covid syndrome, autoimmune diagnoses as mentioned, high blood pressure, high cholesterol – while others have yet to have been given a specific explanation for symptoms. We seek to confirm findings and to make sure diagnoses are correct – like you we want to know why,

At our clinic, a diagnosis is just the beginning. Unlike a conventional appointment whose primary purpose is to diagnose, treat and end the appointment, we seek to  establish a relationship and understand how you have been impacted. We are listening for the clues that will inform the “why.” What types of inflammation, what life events, genetic predispositions —  in essence what antecedents, mediators and triggers — have caused this condition to unfold? Most often, your story has the clues we need to help to return you to a your state of health.

In medicine in 2024, it is unusual – even exceptional to feel heard —  and even more special when your clinician actually does hear you. Clinicians are often limited by time and a purely conventional approach. Specialty testing, including a comprehensive diagnostic stool study or simple insurance reimbursed immune testing such as a T and B  lymphocyte panel or comprehensive autoimmune panel — that many clinicians don’t know to order – these results can be a missing link to understand your symptoms. Our specialty tests can tell us if your body has overwhelmed detoxification as evidenced. We check organic acid markers for that - please join Amy Nutter on Thursday June 6 to hear more. Test results also direct is where else to look, so important areas - that sometimes act to keep the body in a state of illness - are not missed. The state of one’s nervous system almost always plays a role in the potential for healing – as nervous system and immune system states intricately interconnect. That means addressing what is going on in your life and getting support to make a doable plan with one step at at time works best.

Why do I have to pay for an appointment? In order to listen and to discern the best insurance reimbursed and/or specialty tests that will show root causes, and to explain test results, and show you your role in correcting imbalances, your clinician clinician needs time with you. Why PIM? Our practitioners are trained at the Andrew Center for Integrative Medicine two year fellowship, and/ or at the Institute for Functional Medicine, Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP) track. Amy Nutter, creds, is the first nurse practitioner to join PIM already having earned the status of Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. In the past, we have invested in our practitioners’ training, to certify with IFMCP. Amy brings applied experience as well as this credential to the clinic prior to her first day, and begins seeing new patients on Wednesday, May 29. 

All our clinicians are accepting new patients. We are having a new patient summer sale starting June 3 through Labor Day to make it easier to receive care. Consider booking your new patient appointment with Amy Nutter, MSN, ACNP, BC, IFMCP Lynda Sherland, CRNP, FNP-C, IFMCP, or Dr. Jennifer Patterson, DO, MMH, CHt today. Add creds.  As a clinician team, we discuss patient cases daily - when you see one of us to see all of us. We look forward to caring for you and for you to experience a PIM appointment. Learn more about the conditions we treat here! We welcome you to sign up for a free consultation with Amy, Lynda or Dr. Patterson, or to jump right in and schedule your first appointment. Once your intake paperwork is completed, we can move you sooner. Dr. Patterson‘s osteopathic manipulative treatments have been very popular – this is a separate appointment time and highly recommended. 


To learn more about Amy, click here. Similar to each member of our PIM provider team, she treats all forms of chronic illness, and looks forward to seeing you for your free consult or appointment! Please join her, Dr. Tetlow and other members of the PIM team on Thursday, June 6for Amy’s talk: A detox talk: How to Feel and Be Safe in this Modern World. We will address how to assess personal toxic load, the testing approaches that help identify root causes of chronic concerns, as well as a framework for intervention which can then be personalized for every patient, based on history, physical and test results. See you soon!