We are very excited to work with you. Our team is passionate about what we do, and excited to help our community improve their health. We offer functional medicine to adult patients aged 18 – 64 at this time. We do plan to expand in the near future, so please stay tuned. If you are outside of Rhode Island or outside of the ages 18-64 please fill out out waitlist here.
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Sustainable health is a marathon, not a sprint. Our hope is to help you build sustainable practices, while working on the root cause. If you know what to do, but are feeling stuck, we recommend health coaching.
Already a patient? Resources here https://holisticri.com/personalized-medicine-patient-page/
Functional Medicine focuses on gut health while utilizing a holistic approach to wellness
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is a root cause analysis approach to diagnostics and a holistic approach to treatment. We keep asking why.
Personalized functional medicine starts with a comprehensive intake, physical exam, comprehensive bloodwork, breath testing, stool testing, nutrient testing, and genetic testing for SNPs.
Testimonial
“Carolee is truly a gift. My young adult daughter has been struggling for a while and has met with various medical doctors and therapists for her health issues. Then she met Carolee. Carolee is a godsend and a gift. She is the first person to truly help my daughter. She is a cut above. She is highly intelligent, highly trained, relatable, smart, funny, and helpful in just about every way. My daughter leaves her appointments happy, invigorated, and inspired. No one else has come close to this level of success with my daughter.
My husband and I are both MDs. We are not only impressed with Carolee, but indebted and in awe. She is a phenomenal healer, with true understanding, insight, and ability to understand a person’s unique issues, and to reach them at their level. She is a teacher, a healer, and a sage.”
Healing the Gut
Remove, Replace, Reinoculate, Repair, Rebalance. >> While working within a whole person approach and a healthy lifestyle focus. We then make efforts to support the body in healing, continue to reduce inflammation, and hope to move back to the least restrictive diet possible.
Functional medicine works to create gradual, sustainable changes. This takes time, and energy on the patient's part. We incorporate nurse visits and health coaching in our functional medicine treatment to help you work through multiphase treatment plans, and to help you form new healthy habits.
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Listen to your Gut
Packages and Memberships
Functional Medicine Packages
meet with our providers and focus on testing and a treatment plan with optional add ons
We offer packages to support your journey. They range from minimalist to full support, offering nurse visits to assist with the testing process and provide education regarding recommendations, along with coaching as needed.
The Process
We start with a Get Started appointment with our Registered Nurse, to do a brief overview and get the ball rolling. You then meet with our Registered Nurse for an in-depth intake which includes tapping into your big Why. This is followed by an in person physical exam with one of our Nurse Practitioners. You will receive kits for stool testing, breath testing, orders for blood work, and possibly other tests such as saliva or urine testing depending on your exam, symptoms, and results. We then formulate a multiphase plan, and then re-test to ensure success of treatment.
Functional Medicine Guided Nutrition
with nutrient analysis and optimization
Functional Medicine Nutritional Assessments are for those that are looking for nutritional assessment, and recommendations based on bloodwork and physical findings. Start with a nutritional based physical exam with one of our nurse practitioners, bloodwork, and evaluation. This is followed by dietary and supplement recommendations, and a meeting with our nutrition coach. This is ideal for athletes, people looking for nutrition advice, and people in generally good health that are looking to optimize. It might be a good fit for anyone with an established diagnosis who would like to receive dietary and supplement recommendations.
What’s Included?
An in-person focused physical exam with one of our Nurse Practitioners
Orders for bloodwork and testing
Visit with Nutrition Coach
Nutritional Plan and Supplement Recommendations
Follow up with Nutrition Coach
What’s not included?
The cost of outside labs and testing;
gut Health testing and analysis, along with prescriptions and recommendations on Fullscript.
Functional Medicine Membership
with gut testing and a deep dive into your health
This is a comprehensive multiphase approach to uncovering wellness, and health optimization. It is designed for patients looking for health coaching and support through this process.
The Process
We start with a “Get Started” appointment with our Registered Nurse, to do a brief overview and make sure that we are the right fit. You then meet with our Registered Nurse for an in-depth intake which includes tapping into your big Why. This is followed by an in person physical exam with one of our Nurse Practitioners. You will receive kits for stool testing, breath testing, orders for blood work, and possibly other tests such as saliva or urine testing depending on your exam, symptoms, and results. We additionally offer functional medicine genetic testing with personalized recommendations. We then formulate a multiphase plan, and then re-test to ensure success of treatment. This process is guided by nurse check-ins and health coaching along the way. You meet with your nurse practitioner regularly to go over results and make adjustments depending on your response to treatment.
Why Membership?
Through experience, we have found this to be the most effective, and least stressful delivery of care. We feel that a safety net can be empowering.
Customize your membership and add nutrition consults with our nutrition coach
Functional Medicine
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Health Coaching
Your functional medicine provider makes recommendations, and your nurse health coach helps you figure out how to create a new lifestyle to make health a reality.
During sessions your coach will ask deep questions and offer reflections to deepen insights, self learning, and challenge stories and beliefs that may be keeping you stuck.
Coaching involves forming a partnership, and holding space for reflection, non-judgement, and the utmost positive regard. Coaching can help you achieve lasting change through empowerment, and works to help you discover your own motivation, inner wisdom, and strength.
Your initial session is about setting the foundation of our work together. We discuss the vision you have for yourself. What are your desired goals, but also, how do you want to be in this ideal life. We work together to develop and pursue this vision, allowing it to unfold. Then create a plan and steps to help you get closer to your goals and desires.
Telehealth nurse visits will involve your nurse helping guide you through the testing process and functional medicine protocols while answering any questions that you may have. Your nurse will provide education regarding your diagnoses and treatment plans.
Your nurse is also a functional medicine heath coach. While some of your sessions involve assisting you with your functional medicine workup and treatment plan, a majority of your sessions will be spent as health coaching sessions. This is an essential part of your journey towards health. This is where you will explore your daily habits and barriers.
Meet our Medical Providers
Carolee V Nevulis, NP-C
(She/Her/Hers)
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Director, and Clinical Educator
Carolee offers Functional Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Holistic Modalities, workshops, and practitioner education. Carolee has a background ranging from Critical Care to Holistic and Integrative Medicine, and over time has adopted a transcultural approach to healing. Having experienced health issues at an early age, Carolee discovered holistic health in her quest to feel and be healthier, developing a passion for the healing arts. Her goal is to improve the health and wellness of others, and empower patients through knowledge. Carolee studied Primary Care at Simmons University, and Functional Medicine at the Kresser Institute. Read more here…
If you are interested in becoming a Functional Medicine patient, schedule a free chat with our nurse Sue Musso, to find out more. Carolee’s patients can request testing here
Catherine Calandra, NP-BC, IFMCP
(She/Her/Hers)
Board Certified Nurse Practitioner
Personalized Functional Medicine
Post Master’s Certificate from Institute for Functional Medicine
Catherine is an experienced Nurse Practitioner, with a background ranging from Critical Care to chronic disease management, specializing in self directed care. Her experience caring for those with serious and chronic disease has led her to the mission of treating the whole person, not just the disease. Her wish is to partner with you to discover your innate ability to achieve optimal health and renewed vitality. She received her degree in advanced nursing practice from the University of Rhode Island, and her Functional Medicine training at the Institute for Functional Medicine.
If you are interested in becoming a functional medicine patient, please schedule a free chat with Sue Musso, our nurse. Catherine’s patients can request testing here
Meet our Wellness Gurus
Sue Musso, BSN, RN
(She/Her/Hers)
Functional Medicine Registered Nurse
National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach
Sue offers virtual one-on-one health coaching sessions, as well as in-person group coaching sessions, and workshops. Sue has been a critical care nurse for the past 30 years at a level one trauma center. Her career as an RN has been one of meaning and fulfillment.
“Caring for patients and supporting their families during their most challenging time is the piece that fills me with the most reward. I continue to explore ways to bring this into my professional life. I have now ventured into health and wellness coaching. I completed the Adapt functional health and wellness coaching program. Our behaviors and lifestyle play a huge role in our health and behavior change can be challenging. My hope is through coaching, I am not only supporting you as you take active steps toward your goals, but you learn about yourself along the way. I am excited to support you as you uncover your inner wisdom, create new habits and goals, that will foster the happy, healthy life you desire.”
Keryn Kwan-Wass, NBC-HWC
(She/Her/Hers)
Functional Nutrition Health Coach
Board Certified Health Coach
Certified Heartmath Mentor
Keryn is a Certified Heartmath® Mentor, helping clients build personal resilience to life’s stressors by embracing the connection between the body and the brain. As a Certified Heartmath Mentor, she extends her expertise to working with parents and children, focusing on building resilience, mindfulness, compassion, and providing nutrition education. Keryn Kwan-Wass embodies a holistic approach to well-being, combining her technical proficiency with a genuine commitment to enhancing the lives of her clients through tailored and comprehensive therapeutic care.
Keryn’s personal journey led her to Functional Medicine to overcome health challenges. Through her own experiences with thyroid disease, thyroid cancer, eczema, and sinus issues, she understands first-hand the transformational and curative power that changes in habits can have on a person’s health and well-being. Keryn hopes to help people reach their individual health goals and understand the root causes of their health-related challenges. As a coach, she is focused on helping clients navigate nutritional and lifestyle adjustments through compassion, empathy, and encouragement to achieve meaningful and lasting results.
Packages and Plans
We offer a variety of packages and memberships to meet you where you’re at. Schedule a Get Started appointment with our nurse Sue, to determine if Functional Medicine is right for you. Our memberships and packages for new patients are listed here.
Looking for more?
We offer functional medicine memberships that are customizable to you and your needs, which may include meeting with our nutritionist, or other practitioners. Speak with our patient care coordinator to chat more. 401-300-5010
Testing (The Workup)
A typical personalized functional medicine workup includes Stool Testing, Breath Testing, comprehensive blood work, genetic SNP testing and nutrient testing. Optional testing for mycotoxin testing, heavy metals, cortisol, and hormone health is also available. We start with gut testing because gut health and microbes effect every system in the body. For example, gut health effects our ability to properly absorb, and reabsorb vs excrete substances. We must first ensure proper elimination and detoxification through gut and bowel health before we attempt to detox from mycotoxins or heavy metals, or they won’t be eliminated. We test for genetic SNPs to customize nutritional needs, as well as give personalized recommendations for health optimization. Some SNPs can result in difficulty to convert nutrients into their active form, others can make us feel unwell. It’s amazing what the body can do when it is supported.
Every body is unique. It is important to know that a large part of our recommendations include diet, and lifestyle recommendations. Sleep, stress, activity, exercise, and nutrition should all be customized to the individual. If you are looking to get to know yourself better, and dip into your true self, we recommend adding health coaching to our functional medicine. We believe they work best as a package.
• Breath, Stool, and Other Testing and Lab Pricing
• Bloodwork: We also order comprehensive blood work through lifespan or Quest depending on your preference. Some of this labwork may be covered by insurance. You can call your specific plan to find out if they would cover functional medicine labs. We unfortunately would not be able to provide diagnostic codes until after we have seen and reviewed your case. Quest diagnostics quotes our blood work panel at approximately $800 (last updated 8/2024). Our care navigator will be able to give you up to date Quest quote.
FAQs
Can I use my Health Insurance?
For functional medicine and nurse visits, you may be able to use a flex account or Health Savings Account (HSA) for your membership. Please check with your insurance carrier to make sure they do not have any restrictions. Regarding health insurance benefits and reimbursement, we recommend calling the number on the back of your insurance card to see if they will offer reimbursement, as each plan is very individual. If they do reimburse, we will provide you with an invoice that you can submit to be reimbursed. Our services do require pre-payment.
Do I need to keep my Primary Care Provider?
Yes. Our Functional Medicine is offered as a consulting service. We ask that you keep your primary care provider for any urgent needs, routine screenings, and to provide insurance health benefits. What we provide is a deeper dive into health, and a layer on top of what primary care already provides. Our goal is to optimize health and wellness, while managing chronic disease in a more proactive way. This takes time, and does not replace your present medical providers, but rather adds a layer of further health and wellness recommendations. We work together.
What is the process like for functional medicine, and what kind of testing will I receive?
You will start by meeting our nurse, who will ask you about your goals, and past medical history. Then you will have a physical exam with one of our nurse practitioners. Your testing will involve a comprehensive bloodwork panel, stool analysis, and breath analysis. Depending on your results, you may need further testing. The testing is sometimes covered by insurance (depending on your specific insurance plan). Once all the results are in, we will create a treatment plan just for you, that often involves multiple phases. These plans are comprehensive and involve diet and lifestyle recommendations as well and supplements and prescriptions as needed.
We often will suggest re-testing to assess response to treatment protocols, and will adjust accordingly. We recognize that this can be a large commitment on your part. Our goals is to get you off on the right foot, and continue to provide support throughout your journey towards health and wellness.
What Next?
We suggest health coaching and nurse visits to keep you on the right track and help you in implementing our recommendations. We suggest Clarity Mapping to aid in self discovery and to uncover boundaries to behavior change. We additionally offer reflexology, body work, physical therapy, reiki, and HeartMath at our collaborative to support your wellness journey. We have found that reflexology and HeartMath are very helpful in reducing stress and can be a powerful adjunct to any gut protocol.
Holistic RI • Integrative Medicine 