F&Q

Yes

The ranges we have for hormone health changes between labs but they’re also largely arbitrary and don’t paint the whole picture of what’s going on.

Our bodies vary from person to person, which means symptoms and “optimal” hormone levels do too.

Some people have markers suggesting they’re in desperate need of hormone replacement and yet they show no classic signs like fatigue, anxiety, or low libido. Others have impeccable markers suggesting that everything is fine, yet they’re experiencing all the symptoms associated with it.

It’s possible that you’re experiencing a thyroid issue or maybe you’re vitamin B12 deficient—but ultimately, we won’t find out until we dig deeper and look at your overall health versus just your hormone levels.

That being the case, we strongly recommend scheduling a consultation with our team to assess baseline diagnostic lab work.

Once you’ve got your lab work, they can determine whether you’re eligible for TRT/HRT based on your lab markers, health history, symptoms, and goals.

At its core, our practice is a functional and integrative medical practice. This means we blend the best of both worlds from the expertise of traditional medicine and innovation of alternative medicine. Our expertise lies in hormone and thyroid optimization, as well as musculoskeletal therapies, all of which address the root cause of the problem.

Depending on the complexity of the panel you are having drawn, the time frames for results can vary greatly. We have most recently been seeing a 5-7+ day turnaround on basic panels and 10-14+ days for comprehensive panels.

Many of the tests in our panels utilize complex testing methodologies that take a long time to process and result.

Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to speed up this process. .

IWAVS does not communicate with health insurance companies for any of our services, even though the overall health of our clients is tremendously enhanced, and they experience a better quality of life. Many health insurance providers don’t see it this way and consider our services elective. Many customers have had success using FSA or HSA means of payment. IWAVS can provide copies of invoices and lab requisitions as needed. We can also provide you with a “superbill” which is coded with appropriate diagnostic and CPT codes so you can seek out reimbursement for some of our services. This is entirely your responsibility if you so choose. Labs are generally billable to insurance. Or you have the option of billing lab work through our clinic at a substantial discount compared to what you would pay the lab out of pocket.

We are a specialty clinic and do not practice full-scope primary care. We will not take the place of a primary care provider, and it is suggested that you continue to have a PCP. Much of what we do, encompasses a large portion of your health, and we believe that it is preventative medicine.

Once you decide to begin treatment with IWAVS that requires a prescription, the provider will send in the prescription order the same day. If you are requesting a refill on an existing prescription, those get sent in within 24 hours of receiving the request, Except on weekends or over holidays. We ask that your give us a week’s notice before your prescription runs out so you can avoid a lapse in treatment.

First, IWAVS staff must manually review the order for accuracy and submit it to the pharmacy via a manual process. If your order is being fulfilled with multiple pharmacies, our staff has to log into each pharmacy portal and submit the order.

Next, your physician must review your prescription and sign off for its release to you at the pharmacy. If your order is being fulfilled with multiple pharmacies, your physician has to log into each pharmacy portal and approve the orders. The physicians also work with clients during the day and typically approve orders once daily.

The compounding pharmacy is finally processing your order! Unlike the retail pharmacy down the street, a compounding pharmacy makes your medications on the spot when the order is placed. They cannot just grab an item and fulfill the order off the shelf. Depending on the size of your order, and the complexity of the compounding, it can take up to 48 hours to make all your medications. Once your order is complete, it must be reviewed and signed off by the Pharmacist fulfilling the order. Lastly, your order undergoes another final inspection by the shipping department before it is boxed up and sent to you.

We only use 503A/503B FDA Approved and Audited compounding pharmacies as our fulfillment partners. This allows us to customize the medication's delivery routes, strength, and other characteristics to provide a more targeted and effective treatment.

In order to achieve the highest level of care possible, IWAVS has certain standards considered baseline requirements for being a client. This includes an initial consult and follow up with a provider to determine if our practice is an appropriated fit for your needs. If you are in good health and on a stable protocol, you must see a provider at least once yearly. However, it is up to the provider’s discretion on how frequently you should be seen based on their interpretation of your lab work and overall health.

Diagnostic Labs 2x per year

We require the basic male/female panel to be pulled initially 12-16 weeks after starting treatment, then every 6 months to get a complete picture of your overall health and wellness.

Additional labs or “spot checks” may be required if abnormalities are found or pre-existing conditions warrant further monitoring.

If you feel that you are having a medical emergency, dial 9-1-1 for medical assistance and/or visit the nearest emergency room. Once stable, notify IWAVS of your emergency, but DO NOT contact IWAVS first.

A medical emergency is a sudden injury or serious illness that, if not treated right away, could cause death or serious harm to you. IWAVS is not equipped to practice emergency medicine. Staff members will reply at their earliest convenience but may not be immediately available to answer any questions regarding your care.

If you are unsure if you are having a medical emergency or are exhibiting symptoms that appear to be life-threatening, default to the highest level of escalation and call 9-1-1 for medical assistance and/or visit the nearest emergency room. DO NOT WAIT.

If you are unsure where the nearest emergency room is located, dial 9-1-1 to find one.

IWAVS is leading the way in access to the latest treatments and pharmaceuticals.

If you are interested in discussing a specific medication, please contact one of our patient care coordinators for more information on our products and services.

The regulatory landscape for pharmaceutical medications and health services varies significantly from state to state and changes almost daily.

Some states have imposed restrictions on the following:

Restriction on Days Supply allowed per order Restriction on import of specific medications out of state

An outright ban of certain medications

IWAVS complies with all state and federal laws and may be unable to provide certain products/services/medications based on your place of residence in order to ensure legal compliance.

Although IWAVS does not accept or bill insurance in any way. We can provide you with diagnostic or CPT for some of our services in the form of a superbill. Seeking reimbursement from any insurance-based entity is entirely the patient’s responsibility. Additionally, we do not process prior authorizations.

IWAVS guided optimization process includes thorough diagnostics that go far beyond what is typically included in an annual check-up with your PCP. Our team creates a customized lab panel based on your individual physiology. We believe in comprehensive testing and accurate results. That’s why we specifically seek out high-sensitivity and the most up-to-date testing. The detailed results of this additional testing, in combination with one-on-one counseling with the medical provider, will be used to develop a comprehensive lab report and your customized treatment plan.

At a minimum, we require the comprehensive male/female panel to begin the guided optimization process.

We require all clients at IWAV to complete thorough diagnostic lab work at least every 6 months.