Lifestyle Medicine Services

Evidence-based Treatment Plans and Counseling

Services include lifestyle review, counseling and treatment plans for concerns related to health and well-being.

Nutrition Review, Counseling and Help

• Nutrition review and counseling
• Counseling and evaluation for weight concerns
  • Weight loss medication advise and prescriptions
• Mindful eating recommendations

Physical Activity and Exercise

• Physical exercise review, counseling and treatments
• Personalized plans for physical activity and exercise
• Mindful movement strategies for a variety of health conditions

Sleep Health

• Sleep review
• Sleep hygiene and bedtime routines
• Counseling for the best quality sleep

Social Health

• Group support
• Positive social connection

Managing and Lowering Stress

• Mindfulness-based skills to lower stress
• Trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive care
• Strenghtening habits and treatment plans to help bounce back from stressful situations
• Review of lifestyle factors that contribute to behavioral, mental health and emotional concerns

Promotion of Healthy Habits

• Identification and counseling for risk factors that can lead to chronic illnesses
• Set goals for health and well-being
• Strengthen habits and develop plans to help you adjust to challenges
• Identify and improve coping skills

Group Visits or Shared Medical Appointments at Family Medicine Bristol

• Doctor-led group visits allow for more time with your physician
• Meet with other patients who have similar health concerns
• Use the power of the group to reach your health care goals

Shared Medical Appointments Frequently Asked Questions

• How is a group visit or shared medical appointment different from a regular doctor visit?

  These are doctor visits where you meet in a group with a physician, team members, and patients with similar health conditions. This provides additional time for questions, education and shared advice.

• What is the format of a group visit?

  Each visit is 90 minutes long. Over the first 30 minutes, each member of the group meets briefly one-on-one with a physician to address concerns that they prefer to discuss in private. Over the next 60 minutes, we meet as a group:

  • Dr. Mary Axelrad, a lifestyle medicine trained family physician,
  • a nutritionist student,
  • sometimes other students or a guest expert, and
  • other patients.

  We start with a confidentiality statement and introductions. Then we move on to the topic for the day. We finish with goal setting.

• What topics are typically covered?

  Topics are group led, meaning you only have to ask to receive more information about a topic! This might include:

  • nutrition basics,
  • goal setting,
  • food swaps,
  • eating healthy on a budget,
  • nutrition advice for diabetes and heart disease,
  • weight loss medications,
  • intuitive eating,
  • stress reduction,
  • diet myth busters,
  • restful sleep,
  • weight loss medications,
  • cooking demonstrations and a trip to the grocery store/shop healthy.

• Can I have my medications refilled at this visit?

  Yes!  But if major medication changes are being made, I recommend a visit with your primary care physician or separate visit. 

• How will you communicate with my primary care physician?

  Your primary care physician will always be kept in the loop and can read our notes from the visit.

• What medical conditions can be treated or prevented with a healthy lifestyle?

  Many! Some common reasons patients chose group visits:

  • weight loss goals,
  • questions about weight loss medications,
  • getting healthier before a surgery or pregnancy,
  • new diagnosis of or uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and fatty liver disease,
  • socialization,
  • improving chronic pain,
  • depression, anxiety, or insomnia,
  • decreasing substance use, and
  • inflammatory conditions. 

• What if I prefer one-on-one counseling and advice?

  No problem! We have this option too, just ask. We have visits with lifestyle medicine physicians, a behavioral health team, nutrition students and pharmacists available.

• What is the cost of these visits?

  Your insurance will be billed like a typical follow-up visit. You may ask your insurance what your co-pay is for a “99213”.

• What if I have a visit with my primary care physician or other physician at Bristol Family Medicine on the same day?

  No problem - You can still come to the group! Your insurance will not be billed twice in the same day. 

• Can family come? 

  Yes! Please invite them, as lifestyle changes are easier when your support system is there!

• How do I schedule a shared medical appointment/group visit? 

  For a shared appointment/group visit, ask to be scheduled for the ‘group visit’.

  For a one-on-one visit with nutrition, ask to be scheduled with the “nutrition student”. These can be in person or over the phone and are free of charge. 

  For a one-on-one lifestyle medicine visit, ask for a “40-minute lifestyle medicine visit with Dr. Axelrad.” 

Locations

Providers

Why ETSU Health?

The whole health approach allows a primary care physician, behavioral health consultant, and lifestyle medicine expert to work closely with one another, providing patients with a more thorough solution for their concerns that connect the body and mind. Our primary care teams are helping patients in the region get healthier by developing creative treatment plans that combine medical and behavioral solutions. 

Manage Your Health with MyChart

ETSU Health’s MyChart provides you with secure 24/7 access to your health records, plus many other helpful features to manage your care. Through MyChart, you have access to upcoming appointments, provider notes, test results, health records, and medications. MyChart also allows you to message your provider, view and pay your bill, and request medication refills.